2006/178/EC: Commission Decision of  27 February 2006  setting up a High Level Expert Group on Digital Libraries  (This text annuls and replaces the text published in  Official Journal L 46 of 16 February 2006, p. 32 )
Date: 2006-02-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: advisory committee (EU), digital technology, operation of the Institutions, self-employed person, virtual library

4.3.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 63/25

COMMISSION DECISION

of 27 February 2006

setting up a High Level Expert Group on Digital Libraries

(This text annuls and replaces the text published in Official Journal L 46 of 16 February 2006, p. 32)

(2006/178/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

for

the

task of
the

the Treaty establishing the European
Article 157 of
Community assigns the Community and the Member
conditions
ensuring
States
that
necessary
the Com-
competitiveness
munity's industry exist. Article 151 provides that the
the
Community shall contribute to the flowering of
the Member States, while respecting their
cultures of
national and regional diversity and at
the same time
bringing the common cultural heritage to the fore.

the
of

The Communication from the Commission ‘i2010 — A
European
and
employment’ (1)
flagship initiative on
digital libraries.

announced a

Information

growth

Society

for

Libraries’ (2)

The Communication from the Commission ‘i2010:
‘the Communication’)
Digital
(hereafter
announced the creation of a High Level Expert Group
on Digital Libraries that will advise the Commission on
legal and
how to best address
technical challenges at European level.

the organisational,

The White Paper on a European Communication
Policy (3) adopted by the Commission on 1 February
2006 mentions the essential role that digital
libraries
can play in providing free access to European citizens
to information on Europe through information tech-
nologies.

(6)

(7)

The group must be made up of highly qualified experts
with competence on digital
libraries, appointed in a
personal capacity.

The ‘High Level Expert Group on Digital Libraries’
therefore has to be set up and its terms of reference
and structure detailed,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

A group of experts ‘High Level Expert Group on Digital
Libraries’, hereinafter referred to as ‘the group’,
is hereby set
up by the Commission.

Article 2

Task

The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating
to the implementation of the digital libraries initiative as set out
in the Communication.

The group’s task is to:

— advise the Commission on how to best address the organi-
sational, legal and technical challenges at European level;

— contribute to a shared strategic vision for European digital

libraries.

(5)

The group must contribute to a shared strategic vision
for European digital libraries.

(1) COM(2005) 229 final.
(2) COM(2005) 465 final.
(3) COM(2006) 35 final.

Article 3

Composition — Appointment

The Director General of DG ‘Information Society and
1.
Media’ or by his/her representative, is in charge of appointing
the members of the group. They shall be appointed as high level
experts with competence on digital libraries.

L 63/26

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

4.3.2006

2.

The group shall be composed of up to 20 members.

3.

The following provisions shall apply:

are

collected, processed and published in
members
accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EC)
No 45/2001.

— Members are appointed in a personal capacity as high level
libraries and are required to advise the

experts on digital
Commission independently of any outside influence.

Article 4

Operation

— Members will be appointed to ensure, as far as possible, an

adequate balance in terms of:

— range of competencies;

— geographical origin;

— gender.

— The Group will

include experts from the following cate-

gories:

— memory organisations (libraries, archives, museums);

— authors, publishers and content providers;

The group is

1.
Commission.

chaired by

a

representative of

the

2.
In agreement with the Commission, sub-groups may be
set up to examine specific questions under terms of reference
established by the group; they shall be disbanded as soon as
their tasks have been fulfilled.

The Commission’s

3.
representative may ask experts or
observers with specific competence on a subject on the
agenda to participate in the group’s or sub-group’s deliberations
if this is useful and/or necessary.

Information obtained by participating in the group’s or
4.
sub-group’s
the
Commission indicates that this relates to confidential matters.

deliberations may not

divulged

be

if

— ICT industry (e.g. search engines, technology providers);

— scientific and research organisations, academia.

The group and its

5.
sub-groups normally meet on
Commission premises in accordance with the procedures and
schedule established by it. The Commission provides secretarial
services. Other Commission officials with an interest in the
proceedings may attend these meetings.

— Members may not designate an alternate to replace them.

— Members are appointed for a two year renewable mandate.
They shall remain in office until such time as they are
replaced or their mandate ends.

— Members who are no longer able to contribute effectively to
the group’s deliberations, who resign or who do not respect
the conditions set out in the first or fifth indent of this
paragraph or Article 287 of
the Treaty establishing the
European Community may be replaced for the remaining
period of their mandate.

— Members shall each year sign an undertaking to act in the
public interest and a declaration indicating the absence or
existence of any interest which may undermine their objec-
tivity.

The group shall adopt its rules of procedure on the basis
the
the

procedure

standard

adopted

rules

by

of

6.
of
Commission (1).

7.
The Commission may publish, in the original language of
the document concerned, any résumé, conclusion, or partial
conclusion or working document of the group.

Article 5

Meeting expenses

The Commission may reimburse travel and subsistence expenses
for members, experts and observers in connection with the
group’s activities in accordance with the provisions in force at
the Commission. The members shall not be paid for their
duties.

— The names of members are published on the Internet site of
the DG ‘Information Society and Media’. The names of

(1) SEC(2005) 1004, Annex III.

4.3.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 63/27

Article 6

Entry into force

The decision shall take effect on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It is
applicable until 31 December 2008. The Commission shall decide on a possible extension before that date.

Done at Brussels, 27 February 2006.

For the Commission

Viviane REDING
Member of the Commission