Rule 216a : Fact-finding visits

1.   When investigating petitions, establishing facts or seeking solutions the committee may organise fact-finding visits to the Member State or region that are concerned by admissible petitions that have been already debated in the committee. As a general rule, fact-finding visits shall cover issues raised in several petitions. The Bureau Rules governing committee delegations within the European Union shall apply.

2.   Members elected in the Member State of destination shall not be part of the delegation. They may be allowed to accompany the fact-finding visit delegation in an ex officio capacity.

3.   After each visit, a mission report shall be drafted by the official members of the delegation. The Head of the delegation shall coordinate the drafting of the report and shall seek consensus on its content among the official members on an equal footing. Failing such a consensus, the mission report shall set out the divergent assessments.

Members taking part in the delegation ex officio shall not participate in the drafting of the report.

4.   The mission report, including possible recommendations, shall be submitted to the committee. Members may table amendments to the recommendations, but not to the parts of the report concerning the facts established by the delegation.

The committee shall first vote on the amendments to the recommendations, if any, then on the mission report as a whole.

The mission report, if approved, shall be forwarded to the President, for information.