Brussels, 01/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - The Belgian Presidency has repeated its desire to reach a compromise before the end of the year among all 27 EU member states on the European Patent. The Belgian economics minister, Vincent Van Quickenborne, said on Thursday 30 September after chairing a meeting of EU competitiveness ministers in Brussels, that there was room for progress because tangible progress had been made on the question of the European Patent which had been in deadlock for so long. He said he was determined to reach consensus before the end of the Belgian Presidency at the end of the year. Most member states recognise the importance of reaching a rapid solution to the language dispute under the Belgian Presidency and have rallied round the European Commission proposal of June 2010. Some countries, however, like Spain and Italy, do not want future European patents to be valid only in English, French and German. Van Quickenborne said it was really only a handful of countries that were still holding out but he felt that with plenty of Belgian flexibly and compromise it would be possible to reach a formidable victory for Belgium if the stops are pulled out during the Belgian Presidency. In order to find a solution that everyone can agree to, the Belgian Presidency will be working with all 27 delegations over the next few days to change the Commission's proposal where required. The matter will be on the agenda of the upcoming Competitiveness Council on 11 and 12 October 2010. (B.C./transl.fl)