No L 107/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 4. 96 COMMISSION DECISION of 10 April 1996 on the reorganization of the Joint Research Centre (96/282/Euratom) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community and in particular Articles 8 and 131 (2) thereof, Having regard to the opinion of the Board of Governors of the JRC, Whereas the Joint Research Centre (JRC) pursuant to Commission Decision 85/593/Euratom of 20 November 1985 on the reorganization of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) (1), as last amended by Decision 93/95/Euratom (*), and by Decision 94/809/Euratom (%), is given a structure which is appropriate for the tasks assigned to it; Whereas this structure shall be modified whenever the Commission considers it to be necessary to ensure the optimum efficiency of the JRC activities and the full conformity of the latter with the priorities of the Commission; Whereas the Commission has decided, on 16 January 1996 that the JRC becomes an independent Directorate- General of the Commission in order to entrust to it the management autonomy necessary for the proper implementation of its tasks; Whereas Decision 85/593/Euratom and its amendments should be replaced accordingly by the present Decision, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 The Joint Research Centre, hereinafter referred to as the ‘JRC’, shall consist of the establishments set up by the Commission to carry out the Community’s research programmes and other tasks entrusted to it by the Commission. No L 373, 31. 12. 1985, p. 6. No L 37, 13. 2. 1993, p. 44. No L 330, 21. 12. 1994, p. 64. Article 2 The organs of the JRC shall be: — the Director-General, — the Board of Governors, — the Scientific Committee, Article 3 The JRC shall be wunder the authority of a Director-General appointed by the Commission. The Director-General and a part of the services directly under him shall be located in Brussels. The Director-General shall take all measures necessary for the efficient functioning of the JRC consistent with the regulations in force and the authority delegated to him. In accordance with the procedures hereinafter described, the Director-General: — shall prepare draft programmes for the JRC’s various fields of activity for submission to the Commission, indicating the financial aspects thereof, — shall establish a strategy for the JRC, particularly with regard to competitive activities, and take the appropriate measures to ensure their execution, — shall negotiate and conclude research contracts with third parties, — shall be responsible for the implementation of programmes and for financial administration, — shall determine the internal organization of the JRC, particularly taking into account the requirements of the budget, — shall, within the limits of the powers delegated to him, exercise the powers conferred upon the appointing authority by the Staff Regulations of officials and upon the authority empowered to conclude contracts by the conditions of employment of other servants.