2008/359/EC: Commission Decision of 28 April 2008 setting up the High Level Group on the Competitiveness of the Agro-Food Industry
Date: 2008-04-28
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: agro-industry, committee (EU), competitiveness, industrial policy, operation of the Institutions, self-employed person

7.5.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 120/15

COMMISSION DECISION

of 28 April 2008

setting up the High Level Group on the Competitiveness of the Agro-Food Industry

(2008/359/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

the task of ensuring that
the competitiveness of

Article 157(1) of the Treaty assigned the Community and
the
the Member States
conditions necessary for
the
Community’s industry exist. Article 157(2) in particular
calls upon the Member States to consult each other in
liaison with the Commission and, where necessary, to
coordinate their actions. The Commission may take any
useful initiative to promote such coordination.

In its Communication ‘Mid-term review of
Industrial
Policy A contribution to the EU’s Growth and Jobs
Strategy’ (1),
the Commission announced the intention
to launch a food initiative concerned with the competi-
tiveness of the Community agro-food industry.

It is therefore necessary to set up a High Level Group
composed mainly of experts in the field of competi-
tiveness of
the Community agro-food industry, and
related challenges such as food safety, health, environ-
ment and to define its tasks and structure.

The group should address issues that determine and will
determine in the future the competitiveness of
the
Community agro-food industry. Based on the outcome
of its discussions the group should formulate a set of
sector-specific policy recommendations with a view of
enhancing
agro-food
industry in accordance with the Community policies, in
particular the objectives of food safety and health, agri-
cultural policy and sustainable development.

competitiveness

the

the

of

The group should be composed of representatives of the
the Member States and relevant stake-
Commission,
holders,
agro-food industry
upstream producers and downstream users, consumers
as well as civil society.

in particular

from the

Commission’s rules on security as set out in the Annex
ECSC,
to
Euratom (2).

2001/844/EC,

Commission

Decision

(7)

Personal data relating to members of the group should
be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No
45/2001 of
the
the European Parliament
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),

and of

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

High Level Group on the Competitiveness of

the

Agro-Food Industry

A High Level Group on the Competitiveness of the Agro-Food
Industry, hereinafter referred to as the ‘group’, is set up.

Article 2

Task

The group's task shall be the following:

1. to address issues that determine and will determine in the
the Community agro-food

future the competitiveness of
industry and related challenges;

2. to identify the factors that influence the competitive position
and sustainability of
the Community agro-food industry,
including future challenges and trends with an impact on
competitiveness;

3. to formulate a set of

sector-specific

recommendations

addressed to policy makers at the Community level.

Article 3

Consultation

(6)

Rules on disclosure of information by members of the
group should be provided for, without prejudice to the

(1) COM(2007) 374, 4.7.2007.

The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating
to the competitiveness of the Community agro-food industry.

(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.

L 120/16

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

7.5.2008

Article 4

Membership — appointment

1.
The members of the group shall be appointed by the
Commission from high level specialists with competence and
responsibility in areas which are related to the competitiveness
and related challenges of the Community agro-food industry.

The group shall comprise up to 27 members composed as

2.
follows:

(a) 8 representatives of the Member States;

(b) 13 representatives of the agro-food industry;

(c) 6 representatives of civil society and professional asso-

ciations.

A sub-group, hereinafter referred to as the ‘sherpa’ sub-
2.
group shall prepare the discussions, position papers and advice
for actions and/or policy measures to be recommended by the
group.
It shall work in close contact with the Commission
services in order to prepare the work for the group meetings.

3.
The group may, with the agreement of the Commission,
set up sub-groups to examine specific questions under terms of
reference established by the group. Such subgroups shall be
dissolved as soon as their mandates are fulfilled.

The Commission’s

4.
representative may ask experts or
observers with specific competence on a subject on the
the group, or in the
agenda to participate in the work of
deliberations or work of sub-groups and ad hoc groups.

3. Members of
expertise
Commission independently of any outside influence.

the group shall be appointed for
advise

in a personal

and shall

capacity

their
the

5.
Information obtained by participating in deliberations or
work of the group or ad hoc groups or sub-groups shall not be
divulged if, the Commission considers that information to be
confidential.

Each member of the group shall nominate a personal
sub-group set up in

to the preparatory

4.
representative
Article 5(2).

5. Members shall be appointed for a 1-year renewable term
of office and shall remain in office until such time as they are
replaced in accordance with paragraph 6 of this article or their
term of office ends.

6. Members may be replaced for the remaining period of
their term of office in any of the following cases:

(a) where they resign;

(b) where the member is no longer capable of contributing

effectively to the group’s deliberations;

(c) where the member does not comply with Article 287 of the

Treaty.

7. Members shall make a written declaration of commitment
to act in the public interest, together with a declaration as to
whether there is any interest which would prejudice their inde-
pendence.

8.
The names of the members shall be published on the
Internet site of Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry
and in the Commission's Register of Expert Groups. The names
of the members shall be collected, processed and published in
accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001.

Article 5

Operation

1.

The group shall be chaired by the Commission.

The group, the ‘sherpa’ sub-group, and other sub-groups
6.
shall normally meet on Commission premises in accordance
the
with the procedures
Commission.
secretarial
services. Other Commission officials with an interest in the
proceedings may attend meetings of the group and its sub-
groups.

established
provide

schedule
shall

The Commission

and

by

7.
The group shall adopt its rules of procedure on the basis
of the standard rules of procedure adopted by the Commission.

8.
The Commission may publish, or place on the Internet on
a dedicated website, in the original language of the document
concerned, any summary, conclusion, part of a conclusion or
working document of the group, proceedings and reports.

Article 6

Expiry

The Decision shall be applicable until 1st November 2009. The
Commission shall decide on a possible extension before that
date.

Done at Brussels, 28 April 2008.

For the Commission

Günter VERHEUGEN
Vice-President