1991D0544 — EN — 29.07.1993 — 001.001 — 1
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►B COMMISSION DECISION
of 17 October 1991
on the Liaison Group on the Elderly
(91/544/EEC)
(OJ L 296, 26.10.1991, p. 42)
Amended by:
Official Journal
Nopage date
►M1Commission Decision 93/417/EEC of 21 June 1993 L 187 60 29.7.1993
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COMMISSION DECISION
of 17 October 1991
on the Liaison Group on the Elderly
(91/544/EEC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic
Community,
Whereas the constant improvement of living and working conditions
and the harmonious development of economies are aims of the Euro-pean Economic Community;
Whereas the European Parliament adopted its resolution of 18 February
1982 on the situation and problems of the aged in the EuropeanCommunity (
1), its resolution of 10 March 1986 on services for the
elderly(2) and its resolution of 14 May 1986 on Community measures
to improve the situation of old people (3);
Whereas the Council adopted its Decision of 26 November 1990 on
Community actions for the elderly(4);
Whereas current demographic movements tend towards an increase in
the elderly population with a particular emphasis on the very old;whereas this trend will have considerable economic and social implica-tions, inter alia, for the employment market, social security and socialexpenditure;
Whereas exchanges of information and experience as well as coopera-
tion and consultation on measures affecting the elderly between theCommission, the Member States and the representatives of the elderlyare important for the development of solidarity in the Community;
Whereas the measures to be carried out at Community level are
intended to make known and to complement the different types ofmeasures carried out in Member States at various levels;
Whereas the Commission, in its communication on the elderly, proposes
to set up a Liaison Group comprising representatives of organizationswith a European orientation which work with and/or for the elderly;
Whereas it is necessary to give this Group a statute based on the
experience gained,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
A Liaison Group on the Elderly, hereinafter called the ‘Group', is
hereby set up at the Commission.
Article 2
It shall be possible for the Commission to consult the Group on all areas
relating to the protection of the interests of the elderly.
Article 3
1. The Group shall consist of representatives of organizations, estab-
lished in the Member States, with a European orientation which workwith and for the elderly.
(1) OJ NoC 66, 15. 3. 1982, p. 71.
(2) OJ NoC 88, 14. 4. 1986, p. 17.
(3) OJ NoC 148, 16. 6. 1986, p. 61.
(4) OJ NoL 28, 2. 2. 1991, p. 29.
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2. The Group shall comprise ►M125◄members whose names
shall be put forward at the request of the Commission by the organ-izations working in support of the elderly.
3. These organizations must put forward twice as many names as the
number of members to be appointed by the Commission. Each organ-ization may put forward 10 names.
4. The organizations which will be requested to put forward names
are listed in the Annex tothis Decisio n.
Article 4
1. The members of the Group shall be appointed by the Commission.2. Alternate members shall be appointed under the same conditions
as the full members and in equal numbers. The alternate member shallautomatically replace the full member if the latter is absent or indis-posed.
3. The seats are to be allocated as follows:
— Retired Workers’ Coordinating Committee of the
European Trade Union Confederation: 5 seats
— Eurag — European Federation for the Welfare of
the Elderly: 5 seats
— Eurolink Age: 5 seats— Fiapa — International Federation of Associations
for the Elderly: 5 seats
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— EPSO — European Platform of Seniors Organ-
isations: 5 seats▼B
Article 5
1. The term of office of the members of the Group shall be 18
months and may be renewed twice.
2. When the term of office of members of the Group expires, they
shall remain in office until provision is made for their replacement orfor the renewal of their term of office.
3. The term of office of a member of the Group shall be terminated
prior to its expiry if the member resigns, terminates his membership ofthe organization or body which he represents, or if he dies.
4. The term of office of a member may also be terminated if the
organization or institution which he represents requests that he bereplaced.
If a member of the Group is replaced before his term of office expires,
he shall be replaced for the remainder of his term of office, in accord-ance with the procedure provided for in Article 3.
5. Members of the group shall not recieve any remuneration.
Article 6
The list of the full and alternate members shall be published by the
Commission in the Official Journal of the European Communities for
purposes of information.
Article 7
1. The group shall elect a Chairman for a period of 18 months by
two-thirds majority of the members present. If, within six weeks afterthe date of the inaugural meeting, no two-thirds majority is found, theCommission shall assume the Chairmanship for the duration of theGroup’s term of office.
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2. The Group may set up subgroups.
Article 8
1. The Group shall meet at the premises of the Commission when
convened by the latter. Meetings shall be held at least twice per yearand, in addition, at the request of two-thirds of the Group’s members.
2. Representatives of the Commission’s departments concerned by
the work of the Group shall participate in its meetings and those of itsworking parties.
3. In an emergency, the Group may, on its own initiative or at the
request of the Commission, adopt opinions by a written procedure inaccordance with the arrangements laid down in the Group’s rules.
Article 9
The Commission shall provide secretarial services for the work of the
Group and its subgroups.
Article 10
1. The Group may invite any person who has particular competence
in an area included in the agenda toparticipate in its wo rk as an expert.
Experts shall participate in the work for which they have been invited.2. The Group may invite representatives of professional organ-
izations particularly concerned by a subject included in the agenda toparticipate in its work as observers. Observers shall participate in thework for which they have been invited.
3. The Commission may invite persons who have particular compet-
ence in matters relating tothe elderly toparticipate in the wo rk o f theGroup under the conditions set out in paragraph 1.
Article 11
1. The deliberations of the Group shall relate to the requests for
opinions that it has received from the Commission. They shall not befollowed by a vote.
2. When the Commission asks the Group for an opinion, it may set a
deadline by which the opinion shall be issued.
3. The views expressed by the organizations represented shall be
recorded in the minutes.
4. If the requested opinion is based on unanimous agreement within
the Group, it shall draw up joint conclusions and attach them to theminutes.
Article 12
However, the Group may decide on its own initiative, having consulted
the Commission, to draft an opinion if such a move is approved by atwo-thirds majority of the members present.
Article 13
Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 214 of the Treaty, the
members of the Group shall be obliged not to disclose information theyhave received through the work of the Group, its bureau or workingparties, whenever the Commission informs them that the opinionrequested or the question asked relates to a confidential matter.
In this case, only the members of the Group and the representatives of
the Commission’s departments may take part in the meetings.
Article 14
This Decision shall take effect on 17 October 1991.
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ANNEX
The following bodies are invited to put forward names of candidates for
membership of the Liaison Group:
— Retired Workers’ Coordinating Committee of the European Trade Union
Confederation
— Eurag — European Federation for the Welfare of the Elderly— Eurolink Age— Fiapa — International Federation of Associations for the Elderly
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— EPSO — European Platform of Seniors Organisations