A Quarter-Century Activity of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union

Abstract

The Committee of the Regions was established on the basis of the Maastricht Treaty of 7 February 1992, and began operating in March 1994. It consists of representatives of regional and local authorities who have obtained electoral mandates from the communities they represent. The number of members of the Committee was set for individual Member States and it was assumed that its composition should not exceed 350 members. The organizational structure and principles of the Committee’s operation are set out in its Rules of Procedure. The Committee is an advisory body consulted by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission. It prepares opinions as part of obligatory, optional and own-initiative procedures. It can also adopt resolutions and prepare reports, analyses and outlook opinions. The Committee has the right to bring cases before the Court of Justice of the European Union in order to protect its prerogatives and to apply the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality.