The Assembly,
1. Noting that the provisions set out in Rule 28 (2) and Rule 46 (5) of the Rules of Procedure concerning the time-limits for the tabling of committee reports and draft texts to be voted on by the Assembly have proved difficult to enforce ;
2. Being aware nonetheless that its members need time, before sessions and before each particular debate, to study the texts and documents on which they are required to state their views ;
3. Being anxious to ensure that its procedure is sufficiently flexible to take account of current developments and any new factors which may arise ;
4. Considering the report of its Committee on Rules of Procedure (Doc. 3221),
5. Resolves to amend its Rules of Procedure as follows :
(a) Replace paragraph 2 of Rule 28 by the following two paragraphs (the present paragraph 3 to become paragraph 4) :
"2. This report shall be distributedNote at least one week before the opening or resumption of the session. If the committee is unable to adopt its final report in time, an interim report may be distributed. Failing distribution of the report or interim report within this time-limit, and except in the case of urgent procedure in accordance with Rule 47 below, the President shall order the debate to be postponed until a later part-session, if at least five members of the Assembly so request.
3. The texts shall be examined on the basis of the committee's draft. Such examination shall not take place sooner than 24 hours after the distributionNote of the draft, save where Rule 47 below on urgent procedure or Rule 30 (6) on the reference of amendments to committee is applied."
(b) Replace paragraph 5 of Rule 46 by the following paragraph :
"5. The reports relating to questions placed on the agenda of the Assembly shall be distributed within the time-limit laid down in Rule 28 (2) above."