▁and ▁France ▁will ▁stay ▁the ▁main ▁proceed ing ▁until ▁a ▁final ▁decision ▁has ▁been ▁reached ▁by ▁the ▁E PO ▁whereas ▁in ▁Germany , ▁Italy , ▁the ▁Netherlands ▁and ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁Kingdom ▁such ▁a ▁stay ▁is ▁not ▁automatic ▁and ▁in ▁most ▁cases ▁the ▁courts ▁will ▁continue ▁the ▁proceed ings ▁not with standing ▁the ▁opposition . ▁... ▁However , ▁in ▁Germany ▁national ▁null ity ▁proceed ings ▁cannot ▁be ▁started ▁before ▁the ▁Federal ▁Pat ent ▁Court ▁until ▁the ▁E PO ▁opposition ▁proceed ings ▁have ▁been ▁concluded ▁or ▁the ▁opposition ▁period ▁has ▁exp ired ." ▁ ▁Com position ▁of ▁an ▁O pp osition ▁Division ▁ ▁According ▁to ▁, ▁"[ a ] n ▁O pp osition ▁Division ▁shall ▁consist ▁of ▁three ▁techn ically ▁qualified ▁exam in ers , ▁at ▁least ▁two ▁of ▁whom ▁shall ▁not ▁have ▁taken ▁part ▁in ▁the ▁proceed ings ▁for ▁grant ▁of ▁the ▁pat ent ▁to ▁which ▁the ▁opposition ▁rel ates . ▁An ▁exam iner ▁who ▁has ▁taken ▁part ▁in ▁the ▁proceed ings ▁for ▁the ▁grant ▁of ▁the ▁European ▁pat ent ▁may ▁not ▁be ▁the ▁Chair man ." ▁Vi ol ations ▁of ▁Article ▁ 1 9 ( 2 ) ▁E PC ▁are ▁considered ▁to ▁be ▁substantial ▁proced ural ▁viol ations . ▁If ▁an ▁O pp osition ▁Division ▁cons iders ▁it ▁necessary ▁in ▁a ▁particular ▁case , ▁the ▁O pp osition ▁Division ▁may ▁be ▁en larg ed ▁by ▁the ▁addition ▁of ▁a ▁leg ally ▁qualified ▁exam iner ▁( who ▁cannot ▁" have ▁taken ▁part ▁in ▁the ▁proceed ings ▁for ▁grant ▁of ▁the ▁pat ent ").