Article 3 Composition — Appointment

The group shall be composed of a maximum of 20 members.

The members of the group shall be appointed by the Commission from experts with competence in the area covered by the mandate of the group, following a call for expression of interest, on the basis of proposals from any of the following:

• European or national associations, representing the interests of consumers or the financial services industry,

• private or public credit data collectors or credit data processors from Member States,

• representatives of Member States data protection authorities,

• individuals with an academic background or recognised expertise in the area of credit data, including data protection.

The parties referred to in paragraph 2 shall express their interest in the participation in the Group in writing.

The Commission shall assess the eligibility of individual experts against the following criteria:

• relevant demonstrable knowledge or competence in relation to the area covered by the mandate of the group,

• recent practical expertise or experience,

• proficiency in a language which is customary in the sphere of finance, at a level which allows the expert to participate in discussions and draft reports in that language.

Expressions of interest received shall include documentation demonstrating that the proposed expert meets the above conditions.

The Commission shall select experts having in mind the need to represent the interests of all relevant stakeholders. As stated in its White Paper on Financial Services Policy 2005-2010, the Commission attaches a high importance to having a proportionate user representation. In addition, the Commission shall ensure a broad geographical representation and a balanced gender composition on the basis of the proposals received.

Proposed experts who have been deemed suitable but have not been appointed may be placed on a reserve list, which the Commission may use for the appointment of replacements.

The following provisions shall apply:

• members proposed by European or national associations, representing interests of consumers or the financial services industry, or by credit data collectors or credit data processors, are appointed as stakeholders' representatives,

• members from data protection authorities are appointed as representatives of their respective authorities,

• members with an academic background or recognised expertise are appointed in a personal capacity,

• the mandate of the members of the group shall start with the first meeting of the group and end with the completion of a report, no later than 1 May 2009. Members shall remain in office until their replacement or the end of their mandate,

• 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 Article or Article 287 of the Treaty establishing the European Community may be replaced for the remaining period of their mandate,

• the names of the members shall be published in the Register of Expert Groups of the European Commission^f1 and on the Internet site of the DG Internal Market and Services. The names of members are collected, processed and published in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 on the protection of individuals with regards to the processing of personal data,

• members appointed in a personal capacity shall each year sign an undertaking to act in the public interest and a declaration indicating the absence or existence of any interest which may undermine their objectivity.