Report of the epi-Finances Committee
The 98th Meeting of the Finances Committee took place online on 16 April 2026. The Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer attended, as did Mr Kley, Mr Hedenetz and Ms Jankowić, representing the Auditors, as Invited Guests. The Head of Finance and Accounting also attended. The Secretary-General and the newly appointed Secretariat Team Leaders attended for part of the meeting.
The Committee received a presentation from the Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer on the 2025 Balance Sheet. This shows a healthy surplus relative to budget.
The surplus arose at a relatively high level primarily because some aspects of reorganisation of the Secretariat had been delayed, such that projected expenditure had not arisen in 2025. The reorganisation actions in question are expected to be implemented in 2026. As a result it is anticipated that the surplus in 2026 is expected to be in line with the previously approved budget.
The Committee was satisfied with the explanations of these aspects as provided by the Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer. Therefore, the Committee is happy to recommend that Council discharges the Treasurer from financial responsibility in respect of 2025.
The Committee also received from the Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer reports on the provision of banking services to the Institute. The Committee approves the plans of the Treasurer in this regard.
The Deputy Treasurer observed to the Committee that investment markets while currently providing good yields recently have become prone to increased volatility. This may have an effect on the Institute’s investments.
The Deputy Treasurer did however provide convincing reassurance that the Institute is comfortably able to survive a considerably longer period than the mandated 18-month no-income period in the event of an interruption in revenue.
Monitoring the impact AI might have on the profession of European Patent Attorney is now a regular agenda item. There was discussion of the impact as perceived by members of the Committee.
The Secretary General introduced the new Secretariat Team Leaders to the Committee. Collectively the Secretariat team provided a presentation on a possible epi Congress event.
The Committee understands why the Board may wish to organise a congress. However, the Committee has a number of serious concerns relating to the proposal as presented. These
include the overall financial risk, the level of the registration fee per person and (perhaps most importantly) the apparent lack of a “unique selling point” for such an event.
The Committee was relieved that the approach of the Secretariat team is one of information gathering at this stage; but it could not support a congress event unless several specific concerns, that were relayed in response to the presentation, are convincingly addressed.
Following fifteen years’ dedicated service this was the last meeting of the Finances Committee to be attended by Mr Kley in his role as Auditor. The Committee has benefitted from Mr Kley’s wise counsel, and has enjoyed excellent collaboration with him, throughout his time as an Auditor. The Committee wishes to take this opportunity to wish Mr Kley all the best for the future.
