1. The Agency shall submit a statement of defence within 1 month following the date of notification of the appeal.

2. In cases where the interlocutory revision in Article 13 is applicable, a statement of defence may be submitted for points 2(c) and (d). The reasons provided in point (b) shall act as a statement of defence.

3. The statement of defence shall contain reasons and provide all supporting documents.

4. Where the Agency fails to submit a statement of defence the proceedings shall continue without it.

Article 15

Intervention

1. The Board of Appeal may grant any person demonstrating a legitimate interest in the result of the proceedings, the right to intervene in the proceedings before it.

2. An application to intervene shall be submitted within 10 working days following the publication of the announcement of the appeal on the website of the Agency.

3. The application to intervene shall be notified to the parties to give them the opportunity to make any observations they consider necessary before the Board of Appeal delivers its decision on the intervention.

4. The intervention shall support or oppose in whole or in part the remedy sought by one of the parties. The intervention shall not confer the same procedural rights as those already conferred on the parties.

Article 16

Content of the application to intervene

1. The application to intervene shall contain:

(a) the name and address of the intervener;

(b) the name and the address of the representative of the intervener, if applicable;

(d) reference to the proceedings for which the application is submitted;

(e) a statement in support of or opposing, in whole or in part, the remedy sought by one of the parties;

(f) the pleas and the arguments of fact and law relied on;

(g) the relevant supporting evidence, where appropriate.

2. After the intervention has been submitted, the Chairperson shall prescribe a time-limit of a maximum of 10 working days within which the parties may reply to the intervention.

Article 17

Request for Suspension

1. The Board of Appeal may grant a suspension of the contested decision where appellants have demonstrated that there is urgent need to grant a suspension for the preservation of their rights and interests due to a risk of serious and irreparable damage to those rights and interests.

2. The Chairperson may invite the opposing party to submit written observations on the request.

Article 18

Stay of Proceedings

1. The Board of Appeal may order a stay of proceedings by agreement of all parties involved in the appeal for a maximum period of 10 working days.

2. The order shall state the duration of stay and the reasons for it.

3. While proceedings are stayed all procedural time-limits shall be suspended.