Commenting on news that this week's summit will be asked to endorse a deal to split the new EU patent court between London, Munich and Paris, Guy Verhofstadt (ALDE group leader) commented:

"After 40 years of waiting for a Single EU patent it looks like we may finally be overcoming the final obstacle that will enable businesses to benefit from huge savings when filing patent requests. My only dismay is that the Single EU patent has been delayed for so long as as result of language and territorial disputes, despite the obvious benefits."

"The idea of sharing the seat of the patent court between the three countries bidding to host it may not be the neatest solution but at least will enable work to begin."

Cecilia Wikstrom (Folkpartiet, Sweden), ALDE coordinator on the EP's legal affairs committee also added:

"In the interests of businesses across the EU (especially SMEs who can least afford the translation costs), it is good news that the protracted debate over a single European patent may now be within reach. The compromise being suggested for the seat of the court to be spread across three countries is a regrettable but typical compromise between member states designed to keep everyone on board. It must not be taken as a precedent for future decisions on the location of EU agencies and bodies or Europe really will become a travelling circus."

"Perhaps Mr. Van Rompuy should introduce a rule that no country can nominate itself for the seat of an EU agency or be entitled to vote for itself should it be nominated."