Discussion About Potential Sale of EPO Buildings and Enshittification of Europe's Largest Patent Office
Two days ago we showed communications regarding the EPO from Union Syndicale Fédérale (USF), which targeted the governing body and explained the severity of the situation. Earlier today the Local Staff Committee Munich explained what happened at a recent meeting with unqualified managers who are at the EPO because of nepotism alone (or marital affairs). Staff was told what was covered:
Our report: Canteen, Warm water in the toilets, Cigna issues, Amicale Kids, ESMDear Colleagues,
The Local Staff Committee Munich met with Ms Simon (VP4) in her capacity as Site Manager, Ms Bergot (Deputy Site-Manager) and members of the Administration on 16 September 2026.
In the meeting, Staff Representation addressed the quality of the canteen, the proposal for Zebra Crossing between Kurt-Haertel Passage and BT 8, issues in the buildings (e.g. the policy on availability of warm water in the toilets), renovations and relocations to Pschorr 5-6 (e.g. move of the main canteen to BT 8), direct settlement of hospitalisation costs by Cigna, the future of Amicale Kids, European School Munich (ESM) timetabling issues.
For the sake of transparency, which the EPO lacks (we covered this issue in a recent series), here is the full report dated today:
Örtlicher Personalausschuss München Innenstadt, Haar und Brüssel
Local Staff Committee Munich City, Haar and Brussels
Le Comité local du Personnel de Munich Ville, Haar et BruxellesMunich, 05-10-2026
sc26020mpReport on the meeting between VP4, Deputy and Site Managers and the Local Staff Committee Munich
on 16 September 2026
On 16 September 2026 members of the Local Staff Committee Munich met online with Angel Aledo Lopez (DG1 Operations), Maria Arranz Gomez (Social Dialogue Secretariat), Elodie Bergot (in her role as Munich Deputy Site Manager), Jan Boulanger (PD42 People), Frédéric Brunelle (General Administration), Maria Castellanos (Expat & Social Services), Mohamed El Hadouchi (Pension & Remuneration Services), Florian Grundies (General Administration), Konstantinos Kortsaris (Senior Advisor President’s Office), Steffen Peschgens (People Planning and Talent Management), Gema Requena Sempere (Chief People Officer), Nellie Simon (in her role as Munich Site Manager), Jean-François Vaccaro (Compensation & Benefits), and Francesco Zaccà (DG1 Operations).
Meeting opened: 15:00
General comments: The LSC Munich had asked for this meeting to be held face-to-face, which was refused. Due to time constraints and the large number of agenda items, the meeting was also quite rushed. No documents were provided to the LSC Munich before the meeting.
Canteen Situation
Staff Representation raised several questions regarding canteens and the future canteen payment system:
• Could further information be provided on the new smartphone-based canteen payment system? How will data protection, confidentiality, and security be respected? How will the canteen subsidy work? Will there be a solution for colleagues who don’t have a smartphone? What impact will this have on queue times?
• What are the plans for the canteens in 2027 and 2028?
• Some colleagues perceive a gradual decline in the quality-to-cost ratio of the canteen offerings. Has this aspect been assessed?
• When will the next staff survey on canteen services take place?
• Have the additional costs associated with fluctuations in canteen usage linked to New Ways of Working (NWoW) been evaluated?
The Administration started by explaining that the new app-based canteen payment system was being piloted in Vienna and would be rolled out across the whole Office in 2027. This change was driven by a shift in responsibilities. Until then, the Office had been responsible for paying the canteen providers while managing the funds that employees loaded onto their cards. Under the new system, canteen providers would assume the financial responsibility themselves. Data protection would be respected, and canteen discounts would continue to be applied with the new
system. For colleagues without a smartphone, a QR code could be printed to enable access to the subsidy.
As for queuing, the Administration claimed that the new system was more modern and therefore should be faster.
Staff Representation informed the Administration that initial feedback from the pilot project in Vienna appeared to contradict this view.
Staff Representation asked about how this would work with travelling to different sites. Would staff need to install another app?
The Administration replied that they probably would, because it was the caterers who chose and managed the app, not the EPO. There would, however, only be one app for the whole of Munich. The Administration continued by saying that in 2027–2028 the Isar canteen would be renovated but would remain in the same place with the same caterer. Once the renovations in Pschorr 5-6 were completed, staff from Pschorr 1-4 would be relocated and the main canteen would then move to BT 8. The seating capacity of the BT 8 canteen would increase. There would also be new bistros in Pschorr 5-6 and BT 7. The Ferrari bar in BT 7 would be open in addition to the bistro, and the logistics would be clarified later.
Staff Representation asked if plans had changed, because LOHSEC had been informed that the Pschorr 1-4 canteen would be open for the whole of 2027.
The Administration confirmed that once all staff had been relocated from Pschorr 1-4 the canteen would be closed.
Concerning quality, the Administration insisted that quality was being maintained and prices were being monitored. The price of the cheapest menu had increased in line with general price increases in Bavaria.
Staff Representation noted that it had not been provided with more information to substantiate this assertion, particularly regarding menus other than the cheapest option.
Concerning waste, the Administration stated there was much less than before because planning had improved.
Zebra Crossing between Kurt-Haertel Passage and BT 8 Staff Representation asked:
• Following the 2026 Bavarian local elections and the election of a new mayor, could the Office ask again for a zebra crossing between the Kurt-Haertel Passage and BT 8?
