All parties must be duly summoned to oral proceedings by notification. The summons must state the subject and the date and time of the oral proceedings.

The summons will also be accompanied by a note drawing attention to the points which need to be discussed, will normally contain the provisional and non-binding opinion of the Division and will also fix a date up to which written submissions may be filed or documents which meet the requirements of the EPC may be submitted (see also D-VI, 3.2).

At least two months' notice of the summons must be given unless the parties agree to a shorter period. The summons must state that if a party duly summoned does not appear as summoned, the proceedings may continue without him.

Opposition proceedings as a rule, even oral proceedings requested on the basis of totally different grounds for opposition, should be conducted as a single set of proceedings.