Ref. Ares(2013)3235515 - 14/10/2013
EU Budget for 2012 – Reserve concerning expert groups – Follow up by DG MARE on the commitment taken by the Commission
Table I:
I. Review of the composition of groups which are not exclusively composed of national authorities1
Code
Name of group
Composition is not balanced – Actions carried
Composition is balanced, because:
out/actions in preparation to remedy imbalances
E00520
The Scientific, Technical and Economic
A call for expression of interest has been
Committee for Fisheries (STECF)
organised to select the members of the group. The
selection is based primarily on the scientific
expertise needed, taking account of nationality
and gender balance whenever possible.
Nationality and gender parity would be difficult
to achieve because there is an imbalance already
at the level of the applications received. However,
the gender balance of the actual members is better
(~30%) than in the applications received (~20%).
E00521
Advisory Committee on Fisheries and
The composition is well balanced because the
Aquaculture (ACFA)
different stakeholder groups relevant for the
Common
Fisheries
Policy
are
adequately
represented in ACFA and its working groups.
These
stakeholders
include
industry
representatives such as ship owners, producers,
processors and aquaculture farmers; civil society
organisations active in the field; and also
consumers representatives.
The composition and the functioning of ACFA
are being reconsidered in the framework of the
Common Fisheries Policy reform. It is envisaged
to reinforce the representation of small scale
fisheries in any future expert group.
E00526
RACs Coordination meetings
The 7 Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) cover
1 By "national authorities" we mean not only Member States' authorities, but also other countries authorities (candidate countries, accession countries, third countries etc.). Also excluded
from this review are those groups, which are
exclusively composed of national authorities and other public bodies at national and/or international level, such as EU agencies, EU bodies and
international organisations.
5 sea areas and 2 fisheries and have been
established for: the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean
Sea, the North Sea, North-western waters, South-
western waters, pelagic stocks and the high
seas/long distance fleet.
The composition of RACs is laid down in the
Council decision providing for their creation.
Each RAC is composed of representatives of the
fisheries sector (2/3) and representatives of
groups having other interests in the fisheries area
or in the fisheries concerned (1/3) (NGOs, local
authorities, consumers).
In addition, the 7 RACs cover well defined areas
and have the same functions and structure and
they are all bodies pursuing an aim of general
European interest.
As part of the Common Fisheries Policy Reform,
it is envisaged to reinforce the involvement of
NGOs and small scale fishermen within the
RACs.
E02146 Marine Observation and Data Expert A call for expression of interest was organised to
Group
select the members of the group. The primary
goal was to obtain a cross-section of expertise –
i.e. biologists, physicists, chemists, geologists etc.
The balance between different geographical
origins (defined as where the expert is working)
and different sexes was ensured whenever
possible.
The proportion of women in the final selection
(24%) was approximately the same as the
proportion who had applied.
E02518
Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on the
The members of the group represent the areas –
integration of maritime surveillance
called "user communities" – which have an
interest in integration of maritime surveillance:
Maritime safety, security and prevention of
pollution caused by ships; Fisheries control;
Marine pollution, preparedness and response +
Marine environment; Customs; Border control;
General law enforcement; Defence.
The representatives have mainly been proposed
by the user communities themselves, via an
existing Member State Expert Group or a
representative body in the field. A Commission
official is the representative for the Customs area,
which is an EU exclusive competence. In the
absence of a body at EU level representing 'the
Defence community', the Commission nominated
the member amongst the candidates proposed by
the Member States.
There is also a representative of the lead partner
(Member State) of the on-going pilot project in
the field of maritime surveillance.
The TAG members shall liaise with his/her
respective user community as appropriate to
ensure adequate information flow and consensus
on progress made.
Table II:
II. Review of the groups which include individuals appointed in a personal capacity
Individuals appointed in a personal capacity are
Code
Name of group
Individuals appointed in a personal capacity
in a conflict of interest
are not in a conflict of interest, because:
Actions carried out/in preparation:
E00520
The Scientific, Technical and Economic
Members of the Committee are scientific experts
Committee for Fisheries (STECF)
participating
in
their
personal
capacity
independent of their affiliations.
Declarations of commitment are signed by each
Member and non-member participant respectively
as laid down in the rules of procedure.
Stakeholder
representatives
participate
as
observers only.
When a working group is set up, STECF
members and external experts showing interest in
participating need to fill in a declaration of
interest. Competences, skills and possible
conflicts of interest are assessed and taken into
account by the Commission, the STECF
secretariat and the STECF chairs when the
composition of the group has to be agreed.
E02146 Marine Observation and Data Expert
Many members work for marine science Only one member works for a profit-making
Group
organisations
which
participate
in
the private company. In view of his affiliation to a
partnerships launched by the Commission to private company, we will change his status to
develop marine knowledge in the framework of "representative of stakeholders".
the Integrated Maritime Policy. However, nearly
every marine science organisation in Europe is
involved in these partnerships and it would be
almost impossible to find competent experts
outside these organisations.
The rules of procedure clearly stipulate that
potential interests must be declared on any point
where it is relevant.