"Social Dialogue" With the Man Who Never Faced Real Competition at the European Patent Office (EPO), He Buys the Voters and Eliminates Rivals
Social, socialist, of just despot/dictator like whatever his father claimed to oppose?
"Social Dialogue" as a term has become somewhat of a joke to EPO insiders. There is no actual "Social Dialogue", it's just some buzzwords that get thrown around to pretend amicable communication exists while the President shouts the "F" word at workers, even at women. He not only plunders the Office himself; like various other dictators worldwide, he ships money that isn't his to various friends of his (they can share that back with him after his term ends). The EPO's reputation is really bad (large stakeholders openly complained that quality had collapsed), but that does not matter to the man who faces no competition. His performance does not impact his prospects of future terms. Maybe he plans to run the Office until his 70s (like Battistelli and Willie Minnoye). Maybe even until his 80s, like the other Orange Dictator or Matti Päts (Estonia).
Last week the Central Staff Committee at the EPO contacted staff regarding "Social Dialogue" sought with the man who turned "Social Dialogue" down and sent various cronies of his to meetings so that he won't even need to attend (heck, he's too busy campaigning against rivals, so what's the use speaking to EPO staff that he is besieging?).
The message to staff is similar to what was sent to the "Pretender" (as some call it):
Open letter to the President Dear Colleagues,The Central Staff Committee (CSC), newly elected by the staff of the Office invites the President to a meeting before the summer break. After several years during which contacts between the President and the CSC have been extremely limited, the beginning of a new mandate provides a timely opportunity to re-establish a regular and constructive social dialogue.
The CSC has observed a significant decline in staff engagement and a growing sense of detachment from the Office. The following issues are of significant concern to staff, which the CSC would like to address with highest priority: fixed-term employment, provision of health services, career development, transparent recruitment, formalities officers.
Read more in this open letter to the President.
It is like a longer version of the above.
European Patent Office
80298 Munich
GermanyCentral Staff Committee
Comité central du personnel
Zentraler PersonalausschusscentralSTCOM@epo.org
Reference: sc26054cl
Date: 16/07/2026
European Patent Office | 80298 MUNICH | GERMANY
To: Mr António Campinos (President of the Office)
Cc: Social DialogueBy email:
To: president@epo.org
Cc: socialdialogue@epo.orgOPEN LETTER
Invitation to renew social dialogue
Dear Mr President,
The Central Staff Committee (CSC), newly elected by the staff of the Office, would like to invite you to a meeting before the summer break. Having completed the internal organisation and the nominations to the statutory bodies, the CSC would now like to turn to the substantive issues facing the Office and its staff. After several years during which contacts between the President and the CSC have been extremely limited, the beginning of a new mandate provides a timely opportunity to re-establish a regular and constructive social dialogue.
The CSC has observed a significant decline in staff engagement and a growing sense of detachment from the Office. The following issues are of significant concern to staff, which the CSC would like to address with highest priority:
Fixed-term employment. The CSC would like to discuss the situation of colleagues employed under successive five-year contracts. The CSC believes that clearer pathways toward permanent employment should be established where justified. The EPO system is highly unusual in the public services of the Contracting States, where staff performing permanent tasks would normally enjoy greater employment security. The CSC believes that the current approach should be reviewed to provide a more sustainable employment framework for affected colleagues.
Provision of health services. The quality of service has suffered in recent years. The new “MyHealth” portal and AI “Health Advisor”, which has replaced more personal contact with the health and safety staff, is insufficient for the needs of staff. Furthermore, the CSC is aware of more and more problems with direct reimbursement to hospitals in Berlin, Munich, The Hague and Vienna, and an increase in cases of Cigna requesting extensive documentation causing sometimes impassable barriers to employees receiving reimbursement for their health expenses.
Career development. The CSC believes that a clearer and better codified mechanism should be introduced to take contributions over several years into account. Within the overall budget allocated to rewards and bonuses, a larger share should be devoted to pensionable rewards in order to strengthen such long-term recognition.
Transparent recruitment. The CSC would like to discuss ways to further strengthen transparency and staff confidence in recruitment procedures. Annex II, 1.2. ServRegs provides that the President may invite any staff committee to choose an employee to participate in the selection proceedings. This provision has only rarely been used. The CSC believes that staff participation should become again the rule rather than the exception.
Formalities Officers. The CSC is concerned about colleagues whose functions are affected shortly before the retirement age, when opportunities to compete successfully for other posts within the Office are naturally limited. An exchange on measures that could provide greater security and fairness for these staff members is highly welcome.
Even though the Office is currently facing major social unrest, the CSC believes that an open exchange of views at the beginning of the new mandate would be beneficial for both the Office and its staff. The CSC sees this meeting as an opportunity not only to present the concerns and expectations of staff, but equally to hear your views on the future development of the Office and on how you envisage rebuilding a constructive and effective social dialogue.
Sincerely yours,
Derek Kelly
Chair of the Central Staff Committee
Will the "Pretender" write back? Time will tell. █