"An important step to intensify technological innovation in Europe was taken last week with the conclusion of an agreement of a recommendation for a Unified Patent Litigation System (UPLS) for the EU. Announcing this breakthrough, the Internal Market Commissioner, Charlie McCreevy said: "European businesses find the current patent litigation system complex, slow and costly." He predicted that the new unified system, with a dedicated unified patent court, would make patent litigation more predictable, faster and less expensive."
Source: http://www.eurunion.org/eu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3365&Itemid=57