Source: OJ L, 2025/454, 10.3.2025Current language: EN
- Artificial intelligence act
Implementing acts
- Scientific panel of independent experts
Article 3 Selection criteria and composition of the scientific panel
Summary What does Article 3 of the Scientific panel of independent experts say?
This article establishes the rules governing the composition and selection of the scientific panel.
It sets out who can be appointed, how many members the panel can have, and what criteria must be met.
It connects directly to Article 2, which formally establishes the panel, by defining how that body is actually populated.
The selection process is built around ensuring the right mix of expertise alongside independence, impartiality, and geographic representation across EU and EEA countries.
Important points:
- The Commission, in consultation with the Board, determines the number of experts per term, with a hard cap of 60 members.
- The Commission is required to ensure geographic balance, with one to three nationals per EU Member State or EEA-EFTA country appointed, and those nationals must make up at least four-fifths of the panel.
- Qualified applicants who are not appointed to the panel are placed on a reserve list, valid for the duration of the panel's term of office as defined in Article 4.
Springlex's summary of the article, a reading aid, not a substitute for the legal text.
Experts shall be appointed to the scientific panel following a call for expression of interest, based on selection criteria stipulated in that call.
For each term of office referred to in Article 4, the number of experts shall be determined by the Commission, in consultation with the European Artificial Intelligence Board (the ‘Board’), and set out in the call for expression of interest referred to in paragraph 1. The number of experts on the scientific panel shall in no case exceed 60.
Experts shall be selected with regard to the need to ensure:
multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary adequate and up-to-date scientific, technical, or sociotechnical expertise related to artificial intelligence, the impacts of artificial intelligence, or otherwise relevant to the effective enforcement of Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, including expertise pertaining to applied sectors, fundamental rights and equality, as appropriate;
independence from any provider of the AI system or general-purpose AI model as set out in point (b) of Article 68(2) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1689;
impartiality and objectivity as set out in Article 68(4) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1689;
an ability to carry out activities diligently, accurately and objectively.
The Commission shall ensure in the selection of experts that at least one and no more than three nationals from each Member State of the Union and each member of the European Free Trade Association which is a member of the European Economic Area is appointed as experts to the scientific panel, provided that there are applicants from that country who satisfy the criteria stipulated in the call and provided that a sufficiently comprehensive coverage of relevant areas of expertise can be achieved that way. Nationals from Member States of the Union and members of the European Free Trade Association which are members of the European Economic Area shall constitute at least four-fifths of the experts on the scientific panel.
The Commission shall ensure to the extent possible gender balance in the selection of experts. To that end, whenever the selection requires a decision between two equally qualified candidates, the Commission shall give preference to the underrepresented gender.
Experts who satisfy the criteria stipulated in the call, but who are not appointed to the scientific panel, shall be included in a reserve list of available experts (the ‘reserve list’), which shall be valid for the duration of the term of office of the panel referred to in Article 4.
Relevant recitals
Recital 2 Selection criteria for appointment
The members of the scientific panel should be appointed based on objective criteria and following a public call for expression of interest. The selection criteria included in the call for expression of interest should ensure that highly qualified multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary experts, with a sufficient level of up-to-date scientific, sociotechnical or technical expertise on different aspects related to artificial intelligence (‘AI’), the impacts of AI, or otherwise relevant to the effective enforcement of Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, including expertise in applied sectors, fundamental rights and equality, as appropriate, are selected and that they are able to act independently and in the public interest. The call for expression of interest should set out the application procedure. Supporting documents may include statements issued by a public authority of a Member State of the Union or of the European Free Trade Association which is a member of the European Economic Area, attesting the candidates’ scientific, sociotechnical or technical expertise.
Recital 3 Size of the panel
To ensure an effective functioning while at the same time ensuring diversity of expertise, the number of experts to be appointed to the scientific panel should be no more than 60, as consulted with the European Artificial Intelligence Board (the ‘Board’). For each term of office, the number of experts to be appointed to the scientific panel should be determined and specified in the call for expression of interest, based on the expected workload and necessary expertise, in each case determined in consultation with the Board. The Commission will evaluate the maximum number of experts based on experience gained and consider revising it as part of a possible review of this Regulation.
Recital 4 Geographical representation
Principles for the selection of a diverse group of experts should be laid down. The Commission should ensure to the extent possible gender balance and a fair geographical representation in the selection of experts. To achieve a fair geographical representation, at least one national from each Member State of the Union and from each member of the European Free Trade Association which is a member of the European Economic Area should be appointed, provided that there is an applicant from those countries that satisfies the criteria of the call. In any event, there should be no more than three experts from each of those countries. Recognizing the importance of introducing diverse perspectives to the scientific panel, nationals of third countries should be able to be appointed as experts. However, at least four-fifths of the experts of the scientific panel should be nationals from the Member States of the Union or from a member of the European Free Trade Association which is a member of the European Economic Area.
Recital 8 Conflicts of interest
To avoid conflicts of interest in the performance of their tasks, experts of the scientific panel should be independent from any provider of AI systems or general-purpose AI models and should act independently, impartially and objectively. To ensure trust in the work of the scientific panel, experts should draw up declarations of interest and commitment to act in the public interest, which should be made publicly available. For the same purpose, the tasks of the scientific panel should be carried out in a transparent manner and its membership should be made publicly available.
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Definition
provider
Definition
AI system
Definition
general-purpose AI model