ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL
Report on the 175th meeting of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation (Munich, 28 and 29 June 2023)
The Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation held its 175th meeting in Munich on 28 and 29 June 2023 under its Chairperson Josef KRATOCHVÍL (CZ) in a hybrid format.
Among the strategic items on the agenda proposed by the Chairperson, the Council:
- unanimously approved the amendments to its Rules of Procedure and to the composition of its Board as part of Basket I of the modernisation of the EPO's external governance;
- noted the working arrangements for the preparation, organisation and conduct of the meetings of the Council and its subsidiary bodies;
- meeting in closed session, expressed its views on the implementation of the second set of Basket 1 measures and gave guidance for the next steps.
Turning to appointments and selections, the Council:
- unanimously decided to re-appoint Mr Pascal FAURE (FR) as Chairperson of the Budget and Finance Committee. Furthermore;
- meeting in closed session, unanimously decided to re-appoint Mr Michel LIND (NL) as external member and as Chairperson of the Supervisory Board of the Reserve Funds for Pensions and Social Security (RFPSS) and to approve the launch of a call for candidates for a new French-speaking auditor of the Board of Auditors in June 2023, as well as the composition of the corresponding selection board.
Furthermore, the Council decided on the appointment, re-appointment and promotion of members of the Boards of Appeal and of the Enlarged Board of Appeal, based on proposals by the President of the Boards of Appeal.
The President of the European Patent Office, António CAMPINOS, presented the Office's activities report in the form of a comprehensive video with the major achievements of the past 18 months in the implementation of SP2023, followed by the presentation of the very positive results of the 2022/2023 User Satisfaction Survey. The Council had a rich exchange of views, and many delegations and observers congratulated the President, management and staff for the remarkable achievements including the successful launch of the Unitary Patent.
The Council noted the reports of the respective Chairpersons of the Select Committee, the Technical and Operational Support Committee, the Budget and Finance Committee, and of the RFPSS Supervisory Board. With regard to the latest developments concerning the Unitary Patent, the Council noted the oral report by the Office on the uptake of the Unitary Patent system during the first weeks since its launch as well as the oral report by the Deputy Chairperson of the UPC Administrative Committee, together with the Office's detailed update on the EPC 50th anniversary celebrations.
Moreover, the Council unanimously approved:
- the draft working agreement on search co-operation with Slovenia and authorised its conclusion and signature by the President;
- the further development of the career system for members and chairs of the Boards of Appeal (BoA).
Turning to financial matters, the Council noted the opinion of the Board of Auditors and approved their report, along with the EPO's accounts for 2022. It also gave a unanimous favourable opinion on the initial budgetary orientations for 2024. Finally, the Council noted the future outlook of the premises of the EPO sub-office in Berlin and welcomed the additional information provided in the course of the debate.