The Administration replied that an island had been installed because the town planning department did not allow a zebra crossing. This was because of the low level of foot traffic. Now, with the New Ways of Working, there were even fewer staff members crossing Grasserstrasse, and so there would be even less chance that a zebra crossing would be approved.
Staff Representation disputed this. Because there was now only one gym, located in BT 8, and with the planned closure of Pschorr 1-4 and the relocation of the main canteen to BT 8, foot traffic
would actually be increasing. In addition, the Hackerbrücke would be closing soon for vehicle traffic for a few years for renovation, which would undoubtedly increase foot traffic. Wouldn’t this be, in fact, the perfect time to ask?
The Administration noted these points and said that Munich Town Hall could be approached if there were figures to show an increase in foot traffic across Grasserstrasse.
Renovations / Relocations / Buildings
Staff Representation asked several questions about the Munich buildings:
• When staff move from Pschorr 1-4 to Pschorr 5-6 will those colleagues who have an allocated room because they come to the Office at least three days a week still keep their allocated room?
• Is the timeline for the move already known?
• What is the current situation and policy concerning the availability of warm water in the toilets? The contribution to “sustainability” made by requiring staff to wash their hands in cold water is minimal compared to the impact of using AI. The removal of hot water in toilets was something a lot of staff had complained about, particularly those with health issues, such as Raynaud’s syndrome.
• What is happening with the Isar building renovations? Are there plans for more regular updates? Could staff representation be regularly informed about what is happening?
• What is the future of Pschorr 1-4? Could it be sold?
The Administration replied that concerning allocated rooms, there would be no change for staff coming to the Office at least three days a week; they would still have an allocated room. Regarding the move from Pschorr 1-4 to Pschorr 5-6 and BT 8, this would happen in the middle of 2027.
As for warm water in the toilets, the Administration stated that it was now standard practice to provide only cold water for hand-washing in workplace toilets. When buildings were renovated, only cold-water pipes would be installed in the future. Hot water in the kitchen would remain, as well as in the disabled toilets if staff needed to wash their hands in hot water for their health.
Regarding information about the renovations, the Administration said that this was available on the intranet. Dedicated meetings were regularly held with staff representation to give more information, such as the current meeting.
Staff Representation replied that there was no information about BT 8 renovations on the intranet for non-managers, despite its significant impact on individuals.
The Administration said that affected staff in BT 8 had been informed by email and a training video about what was happening, and this had been well received.
Concerning the future of Pschorr 1-4, the Administration explained that all options were on the table. The Board of Auditors had brought up the option of selling the building, which the President was against. There would be a discussion in the October Administrative Council meeting.
Staff Representation replied that they hoped that the Administrative Council would not be in favour of selling the building.
Direct Settlement of Hospitalisation Costs by Cigna
Staff Representation had received reports that, in certain cases, Cigna no longer appeared to settle hospitalisation costs directly with some clinics or hospitals, even after being informed well in advance of a planned operation.
• Was the Office aware of this situation, and if so, could any information be provided regarding its scope and any measures being considered?
The Administration replied that reimbursements were made in line with the Guide to Cover. If this was not happening, then staff representation should give concrete examples. Direct settlement was good for staff, but even if a prior request had not been made, this did not mean that costs would not be reimbursed.
Staff Representation replied that if the hospital didn’t play along then there was a problem, even if Cigna had approved, including with a payment guarantee, since that guarantee did not include the hospital. Some hospitals preferred a smart health insurance card equipped with a chip readable by their terminals rather than a standard Cigna plastic health insurance card.
Staff Representation added that without such a card, the difficulties associated with registration would continue to increase. Also, a great deal of information was now being stored in the electronic patient record (“e-Akte”). It appeared long overdue that Cigna be asked to provide a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to staff members and their families. In addition, some hospitals were also asking for a credit card in advance, and in complicated cases there could be multiple hospital invoices.
Amicale Kids
Staff Representation asked:
• Could an update be provided on the current status and future plans relating to Amicale Kids?
The Administration explained that since Circular 436, which updated the governance framework of the Amicale, had entered into force on 20 May 2026, there was now harmonisation and no need for a separate Amicale Kids committee. There would, instead, be a sub-committee.
Staff Representation stressed that Amicale Kids was very important for working staff members who could not afford to have extra help with childcare at home.
The Administration undertook to monitor the issue closely.
European School Munich (ESM) Timetabling Issues
Staff Representation asked if the EPO had been informed by the ESM, either in May or at a later stage, that there were timetable difficulties because of an ESM staff member who had left.
• If so, when and at what level was the EPO informed?
• Was the EPO asked by the ESM to provide any support?
• Had the EPO offered any support to the ESM and staff members’ families? If not, will this be done in the future?
The Administration replied that they were aware of the issue, as some of them had children at the school. The EPO, as the ESM’s biggest client, was in daily contact with the ESM and had asked that younger children, in particular, be supported. The Administration shared the frustration expressed by Staff Representation on this issue.
Meeting closed: 16:10
Your representatives of the Local Staff Committee Munich (LSCMN)
It's noteworthy that only one hour (or 70 minutes) was devoted to so many topics. Yet they have plenty of time for cocaine and cover-up thereof. █
Image source: Computer projector