Brussels, 11/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 9 July, the European Parliament adopted the report by Richard Corbett (PES, UK) amending EP standing orders on the formation of political groups. The new rules approved on Wednesday will mean that, after the European elections of June 2009, a minimum of 25 members from at least 7 different member states will be required to constitute a political group. Currently, a group can be formed with a minimum of 20 MEPs (or 2.5% of MEPs) from at least 6 member states. The new rules also contain a special arrangement for political groups which, over the course of the Parliament, fall below the threshold of 25 members from at least 7 different member states (resulting, for example, from resignations, defections or exclusions): groups in such circumstances will be able to continue to operate until the next constitutive part-session, provided that they have been in existence for more than a year and their members represent at least one fifth of member states. The EP president could decide not to apply this derogation if there are sufficient reasons for thinking that the system is being abused. The amendments adopted will come into force after the 2009 European elections. Following a lively debate, MEPs approved the Corbett report by 481 votes to 203, with 26 abstentions. Previously, Bruno Gollnisch (NI, France) had called for the report to be sent back to the parliamentary committee, but his request was rejected. (H.B./transl.rt)