Article 4 Operation

The Commission shall organise and chair the meetings of the group. The group will meet four times a year in plenary and several times within the sub-group(s) structure.

The Commission may set up one or more sub-groups to examine specific questions and define its terms of reference; any such sub-group shall be disbanded as soon as its specific function has been fulfilled.

The Commission shall set out a work programme for each calendar year. The programme should determine the subjects for discussion by the group or one of its sub-groups and set out a time-table for discussion of draft reports in the plenary meeting of the group. The advice and analysis of the group will enable the Commission to make the required assessment.

The Commission may ask other experts or observers with specific competence on a subject on the agenda to participate in the deliberations of the group or a sub-group if this is useful or necessary. This provision may be used for inviting experts from other Commission expert groups or observer(s) from associations representing consumers or investors.

An expert or observer may not divulge information obtained through participation in the deliberations of the group or a sub-group if the Commission classifies that information as confidential.

The group and its sub-groups shall normally meet on Commission premises in accordance with the procedures and schedule established by the Commission. The Commission shall provide secretarial services.

The group shall adopt its rules of procedure on the basis of a draft presented by the Commission.

The Commission shall publish on the Internet site of DG Internal Market and Services, in the original language of the document concerned, the group’s conclusions and reports as well as the summaries of its meetings or of its sub-group(s).