TITLE VI - THE FUNCTIONING OF THE UNION
CHAPTER I - PROVISIONS GOVERNING THE INSTITUTIONS
SECTION 2 - THE UNION'S ADVISORY BODIES
Subsection 1 - The Committee of the Regions
ARTICLE III-386
The number of members of the Committee of the Regions shall not exceed 350. The Council, acting unanimously on a proposal from the Commission, shall adopt a European decision determining the Committee's composition.
The members of the Committee and an equal number of alternate members shall be appointed for five years. Their term of office shall be renewable. No member of the Committee shall at the same time be a member of the European Parliament.
The Council shall adopt the European decision establishing the list of members
and alternate members drawn up in accordance with the proposals made by each
Member State.
When the mandate referred to in Article I-32(2) on the basis of which they were
proposed comes to an end, the term of office of members of the Committee shall
terminate automatically and they shall then be replaced for the remainder of
the said term of office in accordance with the same procedure.
ARTICLE III-387
The Committee of the Regions shall elect its chairman and officers from among its members for a term of two and a half years.
It shall be convened by its chairman at the request of the European Parliament,
of the Council or of the Commission. It may also meet on its own initiative.
It shall adopt its Rules of Procedure.
ARTICLE III-388
The Committee of the Regions shall be consulted by the European Parliament, by the Council or by the Commission where the Constitution so provides and in all other cases in which one of these institutions considers it appropriate, in particular those which concern cross-border cooperation.
The European Parliament, the Council or the Commission shall, if it considers it necessary, set the Committee, for the submission of its opinion, a time-limit which shall not be less than one month from the date on which the chairman receives notification to this effect. Upon expiry of the time-limit, the absence of an opinion shall not prevent further action.
Where the Economic and Social Committee is consulted, the Committee of the Regions
shall be informed by the European Parliament, the Council or the Commission
of the request for an opinion.
Where it considers that specific regional interests are involved, the Committee
of the Regions may issue an opinion on the matter. It may also issue an opinion
on its own initiative.
The opinion of the Committee, together with a record of its proceedings, shall
be forwarded to the European Parliament, to the Council and to the Commission.