Article 4 Membership — Appointment

The group shall be composed of 15 members.

The members of the group shall be individuals with expertise and experience in the prevention and the fight against trafficking in human beings and protection of its victims.

The composition of the group shall reflect the balance of expertise required on the different forms of trafficking as well as the various aspects involved, such as, but not limited to labour, healthcare, law enforcement, migration, victims support, development cooperation, gender, children, fundamental rights and education.

Members of the group must be nationals of a Member State of the European Union or, if appropriate, of a candidate or potential candidate country or a European Economic Area country.

Members are appointed by the Director-General of DG Home Affairs from among those who have responded to the call for applications (see Annex to the present Decision).

On the basis of the call for applications, applicants who were deemed suitable candidates for group membership but were not appointed should be placed on a reserve list, with their consent. The Commission will use this list for the appointment of replacements for members, if needed.

Members are appointed in a personal capacity for a period of 4 years. They shall remain in office until replaced or until their term of office ends. Their term of office may be renewed.

Members who are no longer capable of contributing effectively to the group’s deliberations, who resign or who do not comply with the conditions set out in this Article, or Article 339 of the Treaty, may be replaced for the remainder of their term of office.

Members shall act independently and in the public interest.

The names of the group’s members shall be published in the Register of Commission expert groups and other similar entities^f1 and on the Internet site of DG Home Affairs.

Personal data shall be collected, processed and published in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001.