EUROPEAN PATENT CONVENTION: PART I - GENERAL AND INSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS, Chapter V - Financial provisions, Article 49

Article 49 - Auditing of accounts

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Table of Contents

Preface

European Patent Convention

Implementing Regulations

Protocol on Recognition

Protocol on Centralisation

Protocol on Privileges and Immunities

Protocol on the Staff Complement

Rules Relating to Fees

Annex I

Annex II

Alphabetical keyword index

EUROPEAN PATENT CONVENTION- Table of Contents

European Patent Convention

PART I - GENERAL AND INSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS

Chapter V - Financial provisions

Article 49 - Auditing of accounts

Article 49

Auditing of accounts

(1) The income and expenditure account and a balance sheet of the Organisation shall be examined by auditors whose independence is beyond doubt, appointed by the Administrative Council for a period of five years, which shall be renewable or extensible.

(2) The audit, which shall be based on vouchers and shall take place, if necessary, in situ, shall ascertain that all income has been received and all expenditure effected in a lawful and proper manner and that the financial management is sound. The auditors shall draw up a report after the end of each accounting period.

(3) The President of the European Patent Office shall annually submit to the Administrative Council the accounts of the preceding accounting period in respect of the budget and the balance sheet showing the assets and liabilities of the Organisation together with the report of the auditors.

(4) The Administrative Council shall approve the annual accounts together with the report of the auditors and shall give the President of the European Patent Office a discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget.