2006/644/EC: Commission Decision of 20 September 2006 setting up the High Level Group on Multilingualism
Date: 2006-09-20
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: consultancy, multilingualism

L 263/12

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

23.9.2006

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 20 September 2006

setting up the High Level Group on Multilingualism

(2006/644/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

(7)

Whereas:

(1)

Article 149(2) of the Treaty establishing the European
Community assigned the Community
task of
developing the European dimension in education, parti-
cularly through the teaching and dissemination of the
languages of the Member States.

the

(2) With a view to developing a new strategy for multilin-
gualism,
in accordance with the Communication from
the Commission entitled ‘A new framework strategy for
multilingualism’ (1), the Commission may need to call
upon the expertise of specialists in an advisory body.

It is therefore necessary to set up a group of experts in
the field of multilingualism and to define its tasks and its
structure.

The group should help to provide support and advice in
developing initiatives, as well as fresh impetus and ideas
for a comprehensive approach to multilingualism in the
European Union.

Commission

to
Euratom (2).

Decision

2001/844/EC,

ECSC,

Personal data relating to members of the group should
be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC)
the
No 45/2001 of
Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of
individuals with regard to the processing of personal
data by the Community institutions and bodies and on
the free movement of such data (3),

the European Parliament and of

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The High Level Group on Multilingualism

The High Level Group on Multilingualism, hereinafter referred
to as ‘the group’, is hereby set up.

Article 2

Task

The group’s task shall be to bring about an exchange of ideas,
experience and good practice in the field of multilingualism and
to make recommendations to the Commission for actions in
this domain.

Article 3

Consultation

The group should be composed of eight
members.

to twelve

The Commission may consult the group on any matter

1.
relating to multilingualism.

Rules on disclosure of information by members of the
group should be provided for, without prejudice to the
Commission’s rules on security as set out in the Annex

(1) COM(2005) 596 final.

The Chairperson of the group may advise the Commission
2.
that it is desirable to consult the Group on a specific question.

(2) OJ L 317, 3.12.2001, p. 1. Decision as last amended by Decision

2006/548/EC, Euratom (OJ L 215, 5.8.2006, p. 38).

(3) OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1.

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

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Official Journal of the European Union

L 263/13

Information obtained by participating in the deliberations
4.
of a group or sub-group may not be divulged if, in the opinion
of
information relates to confidential
matters.

the Commission,

that

5.
The group and its sub-groups shall normally meet on
Commission premises in accordance with the procedures and
schedule established by it. The Commission shall provide secre-
tarial services. Other Commission officials with an interest in
the proceedings may attend meetings of the group and its sub-
groups.

6.
The group shall adopt its rules of procedure on the basis
of the standard rules of procedure adopted by the Commission.

The Commission may publish [on the Internet],

in the
7.
original
language of the document concerned, any summary,
conclusion, or partial conclusion or working document of the
group.

Article 6

Meeting expenses

The Commission shall reimburse travel and, where appropriate,
subsistence expenses for members, experts and observers in
connection with the group’s activities in accordance with the
Commission’s rules on the compensation of external experts.

The members, experts and observers shall not be remunerated
for the services they render.

Meeting expenses are reimbursed within the limits of the annual
budget allocated to the group by the responsible Commission
services.

Article 7

Entry into force

The Decision shall take effect on the day of its publication in
the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 20 September 2006.

For the Commission
Ján FIGEĽ
Member of the Commission

Article 4

Composition — Appointment

1.

The group shall be composed of eight to twelve members.

2.
The members of the group shall be appointed by the
Commission from specialists with competence in multilin-
gualism.

3.
The members shall be appointed in a personal capacity
and shall advise the Commission independently of any outside
influence.

4. Members of the group shall remain in office until such
time as they are replaced or their mandate is renewed.

5. Members who are no longer capable of contributing effec-
tively to the group’s deliberations, who resign or who do not
comply with the conditions set out in paragraph 3 of this
Article or Article 287 of the Treaty may be replaced for the
remainder of their term of office.

6. Members appointed in a personal capacity 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 objectivity.

7.
The names of members appointed individually shall be
published on the Internet site of DG EAC. The names of
collected, processed and published in
members
(EC)
of
the
accordance with
No 45/2001 (1).

Regulation

provisions

shall be

Article 5

Operation

The group shall be chaired by the member of

1.
Commission responsible for multilingualism.

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. Such groups shall be dissolved as soon
as their mandates are 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.

(1) In duly substantiated cases, exemptions may be made to the rule

governing publication of the names of members.