Introductory text

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 168 and 169 thereof,

Whereas:

Article 19 of Commission Decision 2008/721/EC of 5 September 2008 setting up an advisory structure of Scientific Committees and experts in the field of consumer safety, public health and the environment and repealing Decision 2004/210/EC^f1 states that members of the Scientific Committees, scientific advisors from the Pool of Scientific Advisors on Risk Assessment (hereinafter the Pool) and external experts are entitled to an indemnity for their participation in the meetings of the committees, thematic workshops, working groups and other meetings and events organised by the Commission, and for serving as Rapporteur on a specific question.

Annex III to Decision 2008/721/EC, sets down the amounts of indemnities to be paid to the members of the Scientific Committees, scientific advisors of the Pool and external experts.

Currently the indemnities for participation in meetings can only be paid to experts physically present in those meetings. Modern technologies allow the exchange of expert opinions in virtual meetings using audio or video devices or online applications. The use of these tools would allow wider participation of experts in the activities of the Scientific Committees while minimising the environmental impact and costs and reduce expert time needed for travelling.

In the case of participation from a distance by electronic means, the amount of the indemnity should be related to the duration of the meeting (short attendance, full day or only morning or afternoon meeting).

It is therefore necessary to adjust the rules for the payment of participation indemnities to members, advisors and external experts. Article 19 and Annex III to Decision 2008/721/EC should be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: