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Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament
9th parliamentary term - December, 2019
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CONTENTS
NOTE TO THE READER
COMPENDIUM OF THE MAIN LEGAL ACTS RELATED TO THE RULES OF PROCEDURE

TITLE V : RELATIONS WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES
CHAPTER 3 : PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

Rule 139 : Major interpellations for written answer

1.   Major interpellations shall consist of questions for written answer put to the Council, the Commission or the Vice-President of the Commission/High-Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy by a political group.

2.   The major interpellation shall be of general interest and shall be submitted in writing to the President. It shall not exceed 500 words. Provided that the major interpellation is in accordance with the provisions of the Rules in general, the President shall immediately transmit it to the addressee for a written answer.

3.   There shall be maximum 30 major interpellations every year. The Conference of Presidents shall ensure a fair distribution of such interpellations among the political groups, and no political group shall submit more than one per month.

4.   If the addressee fails to answer the major interpellation within six weeks of being forwarded to it, the interpellation shall, at the request of the author, be placed on the final draft agenda of Parliament in accordance with the procedure provided for in Rule 157 and subject to paragraph 6.

5.   On receipt of the written answer, if Members or a political group or groups reaching at least the medium threshold so request, the major interpellation shall be placed on the final draft agenda of Parliament in accordance with the procedure provided for in Rule 157 and subject to paragraph 6.

6.   The number of major interpellations debated during the same part-session shall not exceed three. If debates are requested for more than three major interpellations during the same part-session, the Conference of Presidents shall include them in the final draft agenda in the order it has received those requests for debate.

7.   A Member designated in advance by the author, or by those requesting the debate in accordance with paragraph 5, shall move the major interpellation in Parliament. If that Member is not present, the major interpellation shall lapse. The addressee shall answer.

Rule 132(2) to (8) concerning the tabling of, and voting on, motions for resolutions shall apply mutatis mutandis.

8.   Such interpellations, as well as the answers to them, shall be published on Parliament's website.

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