DYNAMIC PROGRESS AND CONSTRUCTIVE REFORM IN SERVICE OF THE PROFESSION

EPI continues advancing its mission with impactful Council decisions and disciplinary reforms, fostering professional excellence and ethical responsibility.

The European Patent Institute (epi) demonstrated remarkable momentum in shaping the future of the profession at two recent landmark gatherings: The 99th epi Council Meeting held on 10 May 2025 in Vilnius, and the Disciplinary Committee (DC) Meeting convened in Milan on 3–4 June 2025. These meetings underlined the Institute’s enduring commitment to quality, accountability, and inclusion within the European patent profession.
Berin’s managing partner and EP Attorney Mr. Vancho Damjanski participated in both events—serving as a full member of the epi Council in Vilnius and attending the Milan DC meeting—actively contributing to deliberations on legal reform, professional conduct, and disciplinary procedures.
Prior to the Council meeting in Vilnius, members benefited from the Pre-Council Seminar “From Lab to Market and Beyond – Turning Research into Revenue”, underlining the Institute’s dedication to continuous learning and innovation translation.
At the 99th epi Council Meeting in Vilnius on 10 May 2025, the Council adopted a resolution urging the EPO and the Administrative Council to suspend the inclusion of legal practitioners on the representative list, pending further analysis. It also established a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and approved amendments to the epi Code of Conduct. Additional decisions included the adoption of a position paper on divisional applications and a request for the EPO to continue publishing all relevant Guidelines in both PDF and HTML formats.
This Year DC Meeting in Milan complemented these policy advances by focusing on improving internal procedures and fostering open discussion among its members. The agenda included two high-quality presentations—“Ways to Find the Truth” and “Certain Rules on Natural Justice”—which sparked reflective dialogue on fairness and transparency in disciplinary matters.
These developments reflect epi’s dynamic strategy in responding to evolving challenges—strengthening its structures, enhancing member development, and defending the standards of the profession.