25.2.2006 Official Journal of the European Union L 56/75 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 24 January 2006 appointing the members and alternate members of the Committee of the Regions for the period from 26 January 2006 to 25 January 2010 (2006/116/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 263 thereof, Having regard to the proposals made by the governments of the Member States, Whereas: (1) Article 263 of the EC Treaty requires that members or alternate members of the Committee of the Regions, besides being representatives of regional or local bodies, ‘either hold a regional or local authority electoral mandate or are politically accountable to an elected assembly’. (2) As the term of office of the members and alternate members of the Committee of the Regions is due to expire on 25 January 2006, new members and alternate members should be appointed to the Committee of the Regions, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 The following are hereby appointed to the Committee of the Regions for the period from 26 January 2006 to 25 January 2010: — as members, the persons listed by Member State in Annex I, — as alternate members, the persons listed by Member State in Annex IL Article 2 This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall take effect on the date of its adoption. Done at Brussels, 24 January 2006. For the Council The President K.-H. GRASSER