Strasbourg, 12.05.2014

Own-initiative inquiry OI/6/2014/BEH concerning the composition of Commission expert groups

Dear Mr President,

On 19 December 2013, I closed my inquiry into complaint 1682/2010/BEH concerning, among other things, the issue of the balanced composition of Commission expert groups.

In following-up on my commitment to keep a watchful eye on the situation, I have decided to open an own-initiative inquiry into the composition of Commission expert groups.

The own-initiative inquiry aims at encouraging and supporting efforts towards achieving a more balanced composition of Commission expert groups.

In order to give all stakeholders taking an interest in the issue an opportunity to make their views known, thus allowing me to take these views into account, I have decided to launch a public consultation as the first step of my own-initiative inquiry. The consultation will be in all 24 official languages of the EU. Receiving stakeholders' views will allow me further to shape my inquiry so as to focus on real life problems of direct concern to interested parties and, as a second step, to address the Commission regarding the matter.

I do not, therefore, at this stage, ask the Commission for any information regarding the matter.

For your information, please find enclosed the call for contributions launching the public consultation.

I will, in due course, ask for the Commission's opinion on the contributions I receive from interested parties.

Yours sincerely,

Emily O'Reilly

Enclosure (sent by e-mail):

• Copy of call for contributions launching the public consultation