
Article 1 
The European Research Council Executive Agency (hereinafter referred to as the Agency) is hereby established and shall replace and succeed the executive agency set up by Decision 2008/37/EC from 1 January 2014 until 31 December 2024, its statute being governed by Regulation (EC) No 58/2003.
Article 2 
The Agency shall be located in Brussels.
Article 3 

1. The Agency shall be the dedicated implementation structure of the European Research Council, responsible for the administrative implementation and programme execution.
2. The Agency is hereby entrusted, within the framework of the Specific Programme implementing Horizon 2020 — the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020), with the implementation of the specific objective ‘strengthening frontier research through the activities of the European Research Council’ of Part I ‘Excellent science’. This paragraph shall apply subject to and as from the date of the entry into force of the Specific Programme implementing Horizon 2020 — the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020).
3. The Agency is hereby entrusted, within the framework of the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007-2013), with the implementation of the legacy of the Specific Programme Ideas.
4. The Agency shall be responsible for the following tasks for the implementation of the parts of the Union programmes referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3:
(a) managing programme implementation and specific projects on the basis of the relevant work programmes established by the Scientific Council of the European Research Council (hereinafter referred to as the ERC Scientific Council) and adopted by the Commission, where the Commission has empowered it to do so in the instrument of delegation;
(b) adopting the instruments of budget execution for revenue and expenditure and carrying out all the operations necessary for the management of the programme, where the Commission has empowered it to do so in the instrument of delegation;
(c) providing support in programme implementation where the Commission has empowered it to do so in the instrument of delegation;
(d) providing support to the ERC Scientific Council in the conduct of all of its tasks.
Article 4 

1. The members of the Steering Committee shall be appointed for two years.
2. The Director shall be appointed for four years, taking into account the views of the ERC Scientific Council.
3. The appointment of the Senior Staff of the Agency shall take into account the views of the ERC Scientific Council.
Article 5 
The Agency shall be subject to supervision by the Commission and shall report regularly on progress in implementing the Union programmes or parts thereof for which it is responsible in accordance with the arrangements and at the intervals stipulated in the instrument of delegation.
Article 6 
The Agency shall implement its operating budget in accordance with the provisions of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1653/2004.
Article 7 

1. Decision 2008/37/EC is repealed with effect from 1 January 2014. References to the repealed Decision shall be construed as references to this Decision.
2. The Agency shall be considered the legal successor of the executive agency established by Decision 2008/37/EC.
3. Without prejudice to the revision of the grading of seconded officials foreseen by the instrument of delegation, this Decision shall not affect the rights and obligations of staff employed by the Agency, including its Director.
Article 8 
This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
It shall apply from 1 January 2014.
Done at Brussels, 17 December 2013.
For the Commission
The President
José Manuel BARROSO