1.1 The search opinion 

For European patent applications filed as of 1 July 2005 and international applications filed as of that date that enter the European phase, European search reports and supplementary European search reports will be accompanied by an opinion on whether the application and the invention dealt with seem to meet the EPC requirements.

This does not apply in the cases referred to in B‑XI, 7.

The findings in the search opinion must be in line with the document categories assigned in the search report and with any other issues raised there, such as lack of unity of invention or any limitation of the search.