"Norway is set to become the 33rd member of the European Patent Organisation on 1 January 2008, according to a decision taken by parliament this week.
In its session on 11 June the parliament voted to ratify and accede to the European Patent Convention (EPC), with only the votes of the Christian People's Party (Kristeleg folkeparti) opposing the move.
As a participant and signatory at the 1973 Munich diplomatic conference, the Scandinavian country has been entitled to join since the EPO was founded. It is the only participant that has not yet become a member of the Organisation.
Norway will deposit the instruments of ratification with the German government in October, in accordance with the rules set out in the EPC, so that it will become a member at the start of 2008."
Obviously the accession to EPC and the approval of the NPI Agreement have been in one and the same package nodded through by the Norwegian Parliament on June 11, 2007.
EPO website:
NPI Agreement have been in one and the same package nodded through by the Norwegian Parliament on June 11, 2007.