The Enlarged Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office today issued the reasons for its decision G 1/21 (Oral proceedings by videoconference) of 16 July 2021, in which it ruled that oral proceedings before the Boards of Appeal can, during a period of general emergency impairing the parties' possibilities to attend in-person oral proceedings at the EPO premises, be held by videoconference even without the consent of the parties.
Press Communiqué of 28 October 2021 on referral G 1/21 to the Enlarged Board of Appeal:
https://www.epo.org/law-practice/case-law-appeals/communications/2021/20211028.html
Full text of the decision:
http://documents.epo.org/projects/babylon/eponet.nsf/0/43D9B1DE7A0D8BE5C125877B004835E9/$File/G_1_21_Decision_of_the_EBoA_of_16_July_2021_EN.pdf