The 93rd meeting of the Council of the European Patent Institute (epi) was held on 21 and 22 October 2022. Thecouncil meeting was held as a physical meeting in Fuengirola nearby Malaga (Spain). The meeting was attended by 132 delegates out of a total of 14,000 European patent attorneys from 38 countries, including Vancho Damjanski, Executive Director at BERIN doo and Bogoljub Ilievski, Head of the Patent Office at BERIN doo.
The day before the Council meeting, Bogoljub Ilievski, in his capacity as Vice President of the European Patent Institute (epi), attended a working meeting and an informal dinner of the Presidium with Mr. Max Brunner from General Secretariat - European and International Affairs Ministry of Justice as well as an official meeting of the Presidium members held the next day.
The work of the Council was preceded by a seminar "Latest developments in the Unitary Patent System and the European Patent Court". The delegates of the council adopted the reports of the president and vice-presidents of EPI, the general secretary and the treasurer. Also, the members of the election commission for the 2023 Council Elections were elected. The epi council did not approve the board's request to independently initiate disciplinary proceedings before the EPO without consulting the disciplinary committee. Vancho Damjanski, an active member of the disciplinary commission, actively participated in this, at times, heated discussion.
The main event in afternoon session of the work of the council was the presentation of the vice-president of the European Patent Organization, Mr. Stephen Rowan, regarding the strategic development plan EPO 2023. Rowan additionally answered the questions of the members of the council who were most interested in the status of introduced measures to improve the quality of EPO products and services.
The evening part of the meeting was dedicated to the report of the committees. Bogoljub Ilievski took an active part in the debate about the work of the European Patent Practice Committee, who emphasized the role of European patent attorneys in communication with the EPO and asked for the active participation of the joint newly formed epi-EPO bodies responsible for improving the quality of services.
The debates continued at the joint dinner of the council delegates, followed by delicious Andalusian specialties as well as a local Flamenco show. Representatives from Berin did not miss the opportunity to strengthen old friendships and business ties and open new ones.