Article 197

The Committee shall include specialized sections for the principal fields covered by this Treaty.

In particular, it shall contain an agricultural section and a transport section, which are the subject of special provisions in the Titles relating to agriculture and transport.

These specialized sections shall operate within the general terms of reference of the Committee. They may not be consulted independently of the Committee.

Subcommittees may also be established within the Committee to prepare on specific questions or in specific fields, draft opinions to be submitted to the Committee for its consideration.

The Rules of Procedure shall lay down the methods of composition and the terms of reference of the specialized sections and of the subcommittees.

Article 198 ( * )

( * ) As amended by Article G( 66 ) TEU.

The Committee must be consulted by the Council or by the Commission where this Treaty so provides. The Committee may be consulted by these institutions in all cases in which they consider it appropriate. It may issue an opinion on its own initiative in cases in which it considers such action appropriate.

The Council or the Commission shall, if it considers it necessary, set the Committee, for the submission of its opinion, a time limit which may 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.

The opinion of the Committee and that of the specialized section, together with a record of the proceedings, shall be forwarded to the Council and to the Commission.

CHAPTER 4 ( * )

( * ) Chapter 4 ( Articles 198a to 198c ) as inserted by Article G( 67 ) TEU.

HE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

Article 198a

A Committee consisting of representatives of regional and local bodies, hereinafter  referred to as the Committee of the Regions', is hereby established with advisory status.

The number of members of the Committee of the Regions sh4l be as follows:

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