High Peak Liberal DemocratsCurrently, to get a patent in the EU for an new invention means going to each of the 27 member state capitals and applying for it in the different languages. The total cost for an inventor is estimated at € 30-40,000 per patent. By contrast, in the USA the cost to get a single patent for the whole USA is around $1800. After thirty years of painful negotiations, agreement has been reached on a single patent for the EU. Why so long ? Because of the usual reluctance by national governments to share sovereignty, even though smaller businesses would have benefitted enormously.
The new system will cover 25 of the 27 member states and patents will only be issued in three languages (English, French and German). Spain and Italy have opted out because they wanted their languages to be obligatory too. The Council has insisted on creating three seats for the new EU Patent Office, in Munich and Paris and London. Nevertheless, savings for business will be enormous and the chance for small bsuinesses to have EU-wide patents will be much easier.
This week, the European Parliament approved it. Inexplicably, our region's two UKIP MEPs both voted against : their hatred of Europe outweighs any pragmatism of helping business and jobs and prosperity.
For more details, see http://euobserver.com/political/118490 and http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/content/20121210IPR04506/html/Parliament-approves-EU-unitary-patent-rules
13 & 14 December : when the 27 national leaders meet in Brussels. One topic for them is to confirm Banking Union across the EU. For details, click on http://euobserver.com/news/118516
The Commission in Brussels also wants to debate the steps to a fully federal Europe, as does Chancellor Merkel of Germany. Click on http://euobserver.com/economic/118358
It becomes ever clearer that the UK will have to make up its mind - to be an influential part of a united Europe, or to leave and be isolated and powerless to influence the way the world develops (like Norway but overcrowded and without their oil).
The parliament, and the 27 national finance ministers, have settled their 2012 and 2013 budget differences. So, the UK media has not reported. But there is still disagreement between the 27 national leaders about the longterm financing of the EU, even though EU spending often represents savings instead of the 27 member states doing things separately twenty-seven times over.
For details, see http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/content/20121207IPR04403/html/Parliament-confirms-deal-on-2012-and-2013-budget-package
After Cameron's attack on Brussels bureaucrats, an interesting comparison emerged. It shows that, surprise, British civil-servants live a more comfortable life than those who work in Brussels. The purchasing power of EU officials has declined 7.6%, but has only gone down by 3.2% for British public servants. Eurocrats work a 37.5 hour working week, soon to rise to 40, but British bureaucrats only put in 36 hours. The salary for a top Brussels bureaucrat is €16,919 a month but for a British civil servant it is €25,000. Eurocrats can look forward to a 70% final salary pension, but the highest earning British civil servants have 75%. See the table below.
As you may have seen, Berlusconi has withdrawn support in the Italian parliament for the excellent government run by Mario Monti. So there will be a general election in Italy soon. Why ? Because Berlusconi faces trial and sentencing on various court cases, but if he is re-elected to the Italian parliament he acquires immunity for another five years. Why does his party put up with this behaviour ? Because, as their billionaire leader, he controls who will be high up on the list of candidates. Anybody who opposes him will not be re-elected to the Italian lower house next year. The party leaders, in Italy, decide who will be their winning candidates : there is no role for local parties to have a say in the choice.
Next week I shall send you an electronic Greetings card from the European Parliament. For the first time, I shall not send everybody a printed Greetings card by post - to save cost and paper and energy. However a stock of printed cards is available, and if you would really like to have one in the post, please let me know !
All the very best to you for 2013 ! My next report from the parliament will come in mid-January.
Bill
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