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. 67) The following Chapter shall be inserted: "CHAPTER 4 THE 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 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 and an equal number of alternate members shall be appointed for four years by the Council acting unanimously on proposals from the respective Member States. Their term of office 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. ARTICLE 198b The Committee of the Regions shall elect its chairman and officers from among its members for a term of two years. It shall adopt its rules of procedure and shall submit them for approval to the Council, acting unanimously. 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. ARTICLE 198c The Committee of the Regions shall be consulted by the Council or by the Commission where this Treaty so provides and in all other cases in which one of these two institutions considers it appropriate. The Council of 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. Where the Economic and Social Committee is consulted pursuant to Article 198, the Committee of the Regions shall be informed by the Council of the Commission of the request for an opinion. Where it considers that specific regional interests are involved, the Committee of the Regions may issue an opinion on the matter. It may issue an opinion on its own initiative in cases in which it considers such action appropriate. The opinion of the Committee, together with a record of the proceedings, shall be forwarded to the Council and to the Commission." 68) The following chapter shall be inserted: