Rule 159 : Transitional arrangement

1.   During a transitional period expiring at the end of the eighth parliamentary term (1), derogations from Rule 158 shall be permissible if and to the extent that, despite adequate precautions having been taken, interpreters or translators for an official language are not available in sufficient numbers.

2.   The Bureau, on a proposal from the Secretary-General and having due regard to the arrangements referred to in paragraph 3, shall ascertain with respect to each of the official languages concerned whether the conditions set out in paragraph 1 are fulfilled. The Bureau shall, on the basis of a progress report from the Secretary-General, review its decision to permit a derogation at six-monthly intervals. The Bureau shall adopt the necessary implementing rules.

3.   The temporary special arrangements adopted by the Council on the basis of the Treaties concerning the drafting of legal acts shall apply.

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