As stated in the press release of the Government (http://www.gov.md/libview.php?l=ro&idc=436&id=5780), during the Cabinet’s meeting of 21 November it was decided to start negotiations on the Agreement between the Moldovan Government and the European Patent Organization on validating European patentsand assigning full-fledged powers to Ms. Lilia BOLOCAN, Director General of the State Agency on Intellectual Property,.

Taking into account Moldova’s aspirations for integration into European structures and harmonization of the national legal framework for the protection of inventions with that of the European Union and recognizing the role that the European Patent Organization has* (EPO) to support innovation, competitiveness and economic growth in Europe, our country’s cooperation with EPO is a priority.

EPO is a body specialized in promoting EU policy in the field of patents, being required to ensure the standardization of patent protection system at European level and the simplification of procedures for granting protection in all Member States.

Thus, in order to strengthen the protection of inventions in its territory, Moldova has asked the European Patent Organization the conclusion of an Agreement on validation of European patents.

By the institution of a system of validation of European patents in our country will benefit the entire community of users of the national patent system, contributing to the stimulation of innovations, technology transfer and creation of a favorable investment climate.

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* The European Patent Organization is an intergovernmental organization that was set up on 7 October 1977 on the basis of the European Patent Convention (EPC) signed in Munich in 1973.

The Organization has two bodies: the European Patent Office and the AdministrativeCouncil, which supervises the Office's activities.

Currently, 38 states are members of EPO (27 EU member states and 11 - non-member states (Switzerland, Norway, Turkey and so on). Another 2 states - Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, which currently are not member states of EPO, have signed bilateral agreements with the Organization on recognition of European patent effect, being at the pre-accession stage. Through such pre-accession stage went: Albania, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania and Serbia.

A patent issued under the EPC is called European patent and in each Contracting State, for which it is issued, has the same effect and is subject to the same regime as a national patent issued in that State. It should be mentioned that the issuance of a European patent may be requested for one or more Contracting States. Thus, EPC allows currently the obtaining of protection by European patent in 40 European countries.

The single European patent grant procedure ensures the easier and less expensive obtaining of protection of inventions for EPO member states. In addition, EPC establishes an equal volume of protection provided by the European patent for all EPC Contracting States or European patent validation agreements.

Detailed information with reference to the EPO activity can be found at: http://www.epo.org/.