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The Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation held its 153rd meeting in Munich on 10 and 11 October 2017 under the chairmanship of Christoph ERNST (DE).
A central issue was the election of the next President of the European Patent Office. A special Communiqué has been issued in this respect.
The Administrative Council noted the activities reports given
respectively by its Chairman and by the President of the European Patent
Office, Benoît BATTISTELLI. In the ensuing discussion on the latter,
the Council praised again the Office and its staff for the excellent
results achieved. It also took note of the first report of the President
of the Boards of Appeal, following the reform adopted in 2016.
The Council further noted the oral reports from the chairpersons of its
advisory bodies on their recent meetings: Boards of Appeal Committee,
Supervisory Board of the Reserve Funds for Pensions and Social Security,
Supervisory Board of the EPO Academy, and Select Committee.
The Council then proceeded with a series of elections and appointments
to its advisory bodies. In particular it elected Mr Lex Kaufhold
Chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee for 3 years, starting on 10
October 2017. The Council also decided on appointments and
re-appointments to the Enlarged Board of Appeal, the Boards of Appeal
and the Disciplinary Board of Appeal.
The Council carried out an exchange of views on the first ever Annual
Report on Quality. It expressed its satisfaction both on the methodology
developed and on the measured achievements.
In respect of legal affairs the Council authorised the President of the
Office to renew the EPO-WIPO Agreement in relation to the functioning of
the EPO as an International Searching Authority and as an International
Preliminary Examining Authority under the PCT.
Turning to matters concerning the Reserve Funds for Pensions and Social
Security (RFPSS), the Council reviewed the composition and competence
profile of the RFPSS Supervisory Board and unanimously endorsed a
revised governance.
At last, the Council held a thorough exchange of views on the Office’s
social report for 2016, which comprehensiveness and transparency were
most appreciated.
Council Secretariat