L 337/40 Official Journal of the European Communities 12.12.98 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 7 December 1998 amending the Council’s Rules of Procedure (98/709/EC, ECSC, Euratom) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 151(3) thereof, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, and in particular Article 30(3) thereof, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 121(3) thereof, Whereas it has become necessary to amend the Council’s Rules of Procedure (); Whereas the European Central Bank possesses a power of initiative in the Community decision-making process under the conditions laid down in the Treaty establishing the European Community; Whereas the order in which the Presidency of the Council is held by the Member States is laid down by the Council; Whereas a simplified written procedure is needed for consultation by the Council of other institutions or bodies, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 The Council’s Rules of Procedure are hereby amended as follows: () Decision 93/662/EC (OJ L 304, 10. 12. 1993, p. 1). Decision as amended by Decision 95/24/EC, Euratom, ECSC (O] L 31, 10. 2. 1995, p. 14). (a) Article 4(2) shall be replaced by the following: 2. The Commission shall be invited to take part in meetings of the Council. The same shall apply to the European Central Bank in cases where the latter exer- cises its right of initiative. The Council may, however, decide to deliberate without the presence of the Commission or of the European Central Bank.; (b) Article 7(2) shall be replaced by the following: 2. The members of the Council shall vote in the order of the Member States fixed in accordance with Atrticle 27 of the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), Article 146 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (EC) and Article 116 of the Treaty establishing the Euro- pean Atomic Energy Community (EAEC), beginning with the member who, according to that order, follows the member holding the office of President.’; (c) the following subparagraph shall be added to Article 8(4): ‘The Council may also, on the initiative of the Pres- idency and for the purposes of deciding to consult other institutions or bodies, act by means of a simpli- tied written procedure in all cases in which consulta- tion is required by Community legislation. In such cases the decision to consult shall be deemed to be adopted at the end of the deadline set by the Pres- idency according to the urgency of the matter, unless a member of the Council objects.’