HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"L 6/14
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
9.1.2010
RULES OF PROCEDURE
COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
RULES OF PROCEDURE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
PRELIMINARY COMMENT
TITLE I
MEMBERS AND CONSTITUENT BODIES OF THE COMMITTEE
CHAPTER 1
CONSTITUENT BODIES
Rule 1 — Constituent bodies of the Committee
CHAPTER 2
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
Rule 2 — Status of members and alternates
Rule 3 — Term of office
Rule 4 — Privileges and immunities
Rule 5 — Attendance of members and alternates
Rule 6 — Delegation of vote
Rule 7 — National delegations and political groups
Rule 8 — National delegations
Rule 9 — Political groups and non-attached members
Rule 10 — Interregional groups
TITLE II
ORGANISATION AND PROCEDURE OF THE COMMITTEE
CHAPTER 1
INITIAL CONVENING AND INSTALLATION IN OFFICE OF THE COMMITTEE
Rule 11 — Convening the first meeting
Rule 12 — Installation in office of the Committee and verification of credentials
CHAPTER 2
PLENARY ASSEMBLY
Rule 13 — Tasks of the Plenary Assembly
Rule 14 — Convening the Plenary Assembly

---

EN
9.1.2010 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
6/15
Rule 15 — Agenda for the Plenary Session
Rule 16 — Opening of the Plenary Session
Rule 17 — Admission of the public, guests and guest speakers, topical debate slot
Rule 18 — Speaking time
Rule 19 — List of speakers
Rule 20 — Points of order
Rule 21 — Quorum
Rule 22 — Voting
Rule 23 — Tabling of amendments
Rule 24 — Procedure for dealing with amendments
Rule 25 — Urgent opinions and reports
Rule 26 — Simplified procedures
Rule 27 — Closing of the Plenary Session
Rule 28 — Symbols
CHAPTER 3
THE BUREAU AND THE PRESIDENT
Rule 29 — Composition of the Bureau
Rule 30 — Replacements at Bureau meetings
Rule 31 — Election rules
Rule 32 — Election of the President and the first Vice-President
Rule 33 — Election of the members of the Bureau
Rule 34 — Election of replacements
Rule 35 — By-elections for vacant Bureau seats
Rule 36 — Tasks of the Bureau
Rule 37 — Convening of the Bureau, quorum and decision
Rule 38 — The President
Opinions, reports and resolutions — Procedure in Bureau
Rule 39 — Opinions — Legal bases
Rule 40 — Opinions and reports — Designation of commission
Rule 41 — Appointment of a rapporteur-general
Rule 42 — Own-initiative opinions and reports
Rule 43 — Tabling of resolutions
Rule 44 — Promotion of opinions, reports and resolutions
CHAPTER 4
COMMISSIONS
Rule 45 — Composition and powers
Rule 46 — Chairman and vice-chairmen
Rule 47 — Tasks of commissions
Rule 48 — Convening of commissions and their agendas
Rule 49 — Admission of the public
Rule 50 — Time limits for drawing up opinions and reports
Rule 51 — Content of opinions and reports
Rule 52 — Follow-up to Committee opinions
Rule 53 — Action for infringement of the subsidiarity principle

---

L 6/16
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
9.1.2010
Rule 54 — Failure to carry out obligatory consultation of the Committee
Rule 55 — Report on the impact of opinions
Rule 56 — Rapporteurs
Rule 57 — Working parties
Rule 58 — Experts
Rule 59 — Quorum
Rule 60 — Voting
Rule 61 — Amendments
Rule 62 — Decision not to draw up an opinion or a report
Rule 63 — Written procedure
Rule 64 — Opinions in the form of a letter
Rule 65 — Provisions applicable to commissions
CHAPTER 5
ADMINISTRATION OF THE COMMITTEE
Rule 66 — Secretariat-General
Rule 67 — Secretary-General
Rule 68 — Engagement of Secretary-General
Rule 69 — Staff Regulations of officials and Conditions of Employment of other servants
Rule 70 — Meetings in camera
Rule 71 — Commission for Financial and Administrative Affairs
Rule 72 — Budget
TITLE III
GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 1
COOPERATION WITH OTHER EU BODIES
Rule 73 — Cooperation agreements
Rule 74 — Forwarding and publication of opinions, reports and resolutions
CHAPTER 2
OPENNESS TO THE PUBLIC AND TRANSPARENCY
Rule 75 — Public access to documents
CHAPTER 3
USE OF LANGUAGES
Rule 76 — Interpreting arrangements
CHAPTER 4
RULES OF PROCEDURE
Rule 77 — Revision of Rules of Procedure
Rule 78 — Bureau instructions
Rule 79 — Entry into force of Rules of Procedure
*
* *

---

EN
9.1.2010 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
6/17
INTRODUCTION
5. In the cases referred to in Rule 3(2), a replacement shall be
appointed by the Council for the remainder of the term.
On 3 December 2009 the Committee of the Regions adopted
the following Rules of Procedure on the basis of Article 306,
second paragraph, of the Treaty on the Functioning of the
Rule 4 — Privileges and immunities
European Union
Members and their duly mandated alternates shall enjoy
privileges and immunities in accordance with the Protocol on
PRELIMINARY COMMENT
the Privileges and Immunities of the European Union.
The terms used in these Rules of Procedure for the various
offices are not gender-specific.
Rule 5 — Attendance of members and alternates
1. Any member prevented from taking part in a Plenary
TITLE I
Session may be represented by an alternate from his
national delegation; he may also be represented for a
MEMBERS AND CONSTITUENT BODIES OF THE COMMITTEE
period limited to individual days of the Plenary Session.
All members and their duly mandated alternates shall sign
CHAPTER 1
an attendance list.
CONSTITUENT BODIES
Rule 1 — Constituent bodies of the Committee
2. Any member prevented from taking part in a commission
meeting or any other meeting which has been approved by
The constituent bodies of the Committee shall be the Plenary
the Bureau may be represented by another member or an
Assembly, the President, the Bureau and the commissions.
alternate from his national delegation, political group or
interregional group. All members and their duly mandated
alternates shall sign an attendance list.
CHAPTER 2
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
3. A member or alternate appointed to the list of replacements
Rule 2 — Status of members and alternates
for the members of a working group, established on the
basis of Rule 36 or 57 of the Rules of Procedure, may
Pursuant to Article 300 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the
replace any member of that working group belonging to
European Union, the members and alternates shall be represen
the same political group.
tatives of regional and local bodies. They shall hold a regional
or local authority electoral mandate or shall be politically
accountable to an elected assembly. They may not be bound
4. An alternate or a member acting as an alternate can stand in
by any mandatory instructions and shall be completely inde
for one member only. They shall exercise the same powers
pendent in the performance of their duties, in the general
as a member at the relevant meeting. The Secretariat-General
interest of the Union.
must be notified in line with notification requirements of the
delegation of vote, which must be received no later than the
day before the meeting.
Rule 3 — Term of office
1. The term of office of a member or alternate shall commence
5. At a Plenary Session the expenses of only the member or the
on the date on which his appointment by the Council takes
alternate shall be reimbursed. The detailed provisions shall be
effect.
laid down by the Bureau in the implementing arrangements
regarding travel and subsistence expenses.
2. The term of office of a member or alternate shall be
terminated by resignation, the end of the electoral mandate
6. An alternate who has been appointed rapporteur may
on the basis of which he was appointed, or death.
present the draft opinion or report for which he is
responsible at the Plenary Session at which the draft
opinion or report is on the agenda. This shall apply even
3. A resigning member or alternate must notify the President of
if the member whom he has been designated to replace is
the Committee of his intention in writing, specifying the date
also at the meeting. The member may delegate his vote to
on which his resignation is to take effect. The President shall
his alternate while the draft opinion or report in question is
inform the Council, which shall confirm the vacancy and
being discussed. The Secretary-General must be notified in
implement the replacement procedure.
writing of the delegation of vote before the relevant meeting.
4. A member or alternate whose term of office at the
7. Without prejudice to Rule 23(1), any delegation shall cease
Committee ends because the electoral mandate, on the
to have effect from the moment the member who is unable
basis of which he was appointed, expires shall immediately
to attend ceases to be a member of the Committee of the
inform the President of the Committee of the fact in writing.
Regions.

