According to the established practice, the closing of the debate marks the last moment in the oral proceedings at which parties can still make submissions (G 12/91, OJ 1994, 285; R 10/08; R 14/10).

As to the issue of interpreting costs during oral proceedings, see in this chapter III.C.8.2.; for the application of R. 4 EPC see chapter III.F.3. "Derogations from the language of the proceedings in written proceedings and in oral proceedings".

In R 17/09 the Enlarged Board held that to allow or refuse a recording of the oral proceedings was a matter of discretion for the board concerned (see also T 1938/09 of 9 March 2015 date: 2015-03-09). Refusal to allow recording could not be treated as a procedural violation.