Article 5 Director-GeneralF1

The Office shall be headed by a Director-General. The Director-General shall be appointed by the Commission, in accordance with the procedure specified in paragraph 2. The term of office of the Director-General shall be seven years and shall not be renewable.

The Director-General shall be responsible for the Office’s conduct of investigations.

In order to appoint a new Director-General, the Commission shall publish a call for applications in the Official Journal of the European Union . Such publication shall take place at the latest six months before the end of the term of office of the Director-General in office. After a favourable opinion has been given by the Supervisory Committee on the selection procedure applied by the Commission, the Commission shall draw up a list of suitably qualified candidates. After consultations with the European Parliament and the Council, the Commission shall appoint the Director-General.

The Commission shall exercise, with regard to the Director-General, the powers conferred on the appointing authority. Any decision on initiating disciplinary proceedings against the Director-General under Article 3, paragraph 1, point (c) of Annex IX to the Staff Regulations shall be taken by reasoned decision of the Commission, after consulting the Supervisory Committee. The decision shall be communicated for information to the European Parliament, the Council and the Supervisory Committee.