---

L 6/18
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
9.1.2010
Rule 6 — Delegation of vote
submit proposals to the appointing authority for the
selection, appointment and promotion of such staff and
Except as provided for in Rules 5 and 30, the right to vote may
for extending their contracts. The appointing authority
not be delegated.
shall make its decision after consulting the chairman of
the political group concerned.
Rule 7 — National delegations and political groups
National delegations and political groups shall help in a
5. The Secretary-General shall provide the political groups and
balanced way with the organisation of the Committee’s work.
their constituent bodies with adequate resources for
meetings, activities and publications and for the work of
their secretariats. The resources for each political group
Rule 8 — National delegations
shall be earmarked in the budget. The political groups and
1. The members and alternates from each Member State shall
their secretariats may make appropriate use of the
form a national delegation. Each national delegation shall
Committee’s facilities.
adopt its own internal rules and shall elect a chairman.
The Committee President shall be officially informed of the
name of the person elected.
6. The political groups and their bureaux may meet
immediately before or during Plenary Sessions. They may
hold extraordinary meetings twice a year. An alternate
2. The Secretary-General shall make arrangements, within the
attending these meetings is only entitled to travel and
Committee’s administration, for national delegations to
subsistence expenses if he is representing a member from
receive assistance. These arrangements shall also permit
his political group.
each individual member to receive information and
assistance in his official language. The arrangements shall
form part of a specific service consisting of Committee of
the Regions officials or other servants and shall ensure that
7. Non-attached members shall be provided with administrative
national delegations can make appropriate use of the
support. The detailed arrangements shall be laid down by the
Committee’s facilities. Specifically, the Secretary-General
Bureau on a proposal from the Secretary-General.
shall provide the national delegations with suitable means
for holding meetings immediately before or during Plenary
Sessions.
Rule 10 — Interregional groups
Members and alternates may form interregional groups. They
3. The national delegations shall also be assisted by national
shall inform the Committee President thereof. An interregional
coordinators, who are not part of the staff of the Secretariat-
group shall be duly formed by decision of the Bureau.
General. They contribute to members efficiently executing
their responsibilities as members of the Committee.
*
4. The Secretary-General provides the national coordinators
with appropriate support, in particular to enable them to
* *
make proper use of the Committee’s infrastructures.
Rule 9 — Political groups and non-attached members
TITLE II
1. Members and alternates may form groups which reflect their
political affinities. The criteria for membership shall be laid
ORGANISATION AND PROCEDURE OF THE COMMITTEE
down in the internal rules of each political group.
CHAPTER 1
INITIAL CONVENING AND INSTALLATION IN OFFICE OF THE
2. At least 18 members/alternates, half of whom at least must
COMMITTEE
be members, representing at least one fifth of the Member
States, shall be needed to form a political group. A member/
Rule 11 — Convening the first meeting
alternate may belong to only one political group. A political
group shall be dissolved if its membership falls below the
The Committee shall be convened, after each five-yearly
required number.
renewal, by the outgoing President, or failing that, the
outgoing first vice-president or, failing that, the oldest
outgoing vice-president or, failing that, the oldest member
3. The Committee President shall be notified in a statement
and shall meet not later than one month after the appointment
when a political group is set up, dissolved or otherwise
of its members by the Council.
changed. The statement notifying the formation of a
political group shall specify the name of the political
group, its members and its bureau.
The member acting as interim president under the first
paragraph of this rule shall also take on the role of representing
4. Each political group shall be assisted by a secretariat staffed
the Committee during this period and shall chair the first
by Secretariat-General personnel. The political groups may
meeting in his capacity as interim president.

---

EN
9.1.2010 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
6/19
He, together with the four youngest members present and the
Plenary Sessions are to be fixed by the Bureau during the
Secretary-General of the Committee, shall constitute the interim
third quarter of the previous year. A Plenary Session can
bureau.
meet on one or more days.
Rule 12 — Installation in office of the Committee and
verification of credentials
2. At the written request of at least one quarter of the
members, the President shall be obliged to convene an extra
1. At the first meeting, the interim president shall inform the
ordinary Plenary Session, which shall take place not sooner
Committee of the communication from the Council
than one week and not later than one month after the date
concerning the appointment of its members and report on
of the request. The written request shall state the subject
any action he has undertaken to represent the Committee. If
matter which is to be discussed at the extraordinary
requested, the interim president may decide to verify the
Plenary Session. No other matter may be dealt with.
appointment and credentials of members, after which he
shall declare the Committee installed in office for the new
term.
Rule 15 — Agenda for the Plenary Session
2. The interim bureau shall remain in office until the results of
1. The preliminary draft agenda containing a provisional list of
the elections of the members of the Bureau have been
the draft opinions, reports and resolutions to be discussed at
declared.
the next but one Plenary Session together with all the other
documents requiring a decision shall be prepared by the
CHAPTER 2
Bureau.
PLENARY ASSEMBLY
Rule 13 — Tasks of the Plenary Assembly
2. The draft agenda accompanied by all the documents
requiring a decision listed therein shall be emailed by the
The Committee shall meet as a Plenary Assembly. Its main tasks
President to the members and alternates in each respective
shall be:
official language at least 20 working days before the opening
of the Plenary Session. Documents shall also be made
accessible electronically at the same time.
(a) to adopt opinions, reports and resolutions;
(b) to adopt the draft estimates of expenditure and revenue of
the Committee;
3. The draft opinions, reports and resolutions shall in principle
be put on the agenda in the order in which they were
adopted by the commissions or submitted in accordance
(c) to adopt the political programme of the Committee at the
with the Rules of Procedure. Account shall also be taken
beginning of every term;
of agenda items which deal with related subject matter.
(d) to elect the President, the first Vice-President and the
remaining members of the Bureau;
4. In exceptional and duly motivated cases where the deadline
referred to in paragraph 2 cannot be met, the President may
decide to include a document requiring a decision on the
(e) to set up commissions;
draft agenda provided the relevant document has been
received by the members and alternates in their official
language not later than one week before the opening of
(f) to adopt and revise the Rules of Procedure of the
the Plenary Session. The reason for the application of this
Committee;
procedure shall be indicated by the President on the cover
page of the document requiring a decision.
(g) having verified that there is a quorum under the first
sentence of Rule 21(1) of the Rules of Procedure, to take
a decision, by a majority of the votes cast, on a proposal by
the President of the Committee, or the competent
5. Written amendments to the draft agenda must be submitted
commission acting in accordance with Rules 53 and 54,
to the Secretary-General not later than three working days
to bring an action before the Court of Justice of the
before the opening of the Plenary Session.
European Union. When such a decision is adopted, the
action shall be brought by the President on behalf of the
Committee.
6. The Bureau shall finalise the draft agenda at its meeting
immediately prior to the opening of the Plenary Session.
Rule 14 — Convening the Plenary Assembly
At this meeting the Bureau may decide, by a two-thirds
majority of the votes cast, to include on the agenda
1. The President of the Committee shall convene the Plenary
matters of an urgent or topical nature whose discussion
Assembly at least once every three months. The dates of the
cannot be deferred until the next Plenary Session.

