Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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# 91997E1346

**WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1346/97 by Caroline JACKSON to the Commission. Office for harmonization in the Internal Market** 
  
*Official Journal C 021 , 22/01/1998 P. 0047*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1346/97 by Caroline Jackson (PPE) to the Commission (21 April 1997)

Subject: Office for harmonization in the Internal Market

1. How many people, at what grade, are employed in the OHIM Alicante Office?

2. Who is the director of the office?

3. What is the purpose of the office, and to which directorate or Commissioner does it report in the Commission?

4. Are annual reports on the work of the office sent to the European Parliament, and to national parliaments?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (2 June 1997)

1. On 25 April 1997, the Office for harmonization in the internal market (trade marks and designs) employed a total staff of 192 (including temporary agents). 67 are A grades, 45 are B grades, 77 are C grades, and 3 are D grades.

2. The president of the Office is Mr Jean-Claude Combaldieu, a former president of the French patent office (INPI). Mr Combaldieu was appointed as the first president of the Office following a decision of the Council in 1994.

3. The Office was established by Council Regulation (EC) No 40/94 of 20 December 1993 on the Community trade mark ((OJ L 11, 14.1.1994. )). It is charged with the handling of applications for the registration of Community trade marks and any subsequent acts with regard to the maintenance or cancellation of registered Community trade marks.

The office is an independant Community agency. It is run by a board consisting of a representative of each Member State, and a representative of the Commission. The Commission representative is a deputy director general of DG XV (internal market and financial services).

4. Pursuant to Article 137 of Regulation No 40/94, accounts of the Office's total revenue and expenditure for the precending financial year are sent to the Parliament, the Court of auditors and the Commission each year, not later than 31 March. According to the same provision, these accounts are also transmitted to the budget committee of the Office, which is composed of representatives of the Member States and the Commission.

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