10 March 2011
The EPO strongly welcomes the authorisation of the EU Council on enhanced cooperation in the area of unitary patent protection.
"The decision of EU member states today is a decisive step forward to improve the European patent system", EPO President Benoît Battistelli said. "It also underlines the political commitment and clear determination of the EU to strengthen the competitiveness of the European economy by way of introducing a cost-efficient unitary patent."
"The EU member states, but also the European Commission and the Hungarian EU Council Presidency, as well as its predecessor the Belgian presidency, are to be congratulated on this achievement. The EPO will continue to provide its full technical and legal support to the Commission in the successful implementation of this unitary patent. It is a very positive day for the European economy and for Europe".
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