29.8.2006 Official Journal of the European Union L 234/29 I (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 7 August 2006 setting up a group of experts on the policy needs for data on crime and criminal justice (2006/581EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, respecting the principles set out in the European Code of Practice adopted by the Statistical Programme Committee on 24 February 2005 and attached to the Commission Communication to the European Parliament and to the Council and Recommendation of the Commission of 25 May 2005 (% on the independence, integrity and accountability of the national and Community statistical authorities. Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, Whereas: (1) Article 29 of the Treaty on European Union assigned the European Union and the Member States the task of (4) ensuring that the Union shall, through closer coop- eration, provide citizens with a high level of safety within the area of justice, freedom and security through the prevention and combating of crime, organised or otherwise. The expert group shall be composed of individuals competent to consider the policy needs and advise on the effective use of indicators and data in the area of crime and criminal justice. (5)  Rules on disclosure of information by members of the expert group should be provided for, without prejudice (2 With a view to supporting the development of to the Commission’s rules on security as set out in the harmonised and comparable European Union statistics Annex to Commission Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, on crime and criminal justice, essential for the devel- Euratom (°). opment and monitoring of Community legislation and policies, as outlined in the Action Plan implementing the Hague Programme (), the Commission may need to call (6)  Personal data relating to members of the expert group upon the expertise of representatives of Member States hould b 4 d ith lati c 4 of specialists in an advisory bod should be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) an p fy bocy. No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal (3 The production of Community statistics is governed by data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the rules set out in Council Regulation (EC) No 322/97 of 17 February 1997 on Community Statistics (3) and actions on the establishment of Community statistics are carried out according to the Community Statistical Programme and its Annual Programmes (}) and (") OJ C 198, 12.8.2005, p. 1. Council and Commission Action Plan the free movement of such data (%). The Expert group on the policy needs for data on crime and criminal justice therefore has to be set up and its terms of reference and structures detailed. implementing the Hague Programme on strengthening freedom, security and justice in the European Union. @ O] L 52, 22.2.1997, p. 1. (}) 2003-2007 Community Statistical Programme, as adopted by Decision No 2367/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2002 (O] L 358, 31.12.2002, p. 1). (% COM(2005) 217 final and Recommendation of the Commission on the independence, integrity and accountability of the national and Community statistical authorities. () OJ L 317,3.12.2001, p. 1. (% OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1.