
Article 1 
The group of experts ‘Expert Group on a Common Frame of Reference in the area of European contract law’, hereinafter referred to as ‘the group’, is hereby set up.
Article 2 
The group’s task shall be to assist the Commission in the preparation of a proposal for a Common Frame of Reference in the area of European contract law, including consumer and business contract law, and in particular in:

((a)) selecting those parts of the Draft Common Frame of Reference which are of direct or indirect relevance to contract law; and
((b)) restructuring, revising and supplementing the selected contents of the Draft Common Frame of Reference, taking also into consideration other research work conducted in this area as well as the Union acquis.
Article 3 
The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to the preparation of a proposal for a Common Frame of Reference in the area of European contract law.
Article 4 

1. The group shall be composed of up to 20 members.
2. The members shall be appointed by the Director-General of DG Justice, Freedom and Security from specialists with outstanding competence in the area of civil law, and in particular contract law. The appointment of members shall be made in such a manner as to ensure, as far as possible, an adequate balance in terms of range of competencies, geographical origin and gender.
3. The members shall be appointed in a personal capacity and shall act independently and in the public interest.
4. The group shall include experts from the following categories:
— scientific and research organisations, academia,
— legal practitioners,
— experts representing the civil society.
5. Members of the group shall be appointed for a mandate ending on 26 April 2012.
6. Members may not designate an alternate to replace them, except with the agreement of the Commission.
7. 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 3 of this Article, or Article 339 of the Treaty, may be replaced for the remainder of their term of office.
8. Members shall sign an undertaking to act in the public interest and a declaration indicating the absence or existence of any interest which may undermine their objectivity.
9. The names of members shall be published in the Register of Commission expert groups and on the Internet site of DG Justice, Freedom and Security. The names of members shall be collected, processed and published in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001.
10. Members who do not wish to have their names disclosed may apply for derogation from this rule. The request not to disclose the name of a member of an expert group shall be considered justified whenever publication could endanger his or her security or integrity or unduly prejudice his or her privacy.
Article 5 

1. The group shall be chaired by the Commission.
2. 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 dissolved as soon as their mandates are fulfilled.
3. The Commission’s representative may ask experts from outside the group with specific competence on a subject on the agenda or observers, in particular from the European Parliament and Council, to participate in the deliberations of the group or sub-group deliberations if this is useful and/or necessary.
4. Information obtained by participating in the deliberations of a group or sub-group shall not be divulged if, in the opinion of the Commission, that information relates to confidential matters.
5. The group and its sub-groups shall normally meet on Commission premises in accordance with the procedures and schedule established by it. The Commission shall provide secretarial services. Other Commission officials with an interest in the proceedings may attend meetings of the group and its sub-groups.
6. The group 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 may publish, in the original language of the document concerned, any summary, conclusion, or partial conclusion or working document of the group.
Article 6 

1. Participants in the activities of the group shall not be remunerated for the services they render.
2. The Commission shall reimburse travel and, where appropriate, subsistence expenses incurred by participants in connection with the activities of the group in accordance with the Commission’s rules on the compensation of external experts.
3. Meeting expenses shall be reimbursed within the limits of the annual budget allocated to the group by the responsible Commission services.
Article 7 
The Decision shall apply until 26 April 2012.
Done at Brussels, 26 April 2010.
For the Commission
The President
José Manuel BARROSO