Rule 137 : Consultation of the European Economic and Social Committee

1.   Where the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides for the consultation of the Economic and Social Committee, the President shall initiate the consultation procedure and inform Parliament thereof.

2.   A committee may request that the European Economic and Social Committee be consulted on matters of a general nature or on specific points.

The committee shall indicate, in its request, the deadline for delivery by the European Economic and Social Committee of its opinion.

A request for consultation of the European Economic and Social Committee shall be announced to Parliament at its next part-session and shall be deemed to have been approved, unless, within 24 hours from the announcement, a political group or Members reaching at least the low threshold request that it be put to the vote.

3.   Opinions forwarded by the Economic and Social Committee shall be referred to the committee responsible.