COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS: INSTITUTIONAL REFORM DEMANDS MADE CLEAR.

First of all, increasing its size would help ensure the Committee is politically representative. It is also vital that all regional authorities in the EU (regions, communities, departments, provinces, cities and towns) are represented. Raising the number of members to 350 - half the number of Members of the European Parliament - would ththerefore seem "reasonable". Making it mandatory to have been elected in order to become or remain a member of the Committee of the Regions would also reinforce the Committee's political legitimacy. Giving the Committee institutional status would grant it the right to appeal to the EU Court of Justice, at least in cases of non-respect of its prerogatives. This would also make the Committee responsible for making sure the principle of subsidiarity is properly applied.On the well-known theme of the level of power closest to the citizens, ambitious demands are being put forward by the youngest of the European Union institutions (the Committee of the Regions was created in 1993 under the Treaty of Maastricht) ahead of the EU Summit in Nice in December.The Committee thinks the Inter-Governmental Conference should not, however, limit discussions about the Committee of the Regions to questions concerning its size and composition. Its political role within the EU set-up must also be reinforced. The Committee will do its utmost to contribute towards drawing up better European legislation by issuing well-targeted political opinions, following...