Moldova becomes 40th member state of the European Patent Organisation

Moldova’s path from validation country to full EPC member

Co-operation between the EPO and Moldova goes back to the mid-1990s, but the relationship took a concrete legal form in October 2013, when the two sides signed a validation agreement. That agreement entered into force on 1 November 2015 and, from that point on, allowed applicants to extend a granted European patent to Moldova without filing a separate national application.

Moldova formally requested accession to the EPC on 13 February 2019. The Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation invited the country to accede on 13 December 2022, and the Moldovan Parliament approved accession on 5 February 2026. Moldova deposited its instrument of accession on 25 March 2026, and under Article 169(2) EPC, accession took legal effect on 1 June 2026, exactly three months later.

The European Patent Organisation started with seven founding states when the EPC entered into force in 1977. Reaching 40 member states is a useful reminder of how far the system has expanded, and Moldova’s route there, from cooperation, to a validation agreement, to full membership, is a template that other validation countries may eventually follow.

What is a European patent

A European patent is not a single right enforceable automatically across the whole of Europe. It is the product of a centralised application and examination procedure run by the EPO under the EPC. An applicant files one application, in one language, and undergoes one search and examination process, rather than filing separately in every country of interest.

Once the EPO grants the patent, it does not become one unified right. Instead, it becomes a bundle of national patents, taking effect in each of the contracting states the applicant has chosen, subject to a further national step called validation. This is the key difference between a European patent and the separate unitary patent, which applies automatically, without a national validation step, but only within the group of EU member states that participate in that system. Moldova is not an EU member state, so the accession discussed in this article concerns the classic European patent route, not the unitary patent.

What does it mean to validate a European patent

Validation is the step that turns a granted European patent into an enforceable national right in a given country. National law determines exactly what is required, but it typically involves filing a translation of the claims or the full specification, paying any applicable national fees, and meeting a deadline, usually three months from the date the mention of grant is published in the European Patent Bulletin.

Some contracting states have ratified the London Agreement, which reduces or removes translation requirements for European patents granted in English, French or German. Poland has not adopted the full translation waiver, so patent validation in Poland generally still requires filing a Polish translation with the Polish Patent Office within the statutory deadline for the European patent to take effect domestically. This is one of the most routine instructions our team receives from foreign applicants and their representatives, and missing the deadline means losing protection in Poland entirely.

What are validation countries

Validation countries, sometimes called validation states, are a separate concept from validation of a granted patent inside an EPC contracting state. These are countries that are not parties to the EPC at all, but have signed a bilateral validation agreement with the EPO. Under such an agreement, an applicant can extend the effect of a European patent application, or a granted European patent, to that country by paying a validation fee within the same time limit that applies to designation and extension fees.

Until 1 June 2026, Moldova was one such validation country. As of mid-2026, the EPO maintains validation agreements with Morocco, Tunisia, Cambodia, Georgia and Laos, and a further agreement has been signed with Costa Rica, although it has not yet entered into force. Validation countries allow applicants to reach markets well beyond the geographical scope of the EPC contracting states, using the same European patent application as their starting point.

What changes for applicants from 1 June 2026

For European patent applications filed on or after 1 June 2026, Moldova is automatically included among the designated contracting states. There is no separate validation request to file and no separate validation fee to pay. Applicants benefit from the same unified search, examination and opposition framework that applies to the other 39 contracting states, which is generally a more robust and predictable system than the bilateral validation mechanism it replaces.

In practical terms, this means that anyone drafting a filing strategy for a new European patent application no longer needs to treat Moldova as a separate line item requiring its own request and fee. It is simply part of the standard EPC designation, alongside the rest of the now 40 contracting states.

What this means for businesses and innovators in Poland

As a patent law firm in Poland, we regularly advise clients on where it makes commercial sense to extend protection for a European patent, whether through full EPC designation, through validation in a non-member country, or both. Moldova’s accession removes one layer of administrative complexity from that analysis for any client with existing or planned commercial interest there.

It is also a useful reminder that the map of European patent protection keeps changing. Decisions about where to seek protection should be revisited periodically, not fixed once at the time of the first filing. A patent attorney who tracks these developments can help make sure a portfolio still reflects current commercial priorities rather than the state of the law several years ago.

How our IP practice can help

PATENTBOX is an IP law firm in Poland based in Poznań, and our patent attorneys handle European patent matters end to end, from filing strategy and designation choices, through prosecution before the EPO, to opposition and appeal proceedings. Our team includes qualified European patent attorneys, admitted to represent clients directly before the EPO, which means we can act on a case throughout its life rather than handing it off at the European stage.

We also handle patent validation in Poland for foreign applicants and their representatives, including the translation and filing work needed for a granted European patent to take effect here within the statutory deadline. If you are unsure whether your existing or planned European patent applications already cover Moldova, or whether validation elsewhere still makes sense given the EPO’s growing membership, a Polish patent attorney from our team can review your portfolio and advise on next steps.

Frequently asked questions

What is a European patent?

A European patent is a patent granted by the European Patent Office under the European Patent Convention, following a single application and a single examination procedure. Once granted, it takes effect as a bundle of national patents in the EPC contracting states chosen by the applicant, subject to validation under each country’s national law.

What does it mean to validate a European patent?

Validation is the step that gives a granted European patent legal effect in a specific country. Depending on the contracting state, this can involve filing a translation of the patent specification or claims, paying national fees, and meeting a deadline set by national law, usually within three months of the mention of grant being published.

What are validation countries?

Validation countries, also called validation states, are countries that are not parties to the European Patent Convention but have a separate bilateral agreement with the European Patent Office. Under such an agreement, applicants can extend the effect of a European patent application or granted patent to that country by paying a validation fee within the same deadline that applies to designation and extension fees.

Is Moldova still a validation country?

No. The Republic of Moldova was a validation country from 1 November 2015 until it became a full contracting state of the European Patent Convention on 1 June 2026. European patent applications filed on or after that date automatically include Moldova among the designated contracting states, with no separate validation request or fee required.

Which countries are currently validation states for European patents?

As of mid-2026, the European Patent Office maintains validation agreements with Morocco, Tunisia, Cambodia, Georgia and Laos. A further validation agreement has been signed with Costa Rica, but it had not yet entered into force.

Do I need patent validation in Poland for a European patent to take effect here?

Yes. Poland has not adopted the full translation waiver under the London Agreement, so a granted European patent generally needs a Polish translation filed with the Polish Patent Office within the statutory deadline. This step, known as patent validation in Poland, is a routine part of our practice for foreign applicants.

How can a European patent attorney help after Moldova’s accession?

A qualified European patent attorney can review your filing strategy and confirm whether your pending or future European patent applications will automatically cover Moldova, advise on designation choices across all 40 contracting states, and handle any related EPO proceedings such as opposition or appeal.