ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL
Reports on meetings of the Administrative Council
Report on the 112th meeting of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation (11 to 14 December 2007)
The Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation held its 112th meeting in Munich from 11 to 14 December 2007 under the chairmanship of Mr Roland Grossenbacher (CH).
After noting the activities report presented by its chairman and, for the second half of 2007, the President of the Office, Ms Alison Brimelow, the Council re-elected Mr Jean Olinger (LU) as member of the Board of Auditors for a five-year term and elected Ms Ásta Valdimarsdóttir (IS) as member of the Board of the Administrative Council for a three-year term, both terms starting on 1 January 2008.
The terms of office of several members and deputy members of the Supervisory Board of the Academy of the European Patent Organisation are due to end on 16 March 2008. Mr Gerald Barrett (IE), Mr Richard Flammer (AT), Mr Lex Kaufhold (LU), Mr Javier Moreno Ramos (ES), Mr Rimvydas Naujokas (LT) and Mr Slawomir Wachowicz (PL) - currently deputy members - were elected as members and Mr Yusuf Balci (TR), Mr Benoît Battistelli (FR), Mr Marcus Conte (IT), Mr Josef Kratochvil (CZ) and Mr Kevin Woodrow (GB) - currently members -, as well as Mr Kostadin Manev (BG) as deputy members of the Supervisory Board, all for a three-year term starting on 17 March 2008.
The Council then appointed Mr. Steven F. Bridge (GB) as technically qualified member of the boards of appeal with effect from 1 March 2008.
Under legal and international affairs, the Council was pleased to note that all member states had ratified the EPC 2000 in time. Norway and Croatia will join the European Patent Organisation on 1 January 2008. The Council also unanimously decided to invite San Marino to accede to the European Patent Convention as revised by the Act dated 29 November 2000.
The Council noted the oral report of the co-chair of the Working Party on Litigation, Mr Lex KAUFHOLD (LU), on the 11th meeting of the working party held in Munich on 12 December 2007, as well as the status report on the Community patent delivered by the Portuguese delegation, representing the state holding the EU presidency in the second half of 2007.
It also noted the Memorandum of Understanding from the 25th Trilateral Preconference and Conference held from 5 to 9 November 2007 in Washington.
The Council mandated the President of the Office to sign working agreements on national searches with Italy, Ellas, Cyprus, Malta and Monaco.
Regarding the strategy package, the Council noted oral reports given by the Office on the Utilisation Pilot Project and the co-operation policy. It substantially endorsed the Office's suggestion on how to proceed with the UPP in the near future.
Regarding the study on the future workload prepared by the Board of the Administrative Council, the Council agreed with the study's description of the challenges facing the patent system in Europe and the strategic directions set out in the study to face these challenges. It agreed that the strategic work in the Council should be based on the analysis and proposals made in the study and supported the initiatives undertaken by the President of the Office to develop proposals implementing the strategic goals indicated in the study.
On personnel policy matters, the Council approved a revision of the procedure for adjusting the remuneration of permanent employees of the European Patent Office and the introduction of measures relating to pensions.
Concerning financial and budget matters, the Council heard the oral report given by the Chairwoman of the Budget and Finance Committee, Ms Maria-Ludovica Agrò (IT) on the autumn 2007 committee meetings. It approved a decision adjusting the reduction of the fee for the supplementary European search where the international search report was drawn up by other International Searching Authorities in Europe.
The Council also approved an adjustment of fees and prices with effect from 1 April 2008 and a new fee structure with effect from 1 April 2009.
Lastly, having approved the Office's business plan for 2008-2012, the Council adopted the 2008 budget, amounting to EUR 1 591 005 000, and the table of posts comprising 6 850 staff (2007: 6 773) for the 2008 accounting period and approved the financial plan for 2009-2012.