Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

[**Avis juridique important**](../../../editorial/legal_notice.htm)

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# 92001E1802

**WRITTEN QUESTION E-1802/01 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Working languages in the European Patents Office.** 
  
*Official Journal 081 E , 04/04/2002 P. 0063 - 0064*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1802/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(21 June 2001)

Subject: Working languages in the European Patents Office

The Council has still not answered question P-0762/01(1) on language policy in the Alicante Trade Mark Office or the European Patents Office. The question was tabled 13 weeks ago, and the official deadline for answers is six weeks.

The Council did nevertheless set out a Community approach to Community patents on Thursday 31 May. But where language policy was concerned, that text was confined to stating that translation costs had to be kept down.

The European Union upholds the principle that everyone must able to apply to the Institutions in one of the eleven official languages. In that connection the debate on working languages in the European Patents Office assumes a special significance.

Can the Council now answer the following questions:

1. Does the Council recognise that it must be possible for patent applications to the European Patents Office to be submitted in any of the eleven official EU languages? If so, how does the Council guarantee that individuals and companies can apply for a patent in the eleven official EU languages? If not, how does the Council justify its departure from that principle?

2. Does the Council support the Greek government initiative in challenging the language policy of the Alicante Trademarks Office?

(1) See page 6.

Reply

(26 November 2001)

As regards the language arrangements applicable to the submission of applications for European patents to the European Patent Office, the Council would refer the Honourable Member to the reply given to Question E-0534/01, which he put to the Council on the same subject.

As regards the future language arrangements to apply to the submission of applications for Community patents, the Council would refer the Honourable Member to the reply given to Question P-0762/01.

As regards the intervention of the Greek Government in case T-120/99, the Council notes the ruling delivered by the Court of First Instance in this case, in which the Court rejects the action and the pleas brought forward by the applicant against the language arrangements of the Office.

The Council would remind the Honourable Member that the Council is not bound by the time limits laid down in the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament.

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