Article 31Scrutiny of an objection
1.Where the Commission does not reject the objection in accordance with Article 23(3) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/34, it shall communicate the objection to the applicant that submitted the application and shall invite the applicant to file observations within the time period referred to in Article 24(1) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/34. Any observations received within this period shall be communicated to the objector.
In the course of its scrutiny of an objection, the Commission shall request the parties to provide comments, if appropriate, within the time period referred to in Article 24(2) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/34, on the communications received from the other parties.
2.Where the applicant or the objector do not file any observations in response, or where the time periods for filing observations and for submitting comments referred to in Article 24 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/34 are not respected, the Commission shall proceed to rule on the objection.
3.A decision to reject or recognise the traditional term in question shall be taken by the Commission on the basis of the evidence available to it. The Commission shall consider whether the conditions referred to or laid down in Articles 27, 32 or 33 of this Regulation are fulfilled. A decision to reject the traditional term shall be notified to the objector and to the applicant.
4.Where multiple objections are lodged, a preliminary examination of one or more such objections may prevent an application for protection from proceeding. In these circumstances, the Commission may suspend the other objection procedures. The Commission shall inform the other objectors of any decision affecting them which was taken in the course of the procedure.
Where an application is rejected, objection procedures which have been suspended shall be deemed to be closed and the objectors concerned shall be duly informed.