The European Parliament adopted by 433 votes to 209, with 20 abstentions, a decision to extend Rule 159 of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure until the end of the ninth parliamentary term.

Members recalled that, pursuant to Rule 158, all Parliament’s documents are to be drawn up in the official languages, and all Members have the right to speak in Parliament in the official language of their choice, with interpretation being provided into the other official languages.

Under Rule 159, derogations from Rule 158 are permissible until the end of the eighth parliamentary term if and to the extent that, despite adequate precautions having been taken, the linguists required for an official language are not available in sufficient numbers.

Parliament considered that despite considerable progress to improve the situation, the number of qualified translators is still expected to be so limited as regards Irish that, for the foreseeable future, full coverage of that language under Rule 158 cannot be assured. In addition, pursuant to Council Regulations (EC) No 920/2005 and (EU, Euratom) 2015/2264, a growing number of legal acts has to be translated into Irish, which reduces the possibility to translate other parliamentary documents into that language.

In view of these elements, Parliament decided, following the Bureau's recommendations, to extend Rule 159 of the European Parliament's Rules of Procedure until the end of the ninth parliamentary term.