In this rule 'the European Court' means the Court of Justice of the European Communities and 'order' means an order referring a question to the European Court for a preliminary ruling under article 177 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, article 150 of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community or article 41 of the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community.

An order may be made by the judge before or at the trial or hearing of any claim and either of his own initiative or on the application of any party.

An order shall set out in a schedule the request for the preliminary ruling of the European Court, and the judge may give directions as to the manner and form in which the schedule is to be prepared.

The proceedings in which an order is made shall, unless the judge otherwise orders, be stayed until the European Court has given a preliminary ruling on the question referred to it.

When an order has been made, the court officer shall send a copy thereof to the Senior Master for transmission to the Registrar of the European Court; but, unless the judge otherwise orders, the copy shall not be sent to the Senior Master until the time for appealing to the Court of Appeal against the order has expired or, if an appeal is entered within that time, until the appeal has been determined or otherwise disposed of.

Nothing in these rules shall authorise the district judge to make an order.