Article 3 Composition — Appointment

Upon adopting this Decision, the Commission shall publish a call for applications from Member State authorities, academic institutions, financial services providers, consumer organisations and other groups where appropriate which wish to propose candidates for membership of the group. Applications from individuals shall also be admitted.

The members of the group shall be appointed by the Commission from specialists with competence and experience in the area of financial education. The members shall be appointed in a personal capacity and shall be required to advise the Commission independently of any outside influence.

Applicants deemed suitable for membership but not appointed may be placed on a reserve list, which the Commission may use to appoint replacements.

The group shall have a maximum of 25 members.

The following provisions shall apply:

• Members of the group are appointed for a three-year renewable period. They remain in the office until such time as they are replaced or their term of office ends. Their term of office starts with the first meeting of the group.

• Members who are no longer able to contribute effectively to the group’s deliberations, who resign or who do not respect the conditions set out in this paragraph or in Article 287 of the Treaty establishing the European Community may be replaced for the remaining period of their mandate.

• Members appointed in a personal capacity sign an undertaking each year to act in the public interest and a declaration stating whether or not they have any interest which may undermine their objectivity.

• The names of the members will be published in the public register of expert groups and on the Internet site of the Directorate-General for the Internal Market and Services. The names of members will be collected, processed and published in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data.