“Key unresolved issues” relating to the European Commission’s proposals on EU-level compulsory licensing must be addressed, such as whether companies may be forced to share trade secrets, say several industry groups, including EFPIA and MedTech Europe, which represent the European R&D-based pharmaceutical and medical devices industries respectively.
Amendments to the proposals adopted by the European Parliament in March included some changes that will be welcomed by industry, such as a requirement that voluntary licenses are sought ahead of compulsory licenses, a better approach to remuneration and greater involvement of the rights holder in the process. (Also see "EU Committee OKs More Pharma-Friendly Compulsory Licensing Plan" - Pink Sheet, 15 February, 2024
However, with the Council of the EU (member state ministers) preparing to adopt its own position on the proposals after the June parliamentary elections, more needs to be done to protect