Commission Decision of 29 August 2011 setting up a Payment Systems Market Expert Group

The Group shall be composed of a maximum of 40 members.

Members shall be appointed by the Commission from among specialists with competence in the areas referred to in Article 2(1) and who have responded to a call for applications. Members shall either be individuals with an academic background or recognised expertise in the areas referred to in Article 2(1) or represent any of the following:

Members shall represent in balanced proportions the payment services industry and the users of payment services. At least 15 members of the Group shall represent users of payment services, seven of whom shall represent consumers. At least 15 of the Group’s members shall represent the payment services industry. Academics and members of private bodies involved in the prevention of payment fraud shall also be represented in the Group.

Members representing the payment services industry, payment users or private bodies involved in the prevention of payment fraud shall be appointed as individuals representing a common interest in supporting user-friendly, efficient and secure payment systems. Members with an academic background or recognised expertise shall be appointed as individuals in a personal capacity.

Members shall be appointed for  five years. They shall remain in office until their replacement or the end of their mandate.

Provision may be made for the same number of alternates as members to be appointed. Alternates shall be appointed on the same terms as members; alternates shall automatically replace any members who are absent or indisposed. Applicants who have been deemed suitable but have not been appointed may be placed on a reserve list (‘the List’), which the Commission may use to appoint replacements.

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 paragraph 2 of this Article, or Article 339 of the Treaty, may be replaced for the remainder of their term of office with a member appointed by the Commission. The Commission may use the List to appoint replacements.

Members appointed in a personal capacity shall act independently and in the public interest.

The names of individuals representing an interest or appointed in a personal capacity shall be published in the Register of Commission expert groups and other similar entities.

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

The Group shall be chaired by a representative of the Commission.

In agreement with the Commission, sub-groups may be set up to examine specific questions under terms of reference established by the Group; such sub-groups shall be disbanded as soon as they have completed their assignments.

The representative of the Commission may invite experts and observers with specific knowledge to participate in the work of the Group and of the sub-groups.

Information obtained by participating in the Group’s or a sub-group’s deliberations may not be divulged if the Commission says that this relates to confidential matters.

The Group and its sub-groups shall usually meet on Commission premises, in the form and according to the timetable determined by the Commission. The Secretariat of the Group shall be provided by the Commission. Commission officials with an interest in the area may attend meetings of the Group and its sub-groups.

The Group shall adopt its rules of procedure on the basis of the standard rules of procedure for expert groups.

The Commission shall publish all relevant documents on the activities carried out by the Group (such as agendas, minutes and participants' submissions) either by including it in the Register of Commission expert groups and other similar entities or via a link from this Register to a dedicated website where the information can be found. Exceptions to publication should be foreseen where disclosure of a document would undermine the protection of a public or private interest as defined in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001.

Participants in the activities of the Group shall not be remunerated for the services they render.

Travel and subsistence expenses incurred by participants in the activities of the Group shall be reimbursed by the Commission in accordance with the provisions in force within the Commission.

These expenses shall be reimbursed within the limits of the available appropriations allocated under the annual procedure for the allocation of resources.