ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL
Reports on meetings of the Administrative Council
Report on the 134th meeting of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation (11 and 12 December 2012)
The Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation held its 134th meeting in Munich on 11 and 12 December 2012 under the chairmanship of Jesper Kongstad (DK).
The Council noted the activities reports presented by its chairman and by the President of the Office, Benoît Battistelli (FR), and congratulated the President and all EPO staff on the Office's excellent performance in 2012.
After noting the oral report by the chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Academy of the European Patent Organisation, Alexandru Ştrenc (RO), on the Board's meeting in November 2012, the Council made the following appointments and reappointments:
- Ulrich Oswald (DE) re-appointed as chairman of a technical board and technically qualified member of the Enlarged Board, with effect from 1 April 2013 (until 1 October 2013) and appointed, with effect from 1 October 2013, to continue his work as chairman of a technical board of appeal and technically qualified member of the Enlarged Board of Appeal after reaching the age of 65
- Peter Mühlens (DE) appointed with effect from 1 May 2013, to continue his work as legally qualified member of the boards after reaching the age of 65
- Fred van der Voort (NL) appointed chairman of a technical board and technically qualified member of the Enlarged Board, with effect from 1 May 2013
- Vincent Bouyssy (FR), David Ceccarelli (IT), Christoph Herberhold (DE), André Hornung (LU), Hans-Christoph von Gronau (DE) and Seamus Ward (GB), appointed as technically qualified members of the boards with effect from dates to be fixed in consultation between the Vice-Presidents of DG 1 and DG 3
- Thomas Zinke (DE), appointed as technically qualified member of the boards, subject to Article 8 ServRegs and with effect from a date to be agreed between him and the President
- Steven Bridge (GB) reappointed as technically qualified member of the boards with effect from 1 March 2013
- Rudolf Ries (DE) reappointed as technically qualified member of the boards with effect from 1 April 2013
- Herbert Wolfrum (DE) reappointed as technically qualified member of the boards with effect from 1 April 2013
- Yves Lemblé (FR) reappointed as technically qualified member of the boards with effect from 1 June 2013
- Bernhard Noll (DE) reappointed as technically qualified member of the boards with effect from 1 June 2013
- Eugene Dufrasne (BE) reappointed as legally qualified member of the boards with effect from 1 April 2013 and
- Fritz Blumer (CH) reappointed as legally qualified member of the boards with effect from 1 June 2013.
Concerning the unitary patent, the Council was pleased to note the information provided by the Office as well as the Cypriot and Irish delegations on behalf of the current and incoming EU presidencies. The Council noted that it would revert to the unitary patent in the March 2013 Council meeting.
Concerning pension matters, the Council noted the oral report given by the deputy chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Reserve Funds for Pensions and Social Security, Matthias Bank (DE), on the board's meeting in September 2012.
The Council also approved a revision of the Regulations for the Reserve Funds for Pensions and Social Security of the European Patent Organisation.
Under legal and international affairs, the Council authorised the President of the Office to negotiate working agreements on search co-operation with the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Latvia as well as a validation agreement with Georgia.
The Council also noted information provided by the Office on Adjusting the system for search and examination fee refunds under Articles 9(1) and 11(b) of the Rules relating to Fees following Legal Board of Appeal decisions J 25/10 and J 9/10.
With regard to financial and budgetary matters, the Council noted the oral report of the chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee, Serafeim Stasinos (GR), on the committee's meeting in October 2012.
The Council adopted the 2013 budget (amounting to EUR 1 849 720 000) and table of posts, approved the financial estimates for 2014-2017 and noted the planned costs for products and services in 2013.
The Council further approved a collective reward for EPO staff.
Lastly, the Council noted that the 40 years' celebration of signing the EPC would be held on 17 October 2013.
All documents which the Council approves for publication on a case by case basis, can be found under the following link: www.epo.org/about-us/organisation/documentation/ac-documents.html