---

L 6/20
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
9.1.2010
7. On a proposal from the President, a political group or 32
address the Plenary Assembly. A general debate may follow,
members, the Bureau or the Plenary Assembly may decide
during which the general rules on speaking time shall apply.
to:
— defer discussion of a document for decision to a future
4. The Bureau may, in accordance with Rule 15(1) and (6),
plenary session,
propose to the Plenary Assembly that a general debate be
held on topical political issues of regional and local relevance
(topical debate slot). The general rules on speaking time shall
or
apply.
— refer back a document for decision to the relevant
commission for review.
Rule 18 — Speaking time
1. The Plenary Assembly shall, at the beginning of its meeting
This provision shall not apply in cases where a deadline set
and acting on a proposal from the Bureau, allocate speaking
by the Council, the Commission or the European Parliament
time for every item on the agenda. During a Plenary Session
makes it impossible to defer the adoption of a document for
the President, acting on his own initiative or at the request of
decision.
a member, shall arrange for a decision to be taken to limit
speaking time.
A document for decision deferred to a future session of the
Plenary Assembly shall be accompanied by all the related
2. The President, acting on a proposal from the Bureau, may
duly tabled amendments.
propose to the Plenary Assembly that when debates are held
on general or specific issues, speaking time should be divided
among the political groups and national delegations.
When a document is referred back to the relevant
commission, the related amendments shall lapse and the
rapporteur shall assess the extent to which their content:
3. As a general rule, speaking time shall be limited to one
minute for comments on minutes, for points of order and
— requires him to undertake a prior revision of the text,
for comments on amendments to the final draft agenda or
taking account of the deadline,
the agenda.
and/or
4. If a speaker exceeds his allotted speaking time, the President
may, after an initial call to order, forbid him to speak.
— may give rise to the tabling of amendments by the
rapporteur, in accordance with the procedure for
tabling of amendments in commission.
5. Any request by a member that the debate be brought to a
close shall be put to the vote by the President.
The document shall be placed on the agenda of the
commission for decision.
Rule 19 — List of speakers
Rule 16 — Opening of the Plenary Session
1. The names of members who ask to speak shall be entered in
a list in the order in which their requests are received. The
The President shall open the Plenary Session and call for the
President shall call upon members to speak on the basis of
adoption of the final draft agenda.
this list, ensuring as far as possible that speakers of different
political views and from different national delegations are
heard in turn.
Rule 17 — Admission of the public, guests and guest
speakers, topical debate slot
1. Plenary Sessions shall be open to the public, unless the
2. Priority may be given, however, to the rapporteur of the
Plenary Assembly decides otherwise in respect of the
commission concerned and to the representatives of the
whole meeting or a specific item on the agenda.
political groups and national delegations wishing to speak
on behalf of their group or delegation.
2. Representatives of the European Parliament, Council and
Commission may attend Plenary Sessions. They may be
asked to take the floor.
3. No-one may take the floor more than twice on the same
subject, except by leave of the President. The chairman and
the rapporteur of the commission concerned shall, however,
3. The President, acting on his own initiative or at the request
be allowed to speak at their request for a period to be
of the Bureau, may also invite other distinguished guests to
decided by the President.

---

EN
9.1.2010 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
6/21
Rule 20 — Points of order
decides otherwise, the use of a roll call vote shall not
apply to amendments.
1. A member shall be allowed to speak to raise a point of order
or to draw the attention of the President to any failure to
respect the Rules of Procedure. The point of order must
5. At the proposal of the President, a political group or 32
concern the agenda or the subject under discussion.
members, a decision may be taken to vote by secret ballot
if the decision concerns persons.
2. A request to raise a point of order shall take precedence over
all other requests to speak.
6. The President may at any time decide that a vote shall be
conducted by electronic means.
3. The President shall take an immediate decision on points of
order in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and shall
Rule 23 — Tabling of amendments
announce his ruling immediately after the Rules of Procedure
have been invoked. No vote shall be taken on the President’s
1. Only members and duly mandated alternates — and, for his
ruling.
own opinion, any non-mandated alternate appointed as
rapporteur — may table amendments to documents
requiring a decision, in accordance with rules on tabling
Rule 21 — Quorum
amendments.
1. A quorum shall exist at a Plenary Session if a majority of the
members is present. The quorum shall be verified at the
The right to table amendments at a plenary session may only
request of a member if at least 15 members vote in
be exercised either by a member or by his duly mandated
favour of the request. If the verification of a quorum is
alternate. Amendments validly tabled by a member or
not requested, all votes shall be valid regardless of the
alternate who subsequently loses that office, or before the
number of members present. The President may interrupt
granting or withdrawal of a delegation, shall remain valid.
the Plenary Session for up to 10 minutes before proceeding
with a verification of the quorum. Members who have
requested verification of the quorum but are no longer
2. Without prejudice to the provisions of Rule 26(1),
present in the Plenary Session chamber shall be considered
amendments to documents requiring a decision must be
to be present for the purposes of the count. If fewer than 15
submitted either by a political group, or by at least six
members are present, the President may rule that there is no
members or duly mandated alternates and must bear their
quorum.
names. National delegations with fewer than six members
may submit amendments, provided that these amendments
are submitted by and bear the names of all the members of
2. If it is established that there is no quorum, all items on the
the delegation or their duly appointed alternates.
agenda which require voting shall be postponed until the
following meeting day, when the Plenary Assembly may
hold a valid vote on these items whatever the number of
3. They must reach the Secretary-General at least nine working
members present.
days before the opening of the Plenary Session. Amendments
must be electronically retrievable as soon as they have been
translated, but not later than four working days prior to the
Rule 22 — Voting
Plenary Session.
1. The Plenary Assembly shall decide by a majority of the votes
cast, save where otherwise provided in these rules.
The amendments shall be translated as a matter of priority
and sent to the rapporteur to allow him or her to forward
his or her own amendments to the Secretariat-General no
2. The valid forms of vote shall be ‘for’, ‘against’ and
later than two working days before the opening of the
‘abstention’. In calculating the majority, only the votes cast
plenary session. The rapporteur’s amendments must be
for and against shall be taken into account. In the event of a
associated and related to one or more amendments
tied vote, the text or proposal shall be deemed rejected.
referred to in paragraph 1. The rapporteur’s amendments
shall be retrievable only at the opening of the plenary
session.
3. If the result of the count is queried, a fresh vote may be
called for by the President or may take place at the request
of a member, provided that at least 15 members vote in
The deadline for the submission of amendments can be
favour of the request.
reduced to three working days by the President in cases
where Rule 15(4) is applied. The deadline shall also not
apply in the case of amendments to urgent matters
4. At the proposal of the President, a political group or 32
pursuant to Rule 15(6).
members, submitted before the final agenda is adopted, the
Plenary Assembly may decide to hold a roll call vote for one
or more agenda items, which shall be recorded in the
4. All amendments shall be distributed to members before the
plenary session minutes. Unless the Plenary Assembly
beginning of the Plenary Session.

