ts. These
bodies or departments shall inform the Court of Auditors whether they
intend to take part in the audit.
The other institutions of the Community and the national audit bodies
or, if these do not have the necessary powers, the competent national
department, shall forward to the Court of Auditors, at its request, any
document or information necessary to carry on its task.
4. The Court of Auditors shall draw up an annual report after the close
of each financial year. It shall be forwarded to the other institutions of
the Community and shall be published, together with the replies of
these institutions to the observations of the Court of Auditors, in the
Official Journal of the European Communities.
The Court of Auditors may also, at any time, submit observations,
particularly in the form of special reports, on specific questions and
deliver opinions at the request of one of the other institutions of the
Community.
It shall adopt its annual reports, special reports or opinions by a
majority of its members.
It shall assist the European Parliament and the Council in exercising
their powers of control over the implementation of the budget."
15) Article 166 shall be replaced by the following:
"ARTICLE 166
The number of members of the Economic and Social Committee shall
be as follows:
Belgium 12
Denmark 9
Germany 24
Greece 12
Spain 21
France 24
Ireland 9
Italy 24
Luxembourg 6
Netherlands 12
Portugal 12
United Kingdom 24
The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Council,
acting unanimously, for four years. Their appointment shall be
renewable.
The members of the Committee may not be bound by any mandatory
instructions. They shall be completely independent in the performance
of their duties, in the general interest of the Community.
The Council, acting by qualified majority, shall determine the
allowances of the members of the Committee."
168 shall be replaced by the following;
"ARTICLE 168
The Committee shall elect its chairman and officers from among its
members for a term of two years.
It shall adopt its rules of procedure.
The Committee shall be convened by its chairman at the request of the
Council or of the Commission. It may also meet on its own initiative."
17) Article 170 shall be replaced by the following:
"ARTICLE 170
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