Brussels, 25/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - At the Competitiveness Council of Thursday 25 November the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU saw that it was not possible to get out of the language impasse for the European patent and reach a negotiated solution among all 27 member states. During a debate requested by Italy, the Council's legal department confirmed that enhanced cooperation on patent issues was in conformity and compatible with the internal market and would be possible if requested by nine member states. Sweden and the Netherlands, two of the countries which signed a letter to EU Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier on the patent issue on 9 November along with the UK, Ireland and Slovenia (see EUROPE n° 10254), back the enhanced cooperation option, as do Germany and Estonia. France and Malta have not rejected the idea, saying that they will look into it. The Czech Republic wants an impact assessment to be carried out and Italy and Spain continue to oppose the idea, backed by the Polish delegation which believes that enhanced cooperation on patent issues would infringe the single market. The matter will be discussed by the next Competitiveness Council (10 December 2010). During the debate, Barnier said that the door was now open for exploiting the options provided by the Lisbon Treaty and the Commission would provide each member state with a detailed, written, legal analysis of options available and would be prepared to take speedy and serious action as soon as it receives a formal request for enhanced cooperation. (A.By./transl.fl)