5. Language used by employees of the EPO 

Employees of the EPO may use in oral proceedings an official language of the EPO other than the language of proceedings. The parties must be informed accordingly prior to the oral proceedings unless it can be reasonably assumed that they would not object to this, e.g. because they have equally requested to use that different official language.

However, employees may not depart from the language of the proceedings without good reason. Unless the parties are competent in the language used, the EPO provides for interpreting into the language of the proceedings at its own expense.