171

The EPO is sent the copy of the international application required under Article 22(1) or 39(1) PCT by the International Bureau. Therefore, the applicant does not as a rule need to submit a copy of the application to the EPO (see points 167 and 168).

172

In order to initiate the European phase the applicant must take at least the following steps within 31 months of the filing date or, if priority has been claimed, of the earliest priority date:

·

supply the translation, if the Euro-PCT application was not published in one of the EPO's official languages (see point 199 ff),

·

specify the application documents on which the European grant procedure is to be based (see point 187 ff),

·

pay the national fee, comprising a national basic fee and the designation fees (see point 212 ff),

·

pay the search fee, if a supplementary European search report is required (see point 237 ff),

·

file the request for examination and pay the examination fee (see point 246 ff)

·

pay, where appropriate, the renewal fee for the third year (see point 259 ff), and

·

pay, where applicable, the claims fee (see point 242 ff).