Division 2 There shall be 12 appointed members, appointed by the Commission, providing a balance between those with experience in business, higher education and research. They shall have a four-year non-renewable term of office.F1

Whenever necessary, the Governing Board shall submit to the Commission a proposal for appointment of a new member(s). The candidate(s) shall be chosen on the basis of the outcome of a transparent and open procedure, involving consultation with stakeholders.

The Commission shall have regard to the balance between higher education, research, innovation and business experience as well as to gender and geographical balance and an appreciation of the higher education, research and innovation environment across the Union.

The Commission shall appoint the member(s) and inform the European Parliament and the Council of the selection process and of the final appointment of those members of the Governing Board.

In the event that an appointed member is unable to complete his/her term of office, a substitute member shall be appointed by the same procedure as the incapacitated member in order to complete the latter's term of office. A substitute member who has served for a period of less than two years may be re-appointed by the Commission for an additional period of four years at the request of the Governing Board.

During a transitional period, the Board members initially appointed for a six-year period shall complete their term of office. Until that time there shall be 18 appointed members. Within six months of entry into force of this Regulation, one third of the twelve members appointed in 2012 shall be chosen by the Governing Board with the Commission's approval to serve for a two-year period, one third for a four-year period and one third for a six-year period.

In exceptional and duly justified circumstances, in order to maintain the integrity of the Governing Board, the Commission may, at its own initiative, terminate the term of office of a member of the Board.