WRITTEN QUESTION E-1054/00 by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Council. Cyprus.
C 26 E/148 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 26. 1. 2001 Can the Commission say whether it considers that steps should be taken to ensure that the patent granted by the EPO to the Australian firm Stem Cell Sciences is withdrawn? Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (5 June 2000) The Member of the Commission responsible for the Internal market stated to Parliament, in the course of a debate on 31 March 2000, that the Commission is aware of, and indeed shares, the concerns expressed about the granting of patent EP695351 to the University of Edinburgh for an invention in the area of stem cell technology made by that institution in collaboration with Stem Cell Sciences. He informed the Parliament that he has written to the European Patent Office requesting that the Office takes whatever action it considers necessary to correct the error that resulted in this patent being granted in its current form. In response, the European Patent Office agreed to establish an opposition division immediately to consider the oppositions that have already been filed against this patent. This opposition division, which was duly established on 29 March 2000, will issue a preliminary ruling as soon as possible. This could lead to the patent being either revoked, upheld in its present form or upheld in an amended form. The Commission will continue to monitor the situation and, should the preliminary ruling not prove to be acceptable, will consider further action including formally opposing this patent itself. Furthermore, following the Parliament resolution of 30 March 2000, the European group on ethics in sciences and new technologies is preparing an opinion on the ethical aspects of human embryonic stem cell research that will be published this summer. (2001/C 26 E/184) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1054/00 by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Council (6 April 2000) Subject: Cyprus Could the Council confirm or deny reports that Cypriot citizens will be denied their right to freedom of movement when Cyprus joins the EU unless Turkey joins simultaneously? In the House of Commons on 15 February 2000 (Hansard Column 781), the Rt Hon Robin Cook MP, Her Majestyís Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, made the following announce- ment in relation to the accession of Cyprus to the EU: Freedom of movement between the Republic of Cyprus and the occupied northern sector would apply only if Turkey simultaneously joined the EUí. Does this statement reflect the views of the Council? Could the Council state whether any citizens of the Republic of Cyprus will be denied their right to freedom of movement when Cyprus joins the EU? If the answer to this question is yes, could the Council explain why Cypriot citizens are to be denied (on an indefinite basis) the basic rights afforded by the Treaties? Could the Council justify the decision to discriminate against Cypriot citizens in this way? Could the Council explain why the decisions on the accession of Cyprus are being linked to EU relations with a foreign country which maintains an illegal occupation force in the Republic of Cyprus, contrary to the stated position of the UN, the European Parliament, the European Council and the overwhelming majority of the international community? Reply (8 June 2000) The attention of the Honourable Parliamentarian is drawn to the Councilís reply to Written Question E-711/00 submitted by Mr. Ioannis Marinos on the same issue