WIPO

CRNR/DC/8 ORIGINAL: English DATE: December 3, 1996

The Delegation of the United States of America proposes that the following text replace current draft Rule 2(2) and draft Rules 33(1) and 33(3) to address the question of voting rights of the Special Delegation of the European Community. The text of Rule 33(2) would remain as is found in document CRNR/DC/2, but is reproduced below for convenience.

Rule 2(2): Composition of the Conference

(2) References in these Rules of Procedure to Member Delegations shall be considered, except as otherwise provided (see Rules 11(2), 33 and 34), as references also to the Special Delegation.

Rule 33: Right to vote

(1) The Special Delegation has no right to vote and, for purposes of paragraph (2) of this Rule and Rule 34, the Special Delegation is not covered by the term "Member Delegations."

(2) Each Member Delegation shall have the right to vote. A Member Delegation shall have one vote, may represent itself only and may vote in its name only.

(3) The Special Delegation may, under the authority of the European Community, exercise the rights to vote of the Member States of the European Community which are represented at the Diplomatic Conference, provided that

(i) the Special Delegation shall not exercise the rights to vote of the Member States of the European Community if the Member States exercise their rights to vote and vice versa, and

(ii) the number of votes cast by the Special Delegation shall in no case exceed the number of Member States of the European Community that are represented at the Diplomatic Conference and that are present at and entitled to participate in the vote.