L 62/18 Official Journal of the European Union 432014 DECISIONS COMMISSION DECISION of 3 March 2014 on setting up a Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits for Chemical Agents and repealing Decision 95/320/EC (2014/113[EV) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, provide the Commission with Recommendations and Opinions that are necessary for the development of EU policy on workers protection. The nature of the contribution is such that without it the Commission Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European could not reach its social policy objectives to protect Union, workers’ health and safety. Therefore, these independent experts  should  receive  remuneration  beyond reimbursement of expenses, which is proportionate to the particular tasks attributed to them. Whereas: (4 The work of the Committee makes an effective contribution to improving the working environment to protect workers’ health and safety by providing the Commission with scientific evidence on the health effects of chemical agents on workers at work which is indispensable in order that the Commission is able to attain the relevant Union social policy objectives. Therefore, the financing of its activities will be provided by the relevant budget line that is dedicated to supporting initiatives in the social policies and working conditions field. (1) The Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits for Chemical Agents (hereinafter the Committee) was set up by Commission Decision 95/320/EC () to evaluate the health effects of chemical agents on workers at work. The work of the Committee directly supports Union regulatory activity in the field of occu- pational safety and health. It develops high quality comparative analytical knowledge and it ensures that Commission proposals, decisions and policy relating to the protection of workers' health and safety are based on sound scientific evidence. (5)  There is also a need to introduce improvements to the ) ) o ) ) structure and working procedures of the Committee. () The Committee assists the Commission, in particular, in evaluating the latest available scientific data and in proposing occupational exposure limits (OELs) for the protection of workers from chemical risks, to be set at (6)  The Committee members should be selected through a ~ ~ Union level pursuant to Council Directive 98/24/EC (2 and Directive 2004/37[EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (3). Members of SCOEL are highly qualified, specialized, inde- pendent experts selected on the basis of objective criteria. They are appointed in their personal capacity and (") Commission Decision 95/320/EC of 12 July 1995 setting up a Scientific Committee for Occupational Exposure Limits to Chemical Agents (O] L 188, 9.8.1995, p. 14). Council Directive 98/24/EC of 7 April 1998 on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work (fourteenth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (O] L 131, 5.5.1998, p. 11). Directive 2004/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work (Sixth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Council Directive 89/391/EEC) (O] L 158, 30.4.2004, p. 50). call for expression of interest. This will ensure that the procedure respects the principles of equal opportunities and transparency. With a view to ensuring continuity and efficiency of the Committee’s work, the members appointed by Commission Decision 2009/985/EU (¥ should remain in office until new members of the Committee are appointed. Scientific advice that is given on matters relating to the protection of workers' health and safety must be based on the ethical principles of excellence, independence, () Commission Decision 2009/985/EU of 18 December 2009 appointing members of the Scientific Committee for Occupational Exposure Limits to Chemical Agents for a new term of office (O] L 338, 19.12.2009, p. 98).