COUNCIL DECISION

of 26 June 2020

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

(2020/C 218 I/01)

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 3 February 2020,

Having regard to the views expressed by the European Parliament by letter dated 14 May 2020,

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 2020.

(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 one member of the Management Board with such a background will expire on 30 June 2020. This member should therefore be replaced by a member having a background in organisations representing consumers or other interests in the food chain.

(5) Article 25(2) of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 stipulates that the members’ term of office is to be four years and that it may be renewed once. One of the candidates not having a background in organisations representing consumers or other interests in the food chain has already been appointed as a member of the Management Board by Council Decisions of 20 April 2015 and 16 June 2016 (2). He first served the remainder of the term of office of a resigning member for one year and two months and was subsequently appointed for a full four‐year mandate. This member should therefore only be appointed for two years and ten months 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 members of the Management Board of the European Food Safety Authority for the period from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2024: — Mr Aivars BĒRZIŅŠ, — Mr Georgi Kirilov GEORGIEV, — Mr Ulrich HERZOG, — Mr Didier HOUSSIN, — Ms Eleni IOANNOU-KAKOURI (*1), — Mr Giuseppe RUOCCO.

Article 2 The following person is hereby appointed as a member of the Management Board of the European Food Safety Authority for the period from 1 July 2020 to 30 April 2023: — Mr Michael WINTER.

Article 3 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 26 June 2020. For the Council The President A. METELKO-ZGOMBIĆ

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

(2) Council Decision of 20 April 2015 appointing a member of the Management Board of the European Food Safety Authority (OJ C 142, 29.4.2015, p. 1) and Council Decision of 16 June 2016 appointing seven members of the Management Board of the European Food Safety Authority (OJ C 223, 21.6.2016, p. 7).

(*1) Background in organisations representing consumers.