13. 7. 96 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 175/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EURATOM, ECSC, EC) No 1354/96 of 8 July 199 amending Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 259/68 laying down the Staff Regulations of Officials and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Communities THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing a Single Council and a Single Commission of the European Communities, and in particular Article 24 thereof, Having regard to the proposal presented by the Commis- sion after consulting the Staff Regulations Committee, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parli- ament (), Having regard to the opinion of the Court of Justice (3, Having regard to the opinion of the Court of Auditors (%), Whereas, following the addition of the Court of Auditors to the list of Community institutions by Article 4 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, the reference to it in the second paragraph of Article 1 of Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 259/68, laying down the Staff Regulations of Officials and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Communities (*), should be removed; Whereas, following the creation of the Committee of the Regions by Article 198a of the Treaty establishing the European Community, provision should be made for it to be treated as an institution of the Communities for the purposes of the Staff Regulations and the Staff Regula- tions should be amended accordingly; Whereas Article 138e of the Treaty establishing the Euro- pean Community stipulates that the Ombudsman of the European Union is to be completely independent in the performance of his duties; whereas, in its Decision of 9 March 1994 (%) on the regulations and general condi- (') OJ No C 151, 19. 6. 1995, p. 471. (1; Opinion delivered on 16 May 1995. () Opinion delivered on 12 January 1995. * Os No L 56, 4. 3. 1968, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (ECSC, EC, Euratom) No 3161/94 (O] No L 335, 23.12. 1994, p. 1). () OJ No L 113, 4. 5. 1994, p. 15. tions governing the performance of the Ombudsman’s duties, the European Parliament decided that the Ombudsman was to be assisted by a secretariat and that, in matters concerning his staff, he was to have the same status as the institutions within the meaning of Article 1 of the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Communities, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 The Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Communities are amended as follows: 1. in Article 1 the second paragraph shall be replaced by the following: ‘Save as otherwise provided, the Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the Ombudsman of the European Union shall, for the purposes of these Staff Regulations, be treated as insti- tutions of the Communities.’ 2. in Article 2, the second paragraph shall be replaced by the following: ‘In respect of officials of the Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the secretariat of the Ombudsman of the European Union, the rules of procedure of those Committees and of the Ombudsman shall determine who shall exercise the powers conferred by these Staff Regulations on the appointing authority.’ Article 2 This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. It shall apply with effect from the date of entry into force of the Treaty on European Union.