European Data Protection Supervisor Decision of 3 December 2015 establishing an external advisory group on the ethical dimensions of data protection (‘the Ethics Advisory Group’)

1 The external advisory group on the ethical dimensions of data protection (the ‘Ethics Advisory Group’, further: ‘the Advisory Group’) is hereby established.

2 The members of the Advisory Group shall be appointed from 1 February 2016 until 31 January 2018.

1 The Advisory Group shall: a) analyse ethical dimensions of data protection; b) submit recommendations to the EDPS upon request; c) submit research suggestions, fostering interdisciplinary cooperation; d) produce at least two public reports; e) involve other experts in its work on a permanent or ad hoc basis, where appropriate, particularly where these other experts may bring additional knowledge and experience not represented in the Advisory Group, including experience in the areas of medicine, health, finance, energy, political governance, police or security; f) present assumptions to a critical audience and measure the outcome of the reflections of the Advisory Group against the experience of other practitioners.

2 The deliveries of the Advisory Group shall be based on a sound and stable basis in knowledge, empiric evidence and thorough scrutiny.

3 The EDPS shall present the results of the Advisory Group to a broad audience in the context of workshops or conferences.

The EDPS may consult the Advisory Group on any matter relating to the ethical dimensions of data protection.

1 The Advisory Group shall consist of a maximum of six eminent personalities with a proven track record in the analysis and research in areas relevant to the ethical dimensions of data protection.

2 The members shall be appointed in a personal capacity.

3 The members shall act with full independence and free from any actual or potential conflict of interest deriving from any connections to public or private organisations with a political or economic interest in the activities or conclusions of the Advisory Group.

4 Individuals may, as a condition for appointment, be required to declare any past or present affiliations with the organisations referred to in the third paragraph, where this is relevant to avoid conflicts of interest.

1 The Advisory Group shall choose a Chair amongst its members.

2 In addition to meetings of the Advisory Group in person, it may meet by way of videoconferences or other appropriate communications techniques.

3 In agreement with the Advisory Group, the EDPS may invite experts from outside the group qualified to participate in the work of the Advisory Group on a permanent or an ad hoc basis.

4 The Chair may also invite observers to attend activities of the group on an ad hoc basis.

5 Members of the group, as well as invited experts and observers, shall comply with the obligations of professional secrecy laid down by Article 45 of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001. The Chair shall keep the EDPS regularly informed on the work of the group.

1 The members of the Advisory Group shall be appointed by the EDPS following a call for expression of interest and based on the advice of a pre-selection committee.

2 The EDPS shall provide the secretariat of the Advisory Group. An official of the EDPS shall be appointed as the group's Secretary.

3 The EDPS shall adopt the Terms of Reference and the Rules of Procedure for the Advisory Group.

4 The EDPS shall make available all relevant information on the activities carried out by the Advisory Group in a dedicated section on its website.

1 Members of the Advisory Group shall not be remunerated for the services they render.

2 Travel and subsistence expenses incurred by participants in the activities of the Group shall be reimbursed by the European Data Protection Supervisor.

3 Under the same conditions, invited experts and observers may be reimbursed, insofar as the Secretary of the Advisory Group confirms that there is budget availability for their participation.

1 The public shall have access to documents produced by the Advisory Group Advisory Group in accordance with the principles laid down by Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents .

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

These provisions shall enter into force on the day following their signature and shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.