1Council Decision (EU) 2026/494 of 24 February 2026 appointing two members and four alternate members, proposed by the Republic of Estonia, of the Committee of the Regions

Council Decision (EU) 2026/494 of 24 February 2026 appointing two members and four alternate members, proposed by the Republic of Estonia, of the Committee of the Regions THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 305 thereof, Having regard to Council Decision (EU) 2019/852 of 21 May 2019 determining the composition of the Committee of the Regions OJ L 139, 27.5.2019, p. 13, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2019/852/oj. , Having regard to the proposal of the Estonian Government, Whereas: (1) Pursuant to Article 300(3) of the Treaty, the Committee of the Regions is to consist of representatives of regional and local bodies who either hold a regional or local authority electoral mandate or are politically accountable to an elected assembly. (2) On 10 December 2024, the Council adopted Decision (EU) 2025/71 Council Decision (EU) 2025/71 of 10 December 2024 appointing the members and alternate members of the Committee of the Regions for the period from 26 January 2025 to 25 January 2030 (OJ L, 2025/71, 16.1.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/71/oj). , appointing the members and alternate members of the Committee of the Regions for the period from 26 January 2025 to 25 January 2030. (3) Two members’ seats on the Committee of the Regions have become vacant following the end of the national mandates on the basis of which Ms Irina TALVISTE and Mr Tiit TERIK were proposed for appointment. (4) Four alternate members’ seats on the Committee of the Regions have become vacant following the end of the national mandates on the basis of which Ms Katrin KRAUSE, Ms Gerli LEHE, Mr Rait PIHELGAS and Mr Urmas SUKLES were proposed for appointment. (5) The Estonian Government has proposed, on the basis of different national mandates, the following representatives of local bodies who hold a local authority electoral mandate or who are politically accountable to an elected assembly as members of the Committee of the Regions for the remainder of the current term of office, which runs until 25 January 2030: Ms Irina TALVISTE, Pärnu Linnavolikogu liige (Member of Pärnu City Council) and Mr Tiit TERIK, Tallinna linnavalitsuse liige (Member of Tallinn City Government). (6) The Estonian Government has proposed, on the basis of different national mandates, the following representatives of local bodies who hold a local authority electoral mandate or who are politically accountable to an elected assembly as alternate members of the Committee of the Regions for the remainder of the current term of office, which runs until 25 January 2030: Ms Katrin KRAUSE, Harku Vallavalitsuse liige (Member of Harku Rural Municipality Government), Ms Gerli LEHE, Rae Vallavalitsuse liige (Member of Rae Rural Municipality Government), Mr Rait PIHELGAS, Kambja Vallavolikogu liige (Member of Kambja Rural Municipality Council) and Mr Urmas SUKLES, Haapsalu Vallavolikogu liige (Member of Haapsalu Rural Municipality Council),

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The following representatives of local bodies who hold an electoral mandate or who are politically accountable to an elected assembly are hereby appointed to the Committee of the Regions for the remainder of the current term of office, which runs until 25 January 2030: (a) as members: Ms Irina TALVISTE, Pärnu Linnavolikogu liige (Member of Pärnu City Council) (change of mandate), Mr Tiit TERIK, Tallinna linnavalitsuse liige (Member of Tallinn City Government) (change of mandate); and (b) as alternate members: Ms Katrin KRAUSE, Harku Vallavalitsuse liige (Member of Harku Rural Municipality Government) (change of mandate), Ms Gerli LEHE, Rae Vallavalitsuse liige (Member of Rae Rural Municipality Government) (change of mandate), Mr Rait PIHELGAS, Kambja Vallavolikogu liige (Member of Kambja Rural Municipality Council) (change of mandate), Mr Urmas SUKLES, Haapsalu Vallavolikogu liige (Member of Haapsalu Rural Municipality Council) (change of mandate).

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption. Done at Brussels, 24 February 2026. For the Council The President M. Raouna