11/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - The Vacancy Notice concerning the post of Secretary General in the General Secretariat of the Committee of the Regions was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 9 December (C297A). The Secretary General will be engaged in a special career bracket post, which corresponds to Grade A 1 for 5 years. Applications have to be Member State nationals or from accession countries. The appointment of the former post holder, Vincenzo Falcone was cancelled by the Court of First Instance of the European Communities, because of irregularities. Since October, Gerhard Stahl, current director of the consultative procedures is in the meantime, acting Secretary General (EUROPE 14/10 on page 17).