27.1.2012 EN Official Journal of the European Union C 22/7
COMMISSION DECISION
of 26 January 2012
on setting up the eGovernment Expert Group
2012/C 22/04
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Whereas:
(1) As indicated in the Communication from the Commission entitled ‘The European eGovernment Action Plan 2011-2015’ (hereafter eGovernment Action Plan (1)), ‘Member States are fully committed to the political priorities of the Malmö Declaration’ (2). They also invited the European Commission to organise the joint governance of this Action Plan allowing the active participation of the Member States in its implementation. In May 2011 the Council Conclusions (3) endorsed the eGovernment Action Plan and the actions foreseen therein.
(2) It is therefore necessary for the Commission to set up a group of experts composed of the competent Member States' authorities, which are responsible for the eGovernment area, and to define its tasks and its structure.
(3) Personal data should be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the 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 (4).
The ‘eGovernment Expert Group’, hereinafter referred to as the ‘eGovernment Group’, is hereby set up by the Commission.
Tasks
The Group’s tasks shall be:
— to advise the Commission on strategic eGovernment issues in the context of the eGovernment Action Plan, and give input and suggest necessary adjustments to priorities, objectives and actions on the basis of the mid-term evaluation of the eGovernment Action Plan implementation,
— to assist the Commission in defining common targets for Member States for relevant actions of the Action Plan,
— to offer a forum for strategic discussions and for the exchange of experiences, with all Commission services involved,
— to exchange views on issues arising from the national eGovernment strategies, in the areas covered by the eGovernment Action Plan, in relation to achieving its objectives,
— to provide a forum through which Member States inform the Commission on Action Plan implementation progress in their country.
The ‘eGovernment Group’ will liaise via the Commission with the ‘High Level Group for the Digital Agenda’ with the view of ensuring optimal implementation of the eGovernment actions.
The ‘eGovernment Group’ will also liaise and coordinate via the Commission with the ISA Programme Committee (5).
Consultation
The Commission may consult the ‘eGovernment Group’ on any matter relating to the implementation of the eGovernment Action Plan.
Composition — Appointment
1.   The ‘eGovernment Group’ shall be composed of the competent Member States' authorities. Each Member State authority shall nominate one high level representative. The representatives shall be responsible for the national eGovernment strategies, able to ensure appropriate coordination between the national public authorities involved in the various areas covered by the eGovernment Action Plan. Member States' representatives may be accompanied by appropriate colleagues according to the subject matter discussed, without prejudice to the applicable rules for reimbursement of meeting expenses.
2.   Members are appointed for the duration of the Action Plan 2011-2015.
3.   Provision may be made for the same number of alternates as members to be appointed. Alternates shall be appointed in accordance with the same conditions as members; alternates automatically replace any members who are absent or indisposed.
4.   Members who are no longer capable of contributing effectively 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 339 of the Treaty, may be replaced for the remainder of their term of office.
5.   The names of the appointed representatives shall be published in the Register of Commission expert groups and other similar entities (‘the Register’) and in the eGovernment website http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/egovernment/index_en.htm
Operation
1.   The ‘eGovernment Group’ is chaired by a representative of the Commission.
2.   The Commission's representative may invite experts from outside the group with specific competence in a subject on the agenda to participate in the work of the group on an ad hoc basis. In addition, the Commission’s representative may give observer status to EEA and EFTA countries and acceding countries. In such case, the competent authorities of these countries shall nominate one high level representative.
3.   Members of expert groups and their representatives, as well as invited experts and observers, shall comply with the obligations of professional secrecy laid down by the Treaties and their implementing rules, as well as with the Commission's rules on security regarding the protection of EU classified information, laid down in the Annex to Commission Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom (6). Should they fail to respect these obligations, the Commission may take all appropriate measures.
4.   The meetings of the ‘eGovernment Group’ shall be held on Commission premises. The Commission shall provide secretarial services. Other Commission officials with an interest in the proceedings may attend meetings of the group and its sub-groups.
5.   The group shall adopt its rules of procedure on the basis of the standard rules of procedure for expert groups (7).
6.   The Commission publishes relevant information on the activities carried out by the group either by including it in the Register or via a link from the Register to a dedicated website.
Meeting expenses
1.   Participants in the activities of the group shall not be remunerated for the services they render.
2.   Travel and subsistence expenses incurred by participants in the activities of the group shall be reimbursed by the Commission in accordance with the provisions in force within the Commission.
3.   Those expenses shall be reimbursed within the limits of the available appropriations allocated under the annual procedure for the allocation of resources.
Applicability
This Decision shall apply until 31 December 2015.