P6_TA(2006)0508

Revision of Rule 139 of the Rules of Procedure

European Parliament decision on amendment of Rule 139 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure, Transitional Rules on Languages (2006/2244(REG))

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the letter from its President of 20 July 2006,

- having regard to Rules 201 and 202 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (A6-0391/2006),

A. whereas on 1 April 2004 Parliament incorporated into its Rules of Procedure a provision which, in applying Parliament's rules on languages to the nine new languages added in May 2004, allows it, until 31 December 2006, to take account, "exceptionally, ... of the availability in real terms and sufficient numbers of the requisite interpreters and translators",

B. whereas, however, the progress made in respect of those languages does not allow this provisional arrangement to be discontinued without replacement at the end of this year, and whereas, on the contrary, the possibility of extending it should be used,

C. whereas the same difficulties will be experienced for a certain period in the case of Bulgarian and Romanian, the languages to be added on 1 January 2007, and whereas the Irish language, which is also to become an official language on the same date, poses particular practical problems,

D. whereas the present transitional arrangements should be reformulated and extended until the end of the current parliamentary term in order to take account of this state of affairs,

E. whereas the achievement of full multilingualism, as defined in Rule 138 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure, remains the ultimate goal,

1. Decides to amend its Rules of Procedure as shown below;

2. Decides that this amendment will enter into force on 1 January 2007;

3. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and the Commission, for information.

PRESENT TEXT | AMENDMENT |

Amendment 1

Rule 139

1. Exceptionally, in applying Rule 138, account shall be taken, with regard to the official languages of the Member States which acceded to the European Union on 1 May 2004, as of that date and until 31 December 2006, of the availability in real terms and sufficient numbers of the requisite interpreters and translators. | 1. During a transitional period extending until the end of the sixth parliamentary term, derogations from the provisions of Rule 138 shall be permissible if and to the extent that, despite adequate precautions, interpreters or translators for an official language are not available in sufficient numbers. |

2. The Secretary-General shall each quarter submit a detailed report to the Bureau on the progress made towards full application of Rule 138, and shall send a copy thereof to all Members. | 2. The Bureau, on a proposal from the Secretary-General, shall ascertain with respect to each of the official languages concerned whether the conditions set out in paragraph 1 are fulfilled, and shall review its decision at six-monthly intervals on the basis of a progress report from the Secretary-General. The Bureau shall adopt the necessary implementing rules. |

| 2a. The temporary special arrangements adopted by the Council on the basis of the Treaties concerning the drafting of legal acts, with the exception of regulations adopted jointly by the European Parliament and the Council, shall apply. |

3. On a reasoned recommendation from the Bureau, Parliament may decide at any time to repeal this Rule early or, at the end of the period indicated in paragraph 1, to extend it. | 3. On a reasoned recommendation from the Bureau, Parliament may decide at any time to repeal this Rule early or, at the end of the period indicated in paragraph 1, to extend it. |

--------------------------------------------------