L 144/10 Official Journal of the European Union 12.6.2003 COMMISSION DECISION of 11 June 2003 setting up a group of experts to advise the Commission on a strategy for dealing with accidents in the transport sector (2003/425[EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Whereas: (1) A high and uniform level of protection for European citizens should at all times be ensured in all modes of transport, and a strategy should be introduced to reduce the number of accidents. Independent technical investi- gations of transport accidents and incidents are one way of improving safety by identifying the causes of such accidents and thereby preventing them from occurring. (2)  Investigations into the causes of accidents should not be linked to compensation for damages or determination of liability. Therefore, they should be independent of inves- tigations conducted by the judicial authorities, insurance companies, industry, operators and regulators, or any other party whose interests could conflict with the task entrusted to the investigating body or entity. (3)  In its White Paper on European transport policy for 2010: time to decide ('), the Commission indicated that there is a growing need for independent technical inves- tigations geared towards revealing the causes of acci- dents and ways of improving legislation. For this purpose, in the White Paper the Commission recom- mended the creation of ‘a group of independent experts within the Commission, whose job would be to improve the existing legislation and adapt the (European) metho- dology, inter alia, to technical developments’. (4)  For the examination of all issues pertinent to indepen- dent technical accident investigations, the Commission intends to set up a Group of Experts to advise the Commission on a strategy for dealing with accidents in the transport sector. (5)  The setting up of this Group will contribute to the advancement of Community policy in the field of inde- pendent accident investigations, alongside other appro- priate consultation procedures. The Group should advise the Commission on the need to improve existing legisla- tion, and, where necessary, on the need to propose new initiatives for all modes of transport, including transport of energy (oil and gas pipelines), () COM(2001) 370, 12 September 2001, p. 69. HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 Subject A group of experts to advise the Commission on a strategy for dealing with accidents in the transport sector, hereinafter referred to as the ‘Group of Experts’, is hereby set up. Atticle 2 Mission The Group of Experts shall advise the Commission on the need to improve existing legislation, and, where necessary, on the need to propose new initiatives for all modes of transport, including the transport of energy (oil and gas pipelines), but excluding the occupational health and safety aspects. Article 3 Composition The Group of Experts shall be composed of qualified indivi- duals competent to consider matters relating to transport safety issues, in particular independent technical accidents investiga- tions in all modes of transport, including the transport of energy (oil and gas pipelines). The Group shall have 12 members and be chaired by a representative of the Commis- sion. Article 4 Appointment 1. The members of the Group of Experts shall be appointed individually by the Commission on the basis of objective criteria of proven competence and experience. They shall have a two-year renewable mandate with one possibility of renewal by a Commission decision. 2. When their mandate lapses, members of the Group of Experts shall remain in office until such time as they are replaced or their mandate renewed.