9. Interpretation of the Rules of Procedure

The President informed the House, under Rule 211(3), of the following interpretation of Rule 159(3), provided by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, which had been consulted on the application of that provision:

Rule 159(3) is to be interpreted as meaning that, where there is a tied vote on a draft recommendation under Rule 128(4) not to intervene in proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union, such a tie does not signify the adoption of a recommendation that Parliament should intervene in those proceedings. In such a case, the committee responsible is to be deemed not to have expressed any recommendation.

If this interpretation was not contested by a political group or by at least 40 Members, in accordance with Rule 211(4), up until the opening of the following day's sitting, Tuesday 16 April 2013, it would be deemed to have been adopted. Otherwise, the matter would be put to the vote in Parliament.