One of the obstacles in connection with the entry into force of the UPC has been the missing German ratification, the German Constitutional court having annulled the first ratification due to the lack of a two-third majority approval of the agreement.
Today, the German Bundestag approved the draft ratification bill with the necessary qualified majority, and the process will now continue towards the final preparatory steps next year and a projected initiation in 2022.
However, the process in Germany might once again be delayed. Several parties, including Ingve Stjerne who filed the first complaint against the ratification, is ready with new complaints in order to stop the German ratification of the UPC agreement and hence the UPC in general.
We will continue to monitor the situation and will forward updates when there are new developments.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.