---

L 6/22
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
9.1.2010
Rule 24 — Procedure for dealing with amendments
Rule 25 — Urgent opinions and reports
1. If one or more amendments have been tabled to a part of a
In urgent cases where a deadline set by the Council,
text, the President, the rapporteur or the authors of these
Commission or European Parliament cannot be met under the
amendments may in exceptional cases propose compromise
normal procedure, and the relevant commission has adopted its
amendments during the debate. Where possible, the text of a
draft opinion or report unanimously, the President shall
compromise amendment should be forwarded in advance
transmit this draft opinion or report to the Council,
and in writing to the President and to the Secretariat-
Commission and European Parliament for information. The
General before the subject concerned is discussed.
draft opinion or report shall be submitted to the following
Plenary Session for adoption without amendment. All
documents relating to the said opinion or report must testify
2. Voting on amendments shall follow the order of the points
to the urgent nature of the opinion or report.
in the text and the following order of priority:
— rapporteur’s amendments,
Rule 26 — Simplified procedures
1. Draft opinions or reports adopted unanimously by a (lead)
commission shall be submitted to the Plenary Assembly for
— compromise amendments, unless one of the authors of
adoption without change unless at least 32 members or duly
the original amendments is opposed,
mandated alternates or a political group table an amendment
in accordance with the first sentence of Rule 23(3). In this
— other amendments.
case, the amendment shall be dealt with by the Plenary
Assembly. The draft opinion or report shall be presented
by the rapporteur at the Plenary Session and may be the
Once adopted, rapporteur’s amendments and compromise
subject of a debate. It shall be forwarded to members
amendments replace the amendments from which they
together with the draft agenda.
derive.
2. If the (lead) commission is of the view that the Committee
The President may order a joint vote on amendments with a
has no reason to comment on or propose changes to a
similar content and objective.
document referred to it by the Bureau, it may propose
that no objections be raised to the document. The
proposal shall be submitted to the Plenary Assembly for
3. A rapporteur may draw up a list of amendments tabled to
adoption without debate.
his draft opinion or report which he recommends be
adopted (voting recommendation). If the rapporteur has
made a voting recommendation, the President may decide
Rule 27 — Closing of the Plenary Session
that all the amendments covered by the recommendation are
to be voted on together. Any member may, however, object
Before the closing of the Plenary Session, the President shall
to the voting recommendation, specifying amendments
announce the time and place of the following Plenary Session
which should be voted on separately.
together with any items already on the agenda.
4. Amendments shall have priority over the text to which they
relate and shall be put to the vote before that text.
Rule 28 — Symbols
1. The Committee recognises and adopts the following Union
5. If two or more mutually exclusive amendments have been
symbols:
tabled to the same part of a text, the amendment that
departs furthest from the original text shall have priority
and shall be put to the vote first.
(a) the flag representing a circle of 12 gold stars on a blue
background;
The President shall announce before the vote is taken
whether the adoption of an amendment would negate one
(b) the anthem entitled ‘Ode to Joy’ from Beethoven’s Ninth
or more other amendments, either because these
Symphony;
amendments are mutually exclusive if they refer to the
same passage, or because they are contradictory. An
invalid amendment shall not be put to a vote unless its
(c) the motto ‘United in Diversity’.
authors dispute its invalidity and the Plenary Assembly
agrees to put the disputed amendment to a vote.
2. The Committee shall celebrate Europe Day on 9 May.
6. The final vote shall be on the text as a whole, whether
amended or not. An opinion which does not obtain an
absolute majority of the votes cast shall be returned to the
3. The flag shall be displayed in the buildings of the Committee
competent commission or shall lapse.
and to mark official occasions.

---

EN
9.1.2010 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
6/23
4. The anthem shall be played at the opening of every
Rule 31 — Election rules
inaugural session at the beginning of a term of office and
to mark other commemorative sessions, e.g. when
1. The Bureau shall be elected by the Plenary Assembly for two
welcoming heads of state or government, or new members
and a half years.
following an enlargement.
2. The election shall be held under the chairmanship of the
CHAPTER 3
interim president in accordance with Rules 11 and 12. All
THE BUREAU AND THE PRESIDENT
candidatures must be submitted in writing to the Secretary-
General at least one hour before the beginning of the Plenary
Rule 29 — Composition of the Bureau
Session. The elections shall take place only if at least two-
thirds of the members are present.
The Bureau shall consist of:
(a) the President;
Rule 32 — Election of the President and the first Vice-
President
(b) the first Vice-President;
1. Before the elections, candidates for the posts of President and
first Vice-President may make a short statement before the
Plenary Assembly. The speaking time for candidates shall be
(c) one Vice-President per Member State;
of equal length and shall be laid down by the interim
president.
(d) 27 other members;
2. The election of the President and the first Vice-President shall
take place separately. They shall be elected by a majority of
(e) the chairmen of the political groups.
the votes cast.
Seats on the Bureau (excluding the seats of the President, the
first Vice-President and the chairmen of the political groups)
3. The valid forms of vote shall be a vote for and an abstention.
shall be divided among the national delegations as follows:
In calculating the majority, only the votes cast for shall be
taken into account.
— 3 seats: Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Poland, United
Kingdom,
4. If no candidate obtains a majority in the first ballot, a second
ballot shall be held in which the candidate receiving the
— 2 seats: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark,
highest number of votes shall be deemed to be elected. In
Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Hungary, the
the event of a tied vote, a decision shall be taken by drawing
Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia,
lots.
Finland, Sweden,
— 1 seat: Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta,
Rule 33 — Election of the members of the Bureau
Slovenia.
1. A joint list may be drawn up for the candidates from those
national delegations which nominate only one candidate for
each of the seats allocated to them on the Bureau. This list
Rule 30 — Replacements at Bureau meetings
may be adopted in a single ballot if it obtains a majority of
1. The national delegations shall appoint a member or alternate
the votes cast.
from the delegation as ad personam replacement for each of
their members of the Bureau, except for the President and
the first Vice-President.
In cases where a joint list of candidates is not adopted, or
where the number of candidates exceeds the number of seats
allocated to a national delegation on the Bureau, each of
2. For each political group chairman, the political group in
these seats shall be decided in separate ballots; in this case
question shall name one of its members or alternates as ad
the provisions on the election of the President and the first
personam replacement.
Vice-President shall be applicable in accordance with Rules
31 and 32(2) to (4).
3. An ad personam replacement shall be entitled to participate in
meetings with speaking and voting rights only when he is
replacing the Bureau member in question. The delegation of
2. With a view to the election of the chairmen of the political
vote must be notified in writing to the Secretary-General
groups as members of the Bureau, a list of their names shall
prior to the relevant meeting.
be submitted to the Plenary Assembly for adoption.

