Commission Decision

of 6 October 2010

setting up the group of experts on the mission evolution of the European navigation satellite systems, the "Mission Evolution Advisory Group"

(Text with EEA relevance)

2010/C 271/02

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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

Whereas:

(1) The European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) and the Galileo programmes are governed by Regulation (EC) No 683/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 on the further implementation of the European satellite navigation programmes (EGNOS and Galileo) [1]. Article 1(1) of Regulation (EC) No 683/2008 specifies that these programmes shall cover all the activities needed to define, develop, validate, construct, operate, renew and improve the EGNOS system and the system established under the Galileo programme.

(2) Pursuant to Article 12(2) of Regulation (EC) No 683/2008, the Commission is responsible for the management of those programmes. The management tasks include the renewal and improvement of the systems through refinement of the mission profiles and implementation of the related system changes.

(3) The objective of the two systems is to provide users with a state-of-the-art positioning, navigation and timing service in accordance with the specified mission requirements for Galileo and EGNOS. Any refinement of the mission profiles of the two systems should take full account of the views of the navigation satellite systems user communities and other stakeholders, including those of the Member States, third countries and international organisations.

(4) It is therefore necessary to set up a group of experts to provide independent advice to the Commission on EGNOS and Galileo mission evolution matters and to define its tasks and its structure.

(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 of 29 November 2001 amending its internal Rules of Procedure [2].

(6) 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 [3].

(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 DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Subject matter

The group of experts on the mission evolution of the European navigation satellite systems, the "Mission Evolution Advisory Group", hereinafter referred to as "the group", is hereby set up.

Article 2

Tasks

1. The group shall propose and evaluate potential evolutions of the mission objectives and the service definitions for the European satellite navigation programmes Galileo and EGNOS. To perform this task, the group shall assess changes of both user needs and scope of space-based navigation, positioning and timing services, both on European and international scale, in due consideration of the existing global framework of satellite navigation services and systems.

2. The group shall analyse the impacts of such changes on the mission and service requirements for the Galileo and EGNOS programmes and develop and propose suitable updates of the mission and service baseline.

Article 3

Consultation

1. The group shall be tasked by the Commission services who shall also establish the associated work scope and schedule requirements.

2. The Chairperson of the group may propose further tasks as deemed necessary for the fulfilment of the group's objectives in consultation and close coordination with the Commission services.

Article 4

Membership — Appointment

1. The group shall be composed of up to 25 members.

2. The members shall be appointed by the Commission from specialists with competence in the areas referred to in Article 2 and who have responded to the call for applications.

3. The members of the group shall be individuals appointed in a personal capacity and shall advise the Commission independently.

4. Members of the group are appointed for a four-year term of office. They shall remain in office until they are replaced or their term of office ends. Their term of office may be renewed.

5. The names of members shall be published in the Register of the Commission expert groups and other similar entities, hereinafter referred to as "Register".

6. Personal data shall be collected, processed and published in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001.

Article 5

Operation

1. The group shall elect a Chairperson from amongst its members by a simple majority.

2. In agreement with the services of the Commission, the group may set up sub-groups to examine specific questions on the basis of terms of reference defined by the group. Such sub-groups shall be disbanded as soon as their mandate is fulfilled.

3. The Commission’s services may invite on 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 services may give observer status to individuals and organisations.

4. Members 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 respect these obligations, the Commission may take all appropriate measures.

5. The meetings of expert groups and sub-groups shall be held at 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.

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

7. 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 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. Those expenses shall be reimbursed within the limits of the available appropriations allocated under the annual procedure for the allocation of resources.

Article 7

Applicability

This Decision shall apply until 31 December 2014.

Done at Brussels, 6 October 2010.

For the Commission

Antonio Tajani

Member of the Commission

[1] OJ L 196, 24.7.2008, p. 1.

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

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

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