17/07/2020 (Agence Europe) – BusinessEurope, Eurochambres, Orgalim and SMEunited issued a joint statement on Friday 17 July calling for swift ratification of the agreement on the Unified Patent Court to finally put in place a European unitary patent system. The four organisations believe such a system would provide greater legal certainty and cost-effectiveness for businesses. According to them, the European patent system is a “key element” of European industrial policy, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic. They are focusing on Germany, among others, where ratification has been stopped dead in its tracks by the German Constitutional Court (see EUROPE 12474/17), thus blocking the implementation of the entire unitary patent system. Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton, responding to a written question from the European Parliament on Wednesday 15 July, also called for swift ratification by Germany of the agreement on the Unified Patent Court. (PH)