5. Language used by employees of the EPO 

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

However, employees may not use a different language 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.