Rule 116 : Special representatives

1.   Where the Council intends to appoint a special representative under Article 33 of the Treaty on European Union, the President, at the request of the committee responsible, shall invite the Council to make a statement, and to answer questions, concerning the mandate, the objectives and other relevant matters relating to the tasks and role to be performed by the special representative.

2.   After the special representative has been appointed, but before he or she has taken up that position, he or she may be invited to appear before the committee responsible to make a statement and answer questions.

3.   Within two months after the hearing, the committee responsible may make recommendations to the Council, to the Commission or to the Vice President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy relating directly to the appointment.

4.   The special representative shall be invited to keep Parliament fully and regularly informed concerning the practical implementation of the mandate.