2007/397/EC: Commission Decision of 8 June 2007 setting up an expert group on demographic issues
Date: 2007-06-08
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: consultancy, demographic analysis, population policy, self-employed person

12.6.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 150/5

(Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is not obligatory)

II

DECISIONS

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 8 June 2007

setting up an expert group on demographic issues

(2007/397/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty
Community, and in particular Article 140 thereof,

establishing the European

(5)

(6)

The group must be composed of government represen-
tatives of the Member States and of independent experts.

The expert group on demographic issues should therefore
be set up and its terms of reference and structures
defined,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

provides

Article 140 of
the Treaty establishing the European
shall
that
Community
encourage cooperation between the Member States and
facilitate the coordination of their action in all social
policy fields.

the Commission

In accordance with the Commission Communication of
12 October 2006 entitled ‘The demographic future of
Europe, from challenge to opportunity’, the Commission
the assistance of a group of
has decided to enlist
government experts.

The group must contribute to the development of
policies for adapting to demographic change.

the

Employment Committee,

Care will be taken to ensure complementarity and an
absence of overlap with the activities of other groups
issues,
and committees dealing with demographic
including
Social
the
Protection Committee, the Economic Policy Committee,
the Economic and Financial Committee,
the Advisory
Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and
Men and the High-Level Group on Gender Main-
streaming. The Commission will inform these bodies of
the activities of the expert group on demographic issues.

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1
An ‘expert group on demographic issues’ (hereinafter referred to
as ‘the group’) shall be set up under the auspices of
the
Commission for a period of five years (renewable).

Article 2

Task

The group's task shall be to advise the Commission on the
monitoring of demographic change and on the implementation
of the policy guidelines set out in the Commission Communi-
cation of 12 October 2006 on the demographic future of
Europe (COM(2006) 571).

More specifically, the group shall:

— assist

the Commission in drawing conclusions from the
research results, in identifying relevant data for the demo-
graphy reports and in fostering exchanges of good practice
for which the Demographic Forum will provide a platform.
It shall take into account the results of the numerous actions
and research projects undertaken by the European insti-
tutions on these subjects,

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— enable the Member States to give their opinions on the
broad responses
the demographic
required to meet
challenge and on the specific initiatives resulting from the
Communication of 12 October 2006 on the demographic
future of Europe and its aftermath, in particular in the fields
that are not already well covered by the existing committees
and advisory groups,

nities and in the Official Journal of the European Union, series
C. The names of members shall be collected, processed and
published in accordance with the provisions of Regulation
(EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the
Council (1) on the protection of individuals with regard to
the processing of personal data.

— assist the Commission in preparing the future demography
reports and in assessing the EU's state of preparation for
to be included in the
demographic change (assessment
annual progress
the
Lisbon Strategy),

report on the implementation of

— provide the opportunity for exchanges of experience and
family policy, and support
good practice in the field of
efforts to improve the quality of life of persons with care
responsibilities,

— solicit oral and written contributions
partners and civil society organisations.

from the social

The group’s Chair may indicate to the Commission when it
would be advisable to consult the group on a specific question.

Article 3
Composition — Appointment

The group shall be composed of government experts and
1.
independent experts. Each Member State shall nominate a
it. The Commission shall
government expert
appoint
from
among specialists with competence in the areas referred to in
Article 2, to advise it independently of any outside influence.

in a personal capacity,

independent experts

to represent

2.

The following provisions shall apply:

— the members shall remain in office until they are replaced,

or until the expiry of their term of office,

— members who are no longer able to make an effective
the group, who resign or
contribution to the work of
in the first or
who breach the requirements
second indent of
the
Treaty establishing the European Community may be
replaced for the remainder of their term of office,

set out
this Article or in Article 287 of

Article 4

Operation

1.

The Commission shall appoint the group's Chair.

2.
The Commission's representative may invite experts or
observers with specific competence on a subject on the
agenda to participate in the work of the group or one of its
subgroups if this is deemed necessary or useful.

3.
Information obtained by participating in the deliberations
or work of the group shall not be divulged if, in the opinion of
the Commission,
to confidential
matters.

information relates

that

4.
The group shall normally meet on Commission premises
in accordance with the procedures and schedule established by
the Commission. It may be called on to meet in other locations,
in particular on a proposal from a Member State wishing to
the group in connection with an event of particular
host
interest for the group. The Commission shall provide secretarial
services. Other Commission officials with an interest in the
proceedings may attend the meetings.

5.
The group shall adopt its rules of procedure on the basis
of the standard rules of procedure adopted by the Commission.

The Commission services may publish on the Internet, in
any
conclusion or working

conclusion, or partial

6.
the original
summary,
document of the group.

the document

language of

concerned,

Article 5

Meeting expenses

Travel and subsistence expenses incurred by members, experts
and observers in connection with the group's activities shall be
reimbursed by the Commission in accordance with the
Commission's rules. There shall be no remuneration for the
work performed by government experts.

— the names of the members appointed in a personal capacity
shall be published on the Internet site of the Directorate-
General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportu-

Meeting expenses shall be reimbursed within the limits of the
available appropriations allocated to the departments concerned
under the annual procedure for the allocation of resources.

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

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Official Journal of the European Union

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

Article 6

Entry into force

Done at Brussels, 8 June 2007.

For the Commission
Vladimír ŠPIDLA
Member of the Commission