Commission Decision

of 10 August 2010

setting up the Expert Group on the Internet of Things

2010/C 217/08

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Whereas:

(1) In accordance with the Communication from the Commission entitled "Internet of Things — An action plan for Europe" (hereinafter "the Communication"), it is important that a multi-stakeholder mechanism is put in place at European level to advise the Commission on the formulation of the EU strategy to be followed in carrying out the various actions listed in the Communication.

(2) It is therefore necessary to set up an expert group in the field of the Internet of Things and to define its tasks and its structure.

(3) The group should facilitate dialogue among stakeholders.

(4) The group shall be composed of organisations with competence in the areas of Law, Economics and Technology as these apply to the Internet of Things. These organisations may be industry and trade associations, European Standardisation Organisations, international partners, consumer organisations and civil society, research organisations and academia, as well as observers from EU Member States and interested EU institutions such as the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee.

(5) 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 to Commission Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom [1].

(6) Personal data relating to members of the group 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 [2].

(7) It is appropriate to fix a period for the application of this Decision. The Commission will in due time consider the advisability of an extension,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Subject matter

The group of experts on the Internet of Things, hereinafter referred to as "the group", is hereby set up with effect from the date of the publication of this Decision in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 2

Task

The group’s task shall be to:

(a) advise the Commission on how best to address the technical, legal and organisational challenges at European level;

(b) bring about an exchange of experience and good practice and solicit oral and written contributions within a group of multiple stakeholders, including international input where needed;

(c) contribute to a shared vision for the development and deployment of the Internet of Things in the framework of the Digital Agenda for Europe, a flagship of the Europe 2020 Strategy.

Article 3

Consultation

1. The Commission may consult the group on any matter it shall deem relevant with regard to the development of the Internet of Things in Europe, while encouraging members to suggest further topics for discussion.

Article 4

Membership — Appointment

1. The group shall be composed of up to 45 members.

2. The members shall be organisations with competence in the areas of Law, Economics and Technology as these apply to the Internet of Things.

3. The Commission shall select a number of organisations which shall nominate their representatives as well as alternate representatives.

4. Members of the group shall remain in office until such time as they are replaced or their term of office ends.

5. Members who are no longer capable of contributing effectively to the group’s discussions, who resign or who do not comply with the conditions set out in paragraph 3 of this Article or in Article 339 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union may be replaced for the remainder of their term of office.

6. The names of organisations shall be published in the Register of expert groups.

7. The names of 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 a representative of the Commission.

2. With the agreement of the Commission, sub-groups may be set up to examine specific questions on the basis of terms of reference established by the group. Such sub-groups shall be dissolved as soon as their mandate has been fulfilled.

3. The Commission’s representative may invite on an ad hoc basis experts from outside the group with specific competence in a subject on the agenda to participate in the work of the group or sub-group. In addition, the Commission's representative may give observer status to individuals and bodies.

4. 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. Should they fail to comply with this provision, the Commission may take all appropriate measures.

5. 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.

6. The group shall adopt its rules of procedure on the basis of the standard rules of procedure for expert groups.

7. The Commission shall publish 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.

Article 6

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. These expenses shall be reimbursed within the limits of the annual budget allocated to the group by the Commission departments in charge.

Article 7

Applicability

This Decision shall apply until 31 December 2012.

Article 8

This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 10 August 2010.

For the Commission

The President

José Manuel Barroso

[1] OJ L 317, 3.12.2001, p. 1.

[2] OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1.

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