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Adopted text

Extending Rule 168 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure until the end of the 10th parliamentary term

TA-9-2024-0136 · P9_TA(2024)0136 · PE760.467

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Parliament decides to extend Rule 168 of its Rules of Procedure until the end of the tenth parliamentary term. Rule 168 allows derogations from the rule that all documents are drawn up in all official languages and that Members may speak in the official language of their choice with interpretation. The extension is based on expected shortages of interpreters for Irish and Maltese and of qualified translators for Irish, which would prevent full coverage under Rule 167.

Key points

  1. Parliament decides to extend Rule 168 of its Rules of Procedure until the end of the tenth parliamentary term.
  2. Under Rule 167, all Parliament's documents are drawn up in the official languages and all Members have the right to speak in the official language of their choice, with interpretation provided into the other official languages.
  3. Under Rule 168, derogations from Rule 167 are permissible until the end of the ninth parliamentary term if interpreters or translators for an official language are not available in sufficient numbers despite adequate precautions.
  4. For each official language for which a derogation is considered necessary, the Bureau, on a proposal from the Secretary-General and having regard to any temporary special arrangements adopted by the Council, must ascertain whether the conditions are fulfilled and review its decision every six months.
  5. The derogation for Irish as regards legal acts of general application laid down in Council Regulation (EC) No 920/2005 lapsed as from 1 January 2022.
  6. Despite all adequate precautions, capacity in Irish and Maltese is not expected to allow a full interpretation service in those languages from the beginning of the tenth parliamentary term.
  7. Despite sustained interinstitutional efforts and considerable progress, the number of qualified translators for Irish is still expected to be so limited that full coverage under Rule 167 cannot be assured for documents other than legal acts of general application for the foreseeable future.
  8. Rule 168(4) provides that, on the basis of a reasoned recommendation from the Bureau, Parliament may decide, at the end of the parliamentary term, to extend that Rule.
  9. The Bureau has recommended that Rule 168 be extended until the end of the tenth parliamentary term.

Who is affected

  • Members of the European Parliament, who may face limits on speaking and receiving documents in Irish and Maltese.
  • The Bureau, which must ascertain whether conditions for derogations are fulfilled and review its decision every six months.
  • The Secretary-General, who proposes derogations to the Bureau.
  • The Council and the Commission, which are informed of the decision.

Figures and deadlines

  • 1 January 2022: date from which the derogation for Irish as regards legal acts of general application lapsed.

Legal basis: Article 342 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union