Article 9

Without prejudice to paragraph 1a, there shall be set up within each institution:

• a Staff Committee, which may be organised in sections for the different places of employment;

• one or more Joint Committees, as appropriate for the number of officials at the places of employment;

• one or more Disciplinary Boards, as appropriate for the number of officials at the places of employment;

• one or more Joint Advisory Committees on professional incompetence, as appropriate for the number of officials at the places of employment;

• a Reports Committee, if required;

• an Invalidity Committee,

which shall perform the functions assigned to them by these Staff Regulations.

For the application of certain provisions of these Staff Regulations, a common Joint Committee may be established for two or more institutions. The other Committees referred to in paragraph 1 and the Disciplinary Board may be established as common bodies by two or more agencies.

The composition and procedure of these bodies shall be determined by each institution in accordance with the provisions of Annex II.

F2The agencies may derogate from the provisions of Article 1 of Annex II regarding membership of Staff Committees to take into account the composition of their personnel. The agencies may decide not to appoint alternate members in the Joint Committee or Committees provided for in Article 2 of Annex II.

F3The staff of the institution shall be notified of the list of members of these bodies.

The Staff Committee shall represent the interests of the staff vis-à-vis their institution and maintain continuous contact between the institution and the staff. It shall contribute to the smooth running of the service by providing a channel for the expression of opinion by the staff.

It shall bring to the notice of the competent bodies of the institution any difficulty having general implications concerning the interpretation and application of these Staff Regulations. It may be consulted on any difficulty of this kind.

The Committee shall submit to the competent bodies of the institution suggestions concerning the organisation and operation of the service and proposals for the improvement of staff working conditions or general living conditions.

The Committee shall participate in the management and supervision of social welfare bodies set up by the institution in the interests of its staff. It may, with the consent of the institution, set up such welfare services.

In addition to the functions assigned to them by these Staff Regulations, the Joint Committee or Committees may be consulted by the appointing authority or by the Staff Committee on questions of a general nature which either of the latter thinks fit to submit.

The opinion of the Reports Committee shall be sought:

It may be instructed by the Appointing Authority to ensure that the periodic reports on staff members are made in a uniform manner within the institution.

The opinion of the Joint Advisory Committee on professional incompetence shall be sought for the application of Article 51.