---

L 6/24
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
9.1.2010
Rule 34 — Election of replacements
applicant countries and other political bodies in which
Committee members participate;
When a candidate for a seat on the Bureau is elected, his ad
personam replacement shall also be elected automatically.
Rule 35 — By-elections for vacant Bureau seats
(j) having verified that there is a quorum under the first
sentence of Rule 37(2), taking a decision to bring an
In the event of termination of Committee membership or of
action before the Court of Justice of the European Union,
resignation from the Bureau, a member of the Bureau and/or his
when the Plenary Assembly is not able to take a decision
ad personam replacement shall be replaced for the remainder of
within the deadline, by a majority of the votes cast, on a
his term of office in accordance with the procedures laid down
proposal by the President of the Committee or the
in Rules 29 to 34. The by-election for a vacant Bureau seat shall
competent commission acting in accordance with Rules
take place at a Plenary Session chaired by the President or by
53 and 54. When such a decision is adopted, the
his representative, in accordance with Rule 38(3).
President shall bring the action on behalf of the
Committee and shall ask the Plenary Assembly at its next
session to decide whether to maintain the action. If, having
Rule 36 — Tasks of the Bureau
verified the existence of the quorum referred to in the first
The Bureau shall have the following tasks:
sentence of Rule 21(1), the Plenary Assembly takes a
decision by the majority required in Rule 13(g) not to
bring the action, the President shall withdraw the action.
(a) establishment and submission to the Plenary Assembly of its
policy programme at the beginning of its term, and moni
toring of its implementation; at the end of its term,
submission to the Plenary Assembly of a report on the
Rule 37 — Convening of the Bureau, quorum and decision
implementation of the programme;
1. The Bureau shall be convened by the President, who shall set
(b) organisation and coordination of the work of the Plenary
the date of the meeting and the agenda in agreement with
Assembly and the commissions;
the first Vice-President. The Bureau shall meet at least once
every three months, or within 14 days following receipt of a
written request by at least one quarter of its members.
(c) adoption, on the proposal of the commissions, of their
annual work programme;
(d) overall responsibility for financial, organisational and
2. A quorum shall exist at a Bureau meeting if at least one half
administrative matters concerning members and alternates;
of its members are present. The quorum shall be verified at
internal organisation of the Committee, its Secretariat-
the request of a member, provided that at least six members
General, including the establishment plan, and its
vote in favour of the request. If the verification of a quorum
constituent bodies;
is not requested, all votes shall be valid regardless of the
number of members present. If it is established that there
is no quorum, the Bureau may continue its discussions but
(e) The Bureau may:
voting shall take place at the next meeting.
— set up working groups of Bureau members or of
Committee members to advise it in specific areas; such
working groups may have up to eight members,
3. The Bureau shall decide by a majority of the votes cast, save
where otherwise provided for in these rules. Rule 22(2) and
(5) shall also apply.
— invite other members of the Committee, by virtue of
their expertise or mandate, and persons not belonging
to the Committee, to attend its meetings;
4. In preparation for the Bureau decisions, the President shall
(f) engagement of the Secretary-General and the officials and
ask the Secretary-General to draw up discussion documents
other servants listed in Rule 69;
and recommendations for a decision on each item to be
discussed; these documents and recommendations shall be
enclosed with the draft agenda.
(g) submission of the draft estimates of expenditure and
revenue to the Plenary Assembly in accordance with
Rule 72;
5. The documents must be emailed to members at least 10
(h) authorisation of meetings away from the usual place of
days before the opening of the meeting. Amendments to
work;
Bureau documents must reach the Secretary-General not
later than the third working day before the opening of the
Bureau meeting, in accordance with the applicable rules, and
(i) drawing-up of provisions for the membership and working
shall be electronically retrievable as soon as they have been
methods of working groups, joint committees with
translated.

---

EN
9.1.2010 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
6/25
6. In exceptional circumstances, the President may have
Rule 41 — Appointment of a rapporteur-general
recourse to a written procedure for the adoption of a
decision other than a decision relating to individuals. The
1. If the commission concerned cannot draw up a draft opinion
President shall send members the proposed decision and
or report by the deadline set by the Council, Commission or
ask them to inform him in writing, within five working
European Parliament, the Bureau may propose that the
days, of any objections they may have. If no objections are
Plenary Assembly appoint a rapporteur-general, who shall
received, the decision shall be adopted.
submit his draft opinion or report straight to the Plenary
Assembly.
Rule 38 — The President
1. The President shall direct the work of the Committee.
2. When a deadline set by the Council, Commission or
European Parliament does not give the Plenary Assembly
time to appoint a rapporteur-general, the rapporteur-
2. The President shall be the Committee’s representative. He
general may be appointed by the President; when this is
may delegate these powers.
the case, the Plenary Assembly shall be informed at its
next meeting.
3. If the President is absent or unable to attend, he shall be
represented by the first Vice-President; if the first Vice-
3. In both cases, the commission concerned shall meet, where
President is absent or unable to attend, the President shall
possible, to hold a general exploratory debate on the subject.
be represented by one of the other Vice-Presidents.
Opinions, reports and resolutions — Procedure in Bureau
Rule 42 — Own-initiative opinions and reports
Rule 39 — Opinions — Legal bases
1. Applications for own-initiative opinions or reports may be
submitted to the Bureau by three of its members, by a
The Committee shall adopt its opinions pursuant to Article 307
commission via its chairman or by 32 members of the
of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Committee. These applications must be submitted, with
reasons, and together with all the other discussion
documents in accordance with Rule 37(4), wherever
(a) when it is consulted by the European Parliament, by the
possible, before the annual work programme is adopted.
Council or by the Commission where the Treaties so
provide and in all other cases, in particular those which
concern cross-border cooperation, in which one of these
institutions considers it appropriate;
2. The Bureau shall decide on applications for own-initiative
opinions or reports by a majority of three quarters of the
votes cast. The opinions or reports shall be referred to the
(b) on its own initiative when it considers it appropriate;
relevant commissions in accordance with Rule 40. The
President shall inform the Plenary Assembly of all Bureau
decisions approving and allocating own-initiative opinions or
(c) when, in the event of the Economic and Social Committee
reports.
being consulted under Article 304 of the Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union, it considers that
specific regional interests are involved.
3. This rule shall apply mutatis mutandis in the case of opinions
which come under Rule 39(c).
Rule 40 — Opinions and reports — Designation of
commission
1. The President shall assign documents received from the
Rule 43 — Tabling of resolutions
Council, Commission or European Parliament to the
1. Resolutions are to be put on the agenda only if they refer to
responsible commission; the Bureau shall be informed of
the activities of the European Union, deal with important
this at its next meeting.
concerns of regional and local authorities and are of
topical interest.
2. If the subject of an opinion or report falls within the area of
competence of more than one commission, the President
shall designate a lead commission and, where necessary
2. Draft resolutions or applications for the drafting of a
may propose that the Bureau set up a working party
resolution may be submitted to the Committee by at least
comprising representatives of the commissions concerned.
32 members or a political group. All drafts or applications,
indicating the names of the members or political group
supporting them, shall be submitted to the Bureau in
3. If a commission does not agree with a decision of the
writing. They must reach the Secretary-General not later
President taken under Rule 40(1) and (2), it may via its
than three working days before the opening of the Bureau
chairman submit an application for a Bureau decision.
meeting.

