4.3.2006 Official Journal of the European Union L 63/25 COMMISSION DECISION of 27 February 2006 setting up a High Level Expert Group on Digital Libraries (This text annuls and replaces the text published in Official Journal L 46 of 16 February 2006, p. 32) (2006/178/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Whereas: (1)  Article 157 of the Treaty establishing the European Community assigns the Community and the Member States the task of ensuring that the conditions necessary for the competitiveness of the Com- munity’s industry exist. Article 151 provides that the Community shall contribute to the flowering of the cultures of the Member States, while respecting their national and regional diversity and at the same time bringing the common cultural heritage to the fore. (2)  The Communication from the Commission 2010 — A European Information Society for growth and employment’ (!) announced a flagship initiative on digital libraries. (3)  The Communication from the Commission §2010: Digital Libraries’ (3 (hereafter ‘the Communication’) announced the creation of a High Level Expert Group on Digital Libraries that will advise the Commission on how to best address the organisational, legal and technical challenges at European level. (40 The White Paper on a European Communication Policy (®) adopted by the Commission on 1 February 2006 mentions the essential role that digital libraries can play in providing free access to European citizens to information on Europe through information tech- nologies. (5)  The group must contribute to a shared strategic vision for European digital libraries. () COM(2005) 229 final. () COM(2005) 465 final. () COM(2006) 35 final. (6)  The group must be made up of highly qualified experts with competence on digital libraries, appointed in a personal capacity. (7)  The ‘High Level Expert Group on Digital Libraries’ therefore has to be set up and its terms of reference and structure detailed, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 A group of experts ‘High Level Expert Group on Digital Libraries’, hereinafter referred to as ‘the group’, is hereby set up by the Commission. Article 2 Task The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to the implementation of the digital libraries initiative as set out in the Communication. The group’s task is to: — advise the Commission on how to best address the organi- sational, legal and technical challenges at European level; — contribute to a shared strategic vision for European digital libraries. Atticle 3 Composition — Appointment 1. The Director General of DG ‘Information Society and Media’ or by his/her representative, is in charge of appointing the members of the group. They shall be appointed as high level experts with competence on digital libraries.