5.11. 97 Official Journal of the European Communities L 301/5 COUNCIL REGULATION (ECSC, EC, EURATOM) No 2192/97 of 30 October 1997 amending the Staff Regulations of Officials 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 Par- liament (3), Having regard to the opinion of the Court of Justice (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Court of Auditors (%), Whereas Article 1 of Annex II to Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 259/68 () lays down the term of office of the members and alternates, if any, of the Staff Committee; Whereas that term of office, which is currently fixed at a maximum of two vyears, should be replaced by a maximum term of three years to permit fuller implemen- tation of the staff representatives’ mandate; Whereas it is unnecessary to amend the minimum term of office of members of the Staff Committee and their alternates, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 The first subparagraph of Article 1 (Section 1) of Annex II to the Staff Regulations is hereby replaced by the fol- lowing: ‘The Staff Committee shall comprise the members thereof, together with their alternates if any, whose term of office shall be three years. The institution may, however, decide to fix a shorter term of office, which may not be less than one year. Every official of the institution shall be entitled to vote and stand for election.’ Article 2 This Regulation shall enter into force on the day fol- lowing that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Luxembourg, 30 October 1997. () OJ C 160, 27. 5. 1997, p. 8. (3 OJ C 286, 22. 9. 1997, p. 30. () Opinion delivered on 7 July 1997. (*) Opinion delivered on 15 May 1997. () OJ No L 56, 4. 3. 1968, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (Euratom, ECSC, EC) No 2485/96 (OJ No L 338, 28.12. 1996, p. 1). For the Council The President F. BODEN