EU patent system gets nod despite Spain's objections

The Council of the European Union on Monday approved a common patent system for the 27-member bloc despite objections from Italy and Spain, who claim it discriminates against their respective languages.

The system, which was approved by a qualified majority, calls for French, German and English to be used in patents. Italy and Spain voted against the move, now only pending the green light from the European Parliament, which was due to debate the issue yesterday and is set to vote on it today.

Passage of the patent initiative had been blocked for 10 years but a total of 12 countries asked for it to be considered under the concept of closer cooperation, under which proposed rules within the EU can be passed by a qualified majority

The subject of the European patent was brought up at a meeting yesterday of European education ministers. Italy's representative at the gathering, Vincenzo Grassi, claimed the common patent created distortions in the single market and complained about the way it was approved. "It's not only about patents but also of discriminating against member states, their culture, their identity, their language and their citizens.

Spain's representative, the secretary of state for education, Mario Bedera, backed Grassi's stance. Spain has threatened to take the issue to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.