The Parliament had established a position on the file, but in February, the Commission announced its intention to withdraw its proposal for regulating the licensing of certain patents, citing no “foreseeable agreement” with the Council due to protracted negotiations.
Earlier this month, the Parliament’s legal affairs committee voted to take legal action against the Commission. President Roberta Metsola brought the lawsuit to a final plenary vote despite opposition from a right-wing majority.
The case can now proceed to the EU’s top court in Luxembourg, where it must be determined if the Commission acted within its authority in withdrawing the proposal or if it exceeded its powers.
“The Commission’s right to withdraw a proposal … cannot be used as a political instrument to short-circuit Parliament’s work or to enforce a deregulation agenda from above,” stated German Social Democrat René Repasi, who led the motion in committee. “This is not in line with how the democratic processes in the European Union are meant to function.”
The Commission didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
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