IF YOU WANT PROTECTION EXCLUSIVELY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION...
The European Union trademark system is complementary to the International trademark system and permits trademark protection in all the European Union.
The EU trademark is unique for all the EU Countries; therefore, you cannot apply for its registration in respect of just some of the above mentioned Countries: either all or no one.
It is not necessary to base the EU trademark application on a prior national trademark application or registration.
The EU trademark application is filed with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) seated at Alicante, Spain and is submitted to examination under formal and absolute grounds of registrability. If EUIPO allows the mark to registration, it is published for opposition purposes; in absence of oppositions, registration is definitively granted.
You have to bear in mind that the existence of grounds for refusal of the trademark in a single EU Country is for itself sufficient to bar the registration of the EU trademark as a whole. Before proceeding to the EU trademark filing, we therefore suggest you to carry out a trademark search in the European Union.
The EU trademark is effective for 10 years from the filing date and is renewable for further ten-year periods. Once granted, the EC trademark co-exists with national trademarks registered in the EU Countries and with International trademarks.
Its use in a sole EU Country or in a relevant part of a EU Country is for itself sufficient to avoid its withdrawal for non-use on demand of third interested parties.