CHAPTER IIRURAL NETWORKS' ASSEMBLY

Article 5Assembly's operation

1.

The Assembly shall be chaired by a representative of the Commission. The chair shall convene a meeting at least once a year.

2.

In agreement with the Commission, the Assembly may set up sub-groups on specific topics related to the objectives and the tasks of the ENRD and of the EIP network, including permanent sub-groups on:

(a)

innovation for agricultural productivity and sustainability;

(b)

LEADER and community led local development; and

(c)

the evaluation of rural development programmes.

Sub-groups shall carry out thematic work on the basis of a mandate defined by the Assembly.

Non-permanent sub-groups shall be disbanded as soon as their mandate is fulfilled.

3.

The Commission's representative may invite experts and observers from outside the Assembly with specific competence in a subject on the agenda to participate in the work of the Assembly or sub-groups on an ad hoc basis.

4.

Members of the Assembly, as well as invited experts and observers, shall comply with the obligations of professional secrecy laid down by the Treaties and their implementing rules, as well as with the Commission's rules on security regarding the protection of EU classified information, laid down in the Annex to Commission Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom8. Should they fail to respect these obligations, the Commission shall take all appropriate measures.

5.

The meetings of the Assembly and its sub-groups shall be held on Commission premises, unless the chair decides otherwise. The Commission shall provide secretarial services. Commission officials with an interest in the proceedings may attend meetings of the Assembly and its sub-groups.

6.

The Assembly shall adopt its rules of procedure on the basis of the standard rules of procedure for expert groups adopted by the Commission.

7.

The Commission publishes all relevant documents on the activities carried out by the Assembly (such as agendas, minutes and participants' submissions) either by including it in the Register or via a link from the Register to a dedicated website.

8.

The work of the Assembly shall be coordinated with that of other expert groups and committees established in the context of the civil dialogue on rural development as well as in the context of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council9 and the Fund-specific Regulations within the meaning of that Regulation.