1.The Authority shall be managed by its Executive Director, who shall be completely independent in the exercise of his/her duties, without prejudice to the respective competencies of the Commission and the Administrative Board.
2.The Executive Director shall be appointed by the Administrative Board on the grounds of merit and documented administrative and managerial skills, as well as relevant competence and experience, from a list of at least three candidates proposed by the Commission. The Administrative Board shall take its decision by a three-quarters majority of its members.
Power to dismiss the Executive Director shall lie with the Administrative Board, according to the same procedure.
The term of office of the Executive Director shall be five years. This term of office may be renewed once.
3.The European Parliament or the Council may call upon the Executive Director to submit a report on the performance of his duties.