The Republic of Moldova officially became the 40th member state of the European Patent Organisation (EPO) on 1 June 2026 following the deposit of its instrument of accession to the European Patent Convention (EPC) on 25 March 2026.

As a result of the accession, all European patent applications filed on or after 1 June 2026 automatically include the designation of the Republic of Moldova. This expands the territorial scope of protection available through the European patent system and further enhances the value of European patents as intangible assets.

A Long-Standing Partnership with the European Patent System

Cooperation between the European Patent Office and the Moldovan State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI) dates back to the mid-1990s. A significant milestone was reached in October 2013 with the signing of a validation agreement, which entered into force on 1 November 2015.

Under the validation system, applicants could extend the effects of European patents to Moldova without filing a separate national patent application. The validation framework served as an important step towards Moldova’s deeper integration into the European patent system and ultimately paved the way for accession to the EPC.

Automatic Designation in European Patent Applications

From 1 June 2026 onwards, the Republic of Moldova is automatically designated in all European patent applications filed with the European Patent Office.

Applicants should note that Moldova cannot be designated retroactively in European patent applications filed before 1 June 2026.

To accommodate applicants seeking protection in Moldova, the EPO announced a transitional measure under which European patent applications filed during May 2026 may be accorded a filing date of 1 June 2026, provided that the applicant expressly requests this at the time of filing.

Impact on International (PCT) Applications

The accession also affects international applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

As of 1 June 2026:

  • Moldovan nationals and residents may file international patent applications with the EPO acting as Receiving Office;
  • PCT applications filed on or after 1 June 2026 automatically designate Moldova for the purpose of obtaining a European patent; and
  • Euro-PCT applications based on international applications filed before 1 June 2026 cannot result in a European patent covering Moldova.

Accordingly, only international applications having a filing date on or after 1 June 2026 may benefit from Moldova’s status as an EPC contracting state.

End of the Validation System

With Moldova’s accession to the EPC, the Moldova-EPO validation agreement terminated on 1 June 2026.

As a consequence:

  • European and international patent applications filed on or after 1 June 2026 can no longer be validated in Moldova;
  • Moldova is now covered through the ordinary EPC designation system; and
  • the validation regime remains applicable only to European and international applications filed before 1 June 2026, including divisional applications derived from such earlier filings.

European patents granted from those earlier applications may continue to rely on the validation mechanism where applicable.

European Patent Protection Across a Market of More Than 715 Million People

Following Moldova’s accession, the European Patent Organisation now comprises 40 member states, including all European Union member states as well as Albania, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Moldova.

Through the EPO’s centralized examination procedure, applicants may seek patent protection across:

  • 40 EPC member states;
  • 1 extension state (Bosnia and Herzegovina); and
  • 5 validation states (Morocco, Tunisia, Cambodia, Georgia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic).

Together, these jurisdictions represent a market of more than 715 million people.