September 22-23, 2016: the twenty-first session of the Budget Working Group of the Administrative Council of the Eurasian Patent Organization (hereinafter referred to as BWG) was held in the EAPO Headquarters, Moscow, Russian Federation.

Representatives of the EAPO member states from the Republic of Armenia, Azerbaijan Republic, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan and EAP Office participated in the twenty-first session of the BWG.

The session was opened by Eurasian Patent Office President Saule Tlevlessova.

The representative from the Republic of Tajikistan, Nurali Nazarov – Head of Finances and Accounting Department of the State Office “National Patent and Information Center” of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan, was unanimously elected as Chairman of the twenty-first BWG session.

In summary, the BWG discussions recommended that the EAPO Annual Report be approved by the EAPO Administrative Council, unanimously supported the EAPO draft budget for 2017 which was presented by the EAP Office, and recommended its approval by the Administrative Council of EAPO provided that the Council adopt amendments in the Regulation on Fees of the Eurasian Patent Convention.

A series of issues regarding EAPO activities were as well discussed during the BWG session. The results of review were reflected in the protocol of the session and will be presented to the Administrative Council for review together with the recommendations of the BWG.