EN Official Journal of the European Union C 230/2

COUNCIL DECISION

of 26 June 2018

appointing seven members of the Management Board of the European Food Safety Authority

(2018/C 230/02)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety (1), and in particular Article 25(1) thereof,

Having regard to the list of candidates submitted to the Council by the European Commission by letter dated 24 January 2018,

Having regard to the views expressed by the European Parliament by letter dated 16 May 2018,

Whereas:

(1) It is vital to ensure the independence, high scientific quality, transparency and efficiency of the European Food Safety Authority. It is also indispensable to ensure the cooperation of that Authority with Member States.

(2) The term of office for seven members of the Management Board of the European Food Safety Authority will expire on 30 June 2018.

(3) The list submitted by the Commission has been examined with a view to appointing seven new members of the Management Board of the European Food Safety Authority on the basis of the documentation provided by the Commission and in light of the views expressed by the European Parliament. The aim is to secure the highest standard of competence, a broad range of relevant expertise, for example in management and public administration, and the broadest possible geographical distribution within the Union.

(4) Article 25(1) of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 requires that four of the members of the Management Board of the European Food Safety Authority have a background in organisations representing consumers and other interests in the food chain. The term of office of three members of the Management Board with such background will expire on 30 June 2018; one having a background in organisations representing consumers and two having a background in organisations representing other interests in the food chain. Those members should therefore be replaced by members having a background in organisations representing consumers and other interests in the food chain and both subcategories — consumers and other interests in the food chain — should be represented.

(5) Article 25(2) of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 provides that members' term of office is to be four years and that it may be renewed once. One of the candidates having a background in organisations representing consumers has already been appointed as a member of the Management Board by Council Decisions of 24 June 2013 (2) and of 16 June 2014 (3). He first served the remainder of the term of office of a resigning member for one year and was subsequently appointed for a full four-year mandate. This member should therefore only be appointed for three years so that the overall duration of his term in office does not exceed eight years,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The following persons are hereby appointed as new members of the Management Board of the European Food Safety Authority for the period from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2022:

Geronimo Răducu BRĂNESCU

Herman DIRICKS

Libor DUPAL (*1)

Iñaki EGUILEOR

András SZÉKÁCS

Annette TOFT (*2)

Article 2

The following person shall be appointed as a new member of the Management Board of the European Food Safety Authority for the period from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2021:

Raymond O'ROURKE (*3)

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Luxembourg, 26 June 2018. For the Council The President E. ZAHARIEVA

(1) OJ L 31, 1.2.2002, p. 1.

(2) Council Decision of 24 June 2013 appointing a member of the Management Board of the European Food Safety Authority (OJ C 187, 29.6.2013, p. 7).

(3) Council Decision of 16 June 2014 appointing half of the members of the Management Board of the European Food Safety Authority (OJ C 192, 21.6.2014, p. 2).

(*1) Background in organisations representing consumers.

(*2) Background in organisations representing other interests in the food chain.

(*3) Background in organisations representing consumers.