Article 71

1. As regards opposition, revocation and declaration of invalidity and appeal proceedings, the competent department or Board of Appeal may suspend proceedings:

(a) of its own motion where a suspension is appropriate under the circumstances of the case;

(b) at the reasoned request of one of the parties in inter partes proceedings where a suspension is appropriate under the circumstances of the case, taking into account the interests of the parties and the stage of the proceedings.

2. At the request of both parties in inter partes proceedings, the competent department or Board of Appeal shall suspend the proceedings for a period which shall not exceed six months. That suspension may be extended upon a request of both parties up to a total maximum of two years.

3. Any time limits related to the proceedings in question, other than the time limits for the payment of the applicable fee, shall be interrupted as from the date of suspension. Without prejudice to Article 170(5) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the time limits shall be recalculated to begin in full as from the day on which the proceedings are resumed.

4. Where appropriate under the circumstances of the case, the parties may be invited to submit their observations as regards the suspension or resumption of the proceedings.