Italy aims to veto language restriction

Italy has threatened to veto the European Commission’s proposal for the 27-member EU community patent project, which makes English, French and German the legally valid languages, excluding Italian, Spanish and the other 18 official languages. The scene is now set for a clash between Rome and Brussels over language regimes, a minefield that extends beyond mere national political influence in Europe. Germany and France in particular have always striven to impose their languages on community affairs because of the competitive advantages that accrue to their respective industries and national economic systems. The EU patent, stymied for more than three decades by the languages issue, impacts on the strategic areas of research and innovation.