Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Commission Decision 2007/675/EC of 17 October 2007 setting up the Group of Experts on Trafficking in Human Beings^f1, and in particular Article 3 thereof,

Whereas:

The group of experts should be composed of 21 members.

The members of the group of experts should be appointed from specialists with expertise and experience in the fight against trafficking in human beings, including its labour dimension.

Up to 11 members taken from administrations of the Member States should be appointed by the Commission on the proposal of Member States.

Up to 5 members taken from inter-governmental, international and non-governmental organisations active at European level, up to 4 members taken from social partners and employers' associations operating at European level, and up to 2 members taken from individuals with experience deriving from academic research should be appointed by the Commission from among those who have responded to the call for applications.

The Commission published a call for applications with a view to listing candidates to make up the group of experts on 19 January 2008^f2.

The Commission has conducted a selection procedure on the applications received. When assessing applications, the Commission has taken into account the criteria listed in the call for applications, and in particular under point 2 thereof.

It is advisable that the group of experts should include four additional members taken from inter-governmental, international and non-governmental organisations active at European level, to compensate for the lack of applications received from social partners and employers' associations operating at European level, so as to ensure a balanced topical and geographical representation and to make up the total of 21 members originally envisaged.

One member of the group has been appointed by Europol,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: