Italy has formally communicated its decision to join the unitary patent to the EU Council Presidency.

Italy has formalised its participation in the enhanced cooperation on the unitary patent: on Friday 3 July 2015, the Italian Undersecretary Sandro Gozi posted a statement (in Italian only, our translation below) on the web site of the Italian Department for EU Policies:

“This morning I wrote to the Commissioner for the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs Elżbieta Bienkowska, and to the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union, announcing the Italian decision to join the European Union unitary patent.

We have taken a decision that is necessary and useful for Italian companies, and does not affect our determined stand in defence of the role of the Italian language within European institutions.

Italy and the European Union need innovation for a fresh start and I think this is a step in the right direction.”

Mr Gozi had announced that the Italian government had changed its position on the unitary patent during the EU Competitiveness Council of 28 May 2015. After a brief discussion in parliament, Italy has now formally confirmed its decision to climb on board the enhanced cooperation.