24.2.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 55/53 COUNCIL DECISION of 10 February 2004 appointing an alternate member of the Committee of the Regions (2004/172[EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 263 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Spanish Government, Whereas: (1)  On 22 January 2002 the Council adopted Decision 2002/60/EC appointing the members and alter- nate members of the Committee of the Regions (). (2)  The seat of an alternate member of the Committee of the Regions has become vacant following the expiry of the mandate of Mr Juan GONZALEZ BLASCO, of which the Council was notified on 23 January 2004, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Sole Article Ms Laura DE ESTEBAN, Directora-General — Gobierno de la Communidad Auténoma de Madrid, is hereby appointed an alternate member of the Committee of the Regions in place of Mr Juan GONZALEZ BLASCO for the remainder of his term of office, which ends on 25 January 2006. Done at Brussels, 10 February 2004. For the Council The President C. McCREEVY () OJ L 24, 26.1.2002, p. 38.