---

L 6/26
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
9.1.2010
3. If the Bureau decides that the Committee is to discuss a draft
2. Where the number of candidates corresponds to the number
resolution or an application for the drafting of a resolution,
of seats to be filled, the election may take place by accla
it may
mation. Where this is not the case, or one sixth of the
members of the commission so request, the election shall
be in accordance with the provisions laid down in Rule
(a) put the draft resolution on the Plenary Session
32(2) to (4) for the election of the Committee President
preliminary draft agenda in accordance with Rule 15(1);
and first Vice-President.
(b) appoint a commission to draw up a draft resolution by a
specific deadline under the procedure used for drawing
3. If a commission bureau member terminates his Committee
up draft opinions or reports. Rule 51 shall not apply in
membership or resigns as a commission chairman or vice-
such cases;
chairman, the vacancy shall be filled in accordance with the
provisions of this rule.
(c) in accordance with the second sentence of Rule 15(6),
place a draft resolution on the agenda for the next
Plenary Session. Such draft resolutions shall be dealt
Rule 47 — Tasks of commissions
with on the second day of the session.
1. In accordance with the powers assigned to them by the
Plenary Assembly on the basis of Rule 45, the commissions
shall debate Union policies. They shall in particular draw up
4. Draft resolutions referring to an unforeseeable event
the draft versions of opinions, reports and resolutions. These
occurring after the expiry of the deadline stipulated in Rule
drafts shall be submitted to the Plenary Assembly for
43(2) (urgent resolutions) and complying with the provisions
adoption.
of Rule 43(1) may be submitted at the beginning of the
Bureau meeting. If the Bureau decides that the proposal
concerns the key tasks of the Committee, the proposal
shall be dealt with under Rule 43(3)(c). Amendments to
2. They shall draw up their annual work programmes in
urgent resolutions may be tabled by any member during
accordance with the Committee’s political priorities and
the Plenary Session.
submit them to the Bureau for adoption.
Rule 44 — Promotion of opinions, reports and resolutions
Rule 48 — Convening of commissions and their agendas
The Bureau shall be responsible for promoting the Committee’s
opinions, reports and resolutions.
1. The dates of meetings and their agendas shall be set by the
chairman of each commission acting in agreement with the
first vice-chairman.
CHAPTER 4
COMMISSIONS
2. A commission shall be convened by its chairman. The
Rule 45 — Composition and powers
convening notice for an ordinary meeting together with
the agenda must reach members not later than four weeks
1. At the beginning of each five-year term, the Plenary
before the date of the meeting.
Assembly shall set up commissions to prepare its work. It
shall decide on their composition and powers on a proposal
from the Bureau.
3. At the written request of at least one quarter of its members,
the chairman shall be obliged to convene an extraordinary
2. The composition of the commissions shall reflect the
commission meeting, which must be held not later than four
national composition of the Committee.
weeks after the submission of the request. The agenda for an
extraordinary meeting shall be set by the members
submitting the request for such a meeting. It shall be
3. Members of the Committee must belong to at least one
forwarded to members together with the convening notice.
commission but may not belong to more than two.
Exceptions may be made by the Bureau for members
belonging to national delegations which have fewer
members than the number of commissions.
4. All draft opinions and other discussion documents to be
translated and made available before a meeting shall be
sent to the secretariat of the commission in question not
Rule 46 — Chairman and vice-chairmen
later than five weeks before the date set for the meeting.
They shall then be emailed to members not later than 10
1. At its first meeting each commission shall appoint from
working days before the date of the meeting. In exceptional
among its members a chairman, a first vice-chairman and
cases the above time limits may be amended by the
no more than two vice-chairmen.
chairman.

---

EN
9.1.2010 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
6/27
Rule 49 — Admission of the public
3. The commission shall meet, where possible, to hold a debate
and adopt the revised draft opinion, which shall be sent to
1. The proceedings of the commissions shall be open to the
the next plenary session.
public, unless a commission decides otherwise in respect of
the whole meeting or of a specific item on the agenda.
4. In the event that progress in the procedure underlying the
2. Representatives of the European Parliament, Council and
Committee’s consultation does not allow enough time for
Commission as well as other visitors may be invited to
the commission to state its views, the chairman of this
participate in the meetings of the commissions and to
commission shall immediately inform the Committee
reply to questions from members.
President in order to allow the procedure for appointing a
rapporteur-general under Rule 41 to be invoked.
Rule 50 — Time limits for drawing up opinions and
reports
Rule 53 — Action for infringement of the subsidiarity
principle
1. The commissions shall present their draft opinions or reports
within the time limits set out in the interinstitutional
1. The President of the Committee or the commission
calendar. The discussion of a draft opinion or report shall
responsible for drawing up the draft opinion may propose
require no more than two meetings, not including the first
bringing an action before the Court of Justice of the
meeting at which the work shall be organised.
European Union for infringement of the subsidiarity
principle by a legislative act on which the Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union provides that the
2. In exceptional cases the Bureau may authorise further
Committee be consulted.
meetings to discuss a draft opinion or report, or may
extend the time limit for the presentation of the draft.
2. The commission shall take its decision by a majority of the
votes cast, having verified the existence of the quorum
Rule 51 — Content of opinions and reports
referred to in Rule 59(1). The commission proposal shall
be sent for decision to the Plenary Assembly in accordance
1. A Committee opinion or report shall set out the
with Rule 13(g) or to the Bureau in the cases referred to in
Committee’s views and recommendations on the question
Rule 36(j). The commission shall state the reasons for its
under consideration, if appropriate together with specific
proposal in a detailed report, including, where appropriate,
proposals for changes to the document under consideration.
the reasons for the urgency of the decision on the basis of
Rule 36(j).
2. Committee opinions shall contain an explicit reference to the
application of the subsidiarity and proportionality principles.
Rule 54 — Failure to carry out obligatory consultation of
the Committee
3. These opinions and reports shall also, wherever possible,
1. When the Committee has not been consulted in cases
address the expected impact on administration and
provided for by the Treaty on the Functioning of the
regional and local finances.
European Union, the President of the Committee or a
commission may propose to the Plenary Assembly, in
accordance with Rule 13(g), or to the Bureau in the cases
4. If necessary, an explanatory statement shall be drawn up
referred to in Rule 36(j), that an action be brought before
under the responsibility of the rapporteur and shall not be
the Court of Justice of the European Union.
put to the vote. It must, however, accord with the text of the
opinion that was put to the vote.
2. The commission shall take its decision by a majority of the
Rule 52 — Follow-up to Committee opinions
votes cast, having previously verified that the quorum
referred to in Rule 59(1) exists. The commission shall state
1. During the period following the adoption of an opinion, the
the reasons for its proposal in a detailed report, including,
chairman and the rapporteur of the commission appointed
where appropriate, the reasons for the urgency of the
to draw up the draft opinion shall, with the assistance of the
decision on the basis of Rule 36(j).
Secretariat- General, monitor the course of the procedure
underlying the Committee’s consultation.
Rule 55 — Report on the impact of opinions
2. If the commission deems it necessary, it may ask the Bureau
At least once a year the Secretariat-General shall submit to the
for permission to draw up a revised draft opinion on the
Plenary Assembly a report on the impact of Committee
same subject and, where possible, with the same rapporteur,
opinions on the basis, inter alia, of contributions sent to it to
in order to take account of and respond to developments in
this effect by each competent commission and information
the procedure underlying the Committee’s consultation.
collected from the institutions concerned.

