4.Disciplinary Committee election 2026

The members of the Disciplinary Committee are elected by the Council from among the members of the Institute.

In May 2026, 39 members (one per Member State of the European Patent Organisation) will be elected. The election in May 2026 is anticipated to be the last election of members of the Disciplinary Committee. The term of the members will end when a new Regulation on Discipline comes into effect, which is anticipated to be on 1 January 2027. At that time, the Disciplinary Committee will likely cease to exist and will be replaced by the Disciplinary Board of the Institute.

It is expected that elections for the Disciplinary Board of the Institute will take place at the Council meeting in November 2026.
Members of the Disciplinary Committee may also stand for election as legal members and/or professional representative members of the Disciplinary Board.


Task of the Committee:
The Disciplinary Committee is set up under the Regulation on discipline for professional representatives adopted by the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation on October 21, 1977 (“1977 RDR”).The Disciplinary Committee decides on alleged breaches of the Rules of Professional Conduct as the first part of the first instance of the disciplinary system set out in the 1977 RDR and following its Additional Rules of Procedure.

The members of the Disciplinary Committee are independent and enjoy immunity for their activities in the context of the 1977 RDR. Disciplinary Chambers are set up by the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee at the beginning of each term. A Chamber may consider up to 3 cases per year.

Additional information can be found in:

• Article 11 of the Founding Regulation
• Regulation on discipline for professional representatives
• Additional Rules of Procedure of the Disciplinary Committee of the Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office