---

L 6/28
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
9.1.2010
Rule 56 — Rapporteurs
Rule 59 — Quorum
1. Each commission, acting on a proposal from its chairman,
1. A quorum shall exist at a commission meeting if more than
shall appoint a rapporteur or, in duly motivated cases, two
one half of its members are present.
rapporteurs to draw up a draft opinion or report.
2. The quorum shall be verified at the request of a member if at
2. In appointing rapporteurs each commission ensures a fair
least 10 members vote in favour of the request. If the verifi
and balanced allocation of opinions and reports.
cation of a quorum is not requested, all votes shall be valid
regardless of the number of members present. If it is estab
lished that there is no quorum, the commission may address
3. In urgent cases the commission chairman may apply a
the remaining items on the agenda that do not require a
written procedure to appoint a rapporteur. The chairman
vote, postponing discussion and voting on the suspended
shall ask the members of the commission to submit any
agenda items to the next meeting.
objections to the appointment of the proposed rapporteur
in writing within three working days. In the event of
objection, the chairman and first vice-chairman shall decide
Rule 60 — Voting
by mutual agreement.
1. Decisions shall be taken by a majority of the votes cast. Rule
22(2) shall also apply.
4. If the chairman or one of the vice-chairmen of a commission
is appointed rapporteur, he shall, during the discussion of his
draft opinion or report, hand over the chairmanship of the
2. If a commission has interrupted voting on an opinion, it
meeting to a vice-chairman or to the oldest member present.
may decide, by a majority of the votes cast, to resubmit
the amendments already adopted to a vote when it takes a
decision on the text as a whole.
5. If a rapporteur ceases to be a member or alternate of the
Committee, a new rapporteur of the same political group
shall be appointed within the commission, if necessary by
Rule 61 — Amendments
following the procedure provided for in paragraph 3.
1. Amendments must be sent to commission secretariats at
least seven working days before the date of the meeting.
Rule 57 — Working parties
In exceptional cases the above time limit may be amended
by the chairman.
1. In duly motivated cases the commissions may set up
working parties, with the approval of the Bureau. Working
party members may also come from other commissions.
Commission amendments may be tabled only by the
members of that commission, or members or alternates
duly mandated under the conditions set out in Rule 5(2),
2. A working party member who is unable to attend a meeting
and, for his own opinion, by any non-mandated alternate
may be represented by a member or alternate from his
appointed as rapporteur.
political group and from the list of replacements for the
working party.
The right to table commission amendments may only be
exercised either by a member of that commission or by
3. Each working party can appoint a chairman and a vice-
another duly mandated member or alternate. Amendments
chairman from among its members.
validly tabled by a member or alternate who subsequently
loses that office, or before the granting or withdrawal of a
delegation, shall remain valid.
Rule 58 — Experts
1. The members of the commissions may call on the services of
The amendments shall be translated as a matter of priority
an expert.
and sent to the rapporteur to allow him to forward his own
amendments to the Secretariat-General no later than two
working days before the date of the meeting. The
2. A commission may appoint experts to assist it in its work
rapporteur’s amendments must be associated and related to
and to assist any working parties which it has set up. At the
one or more amendments referred to in paragraph 1. The
invitation of the chairman, these experts may take part in
rapporteur’s amendments shall be electronically retrievable as
meetings of the commission or of one of its working parties.
soon as they have been translated and must be distributed in
written form at the latest at the opening of the meeting.
3. Only rapporteurs’ experts and experts invited by the
commission shall be entitled to travel and subsistence
The provisions of Rule 24(1) to (5) shall apply mutatis
expenses.
mutandis.

---

EN
9.1.2010 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
6/29
2. Voting on amendments shall follow the order of the points
2. The Secretariat-General shall be headed by a Secretary-
in the draft opinion or report under discussion. Thereafter
General.
the whole text shall be voted on.
3. The Bureau, acting on a proposal from the Secretary-General,
3. Once a draft opinion or report has been adopted by a
shall organise the Secretariat-General in such a way that it
commission, it shall be forwarded by the commission
can ensure the efficient functioning of the Committee and its
chairman to the President of the Committee.
constituent bodies and help the members of the Committee
in the performance of their duties. The services to be
Rule 62 — Decision not to draw up an opinion or report
provided by the Secretariat-General for members, national
delegations, political groups and non-attached members
Where the (lead) commission considers that a document
shall be determined in the process.
referred to it has no regional or local interest, or is not of
political importance, it may decide not to draw up an
opinion or report.
4. The Secretariat-General shall draw up the minutes of the
meetings of the Committee’s constituent bodies.
Rule 63 — Written procedure
1. In exceptional circumstances, the commission chairman may
Rule 67 — Secretary-General
have resort to a written procedure for the adoption of a
decision on the operation of his commission.
1. The Secretary-General shall be responsible for giving effect to
the decisions taken by the Bureau or the President pursuant
to these Rules of Procedure and the applicable legal
2. The chairman shall send the proposal for a decision to the
provisions. The Secretary-General shall attend the meetings
members and ask them to send him any objections in
of the Bureau in an advisory capacity and shall keep the
writing within three days.
minutes of those meetings.
3. If there is no objection, the decision shall be adopted.
2. The Secretary-General shall discharge his duties under the
direction of the President, representing the Bureau.
Rule 64 — Opinions in the form of a letter
1. In the case of referrals where a Committee response is
Rule 68 — Engagement of Secretary-General
deemed desirable but, for reasons of priority and/or
because relevant opinions have already been adopted in
1. The Bureau shall engage the Secretary-General on the basis
the recent past, a new opinion is not considered necessary,
of a decision adopted by a two-thirds majority of the votes
the concerned commission may decide not to issue an
cast, the existence of a quorum having been verified in
opinion. In this case, the Committee may respond to the
accordance with the first sentence of Rule 37(2), pursuant
European Union Institutions in the form of a letter signed
to the provisions of Article 2 and related provisions of the
by the Committee President.
Conditions of Employment of other servants of the European
Communities.
2. The letter shall be prepared by the chairman of the
responsible commission in consultation with the rapporteurs
2. The Secretary-General shall be engaged for five years. The
of the previous opinions on the same subject.
detailed provisions of his contract of employment shall be
laid down by the Bureau.
3. If deadlines allow, the letter shall be presented for discussion
at the first available meeting of the relevant commission,
before it is submitted to the Committee President for
The Secretary-General’s term of office may be renewed once
signature.
only for a maximum of five years.
Rule 65 — Provisions applicable to commissions
3. The powers which the Conditions of Employment of other
servants of the European Communities confer on the
Rules 11, 12(2), 17(1) to (3) and 20 shall apply, mutatis
authority responsible for concluding contracts shall be
mutandis, to the commissions.
exercised, in the case of the Secretary-General, by the Bureau.
CHAPTER 5
Rule 69 — Staff Regulations of officials and Conditions of
ADMINISTRATION OF THE COMMITTEE
Employment of other servants
Rule 66 — Secretariat-General
1. The powers which the Staff Regulations of officials of the
European Communities confer on the appointing authority
1. The Committee shall be assisted by a Secretariat-General.
shall be exercised as follows:

---

L 6/30
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
9.1.2010
— for officials in grades 5 to 12 of function group AD and
expenditure and revenue submitted by the Secretary-
for officials in function group AST, by the Secretary-
General;
General,
— for other officials, by the Bureau, acting on a proposal
(b) drawing up draft Bureau implementing provisions and
from the Secretary-General.
decisions in the financial, organisational and adminis
trative areas, including those relating to members and
2. The powers which the Conditions of Employment of other
alternates.
servants of the European Communities confer on the
authority competent to conclude contracts of employment
shall be exercised as follows:
3. The chairman of the Commission for Financial and Adminis
trative Affairs shall represent the Committee vis-à-vis the
— for temporary staff in grades 5 to 12 of function group
budget authorities of the Union.
AD and for temporary staff in function group AST, by
the Secretary-General,
Rule 72 — Budget
— for other temporary staff, by the Bureau, acting on a
proposal from the Secretary-General,
1. The Commission for Financial and Administrative Affairs
shall submit the preliminary draft estimates of the
Committee’s expenditure and revenue for the following
— for temporary staff in the private office of the President
financial year to the Bureau. The Bureau shall submit the
or the first Vice-President:
draft to the Plenary Assembly for adoption.
— for grades 5 to 12 of function group AD and
function group AST, by the Secretary-General,
acting on a proposal from the President,
2. The Plenary Assembly shall adopt the estimates of the
Committee’s expenditure and revenue and forward them to
the Commission, Council and European Parliament in good
— for other grades in function group AD, by the
time to ensure that the deadlines laid down in the financial
Bureau, acting on a proposal from the President.
provisions are met.
Temporary staff employed in the private office of the
President or the first Vice-President shall be engaged until
3. The Committee President, after consulting the Commission
the end of the President’s or the first Vice-President’s term of
for Financial and Administrative Affairs, shall execute, or
office:
cause to be executed, the statement of revenue and expen
diture, in accordance with the internal financial rules adopted
by the Bureau. He shall perform these functions in
— for contract staff, special advisers and local staff, by the
accordance with the provisions of the Financial Regulation
Secretary-General in accordance with the conditions set
applicable to the general budget of the European Commu
out in the Conditions of Employment of other servants
nities.
of the European Communities.
Rule 70 — Meetings in camera
*
The Bureau shall meet in camera when it takes the decisions
referred to in Rules 68 and 69.
* *
Rule 71 — Commission for Financial and Administrative
Affairs
TITLE III
1. The Bureau shall, in accordance with Rule 36, set up an
advisory Commission for Financial and Administrative
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Affairs, chaired by a member of the Bureau.
CHAPTER 1
COOPERATION WITH OTHER EU BODIES
2. The Commission for Financial and Administrative Affairs
shall have the following responsibilities:
Rule 73 — Cooperation agreements
In the framework of the powers of the Committee, the Bureau,
(a) advising on and adopting, in accordance with Rule 72,
acting on a proposal from the Secretary-General, may conclude
the preliminary draft estimates of the Committee’s
agreements with other organisations and bodies.

---

EN
9.1.2010 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
6/31
Rule 74 — Forwarding and publication of opinions,
(a) The Committee’s debates shall be accessible in the official
reports and resolutions
languages unless the Bureau decides otherwise.
1. The Committee’s opinions and reports, as well as any
communication relating to the use of a simplified
(b) All members shall have the right to address the plenary
procedure under Rule 26 or a decision not to draw up an
session in whichever official language they choose.
opinion or report under Rule 62, shall be addressed to the
Statements in one of the official languages shall be inter
Council, Commission and European Parliament. As in the
preted into the other official languages and any other
case of resolutions, they shall be forwarded by the President.
language the Bureau considers necessary.
2. The opinions, reports and resolutions of the Committee shall
(c) At Bureau, commission and working party meetings, inter
be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
preting shall be available from and into the languages used
CHAPTER 2
by the members that have confirmed they will attend the
meeting.
OPENNESS TO THE PUBLIC AND TRANSPARENCY
CHAPTER 4
Rule 75 — Public access to documents
RULES OF PROCEDURE
1. Any citizen of the Union and any natural or legal person
residing or established in a Member State has a right of
Rule 77 — Revision of Rules of Procedure
access to the documents of the Committee of the Regions
in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty on the
1. The Plenary Assembly shall decide by a majority of its
Functioning of the European Union, subject to the principles,
members if there is a need to amend these Rules of
conditions and limits laid down in Regulation (EC) No
Procedure, either in part or in full.
1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council
and to the arrangements laid down by the Committee
2. It shall appoint an ad hoc commission to draw up a report
Bureau. Access to Committee documents shall as far as
and a draft text as a basis for the adoption of new rules by a
possible be granted in the same way to other natural or
majority of its members. The new rules shall enter into force
legal persons.
the day after their publication in the Official Journal of the
2. The Committee shall establish a register of Committee
European Union.
documents. The Bureau shall adopt the internal rules
governing access and shall draw up a list of directly
Rule 78 — Bureau instructions
accessible documents.
The Bureau may give instructions determining the procedure for
CHAPTER 3
implementing the provisions of these Rules of Procedure, in
compliance with the latter.
USE OF LANGUAGES
Rule 76 — Interpreting arrangements
Rule 79 — Entry into force of Rules of Procedure
The following principles shall as far as possible be observed in
These Rules of Procedure shall enter into force the day after
relation to interpreting arrangements:
their publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

---