‘1.   The Chair of the Panel shall be appointed by the Commission for a non-renewable term of five years, in accordance with Article 143(3) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046, following a call for expressions of interest. His/her term of office shall begin on the date fixed for that purpose in the decision on the appointment. This Decision shall be published in the C series of the Official Journal of the European Union.

At the end of his/her term of office, in so far as required for the functioning of the Panel, the Chair shall remain in his/her post until his/her replacement is appointed. This period may not exceed six months.’;

‘1.   The Director of the Central Financial Service in the Directorate-General for Budget shall be one of the two permanent members of the Panel representing the Commission, pursuant to Article 143(2)(b) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046. The Director-General for Budget shall designate an official from at least the function group of Head of Unit or equivalent to deputise for this permanent member.

The Director-General for Budget shall designate the second permanent member representing the Commission ad personam among Commission officials of at least AD14 grade. The Director-General for Budget shall designate an official from at least the function group of Head of Unit or equivalent to deputise for this permanent member.’;

‘3.   In matters where the request of the referring authority is based, inter alia, on information transmitted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), OLAF’s representative shall attend the Panel’s meetings and participate in oral and written procedures. He/she may provide comments at the request of the Chair.

In matters where the request of the referring authority is based, in whole or in part, on information transmitted by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), the latter shall transmit information and attend as an observer in accordance with the provisions of the agreement referred to in Article 103(1) of Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939.

4.   In other cases, OLAF may be invited to provide information or advice, at the request of the Chair. The EPPO may also be invited to provide information or advice, at the request of the Chair, in accordance with the provisions of the agreement referred to in Article 103(1) of Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939.’;

‘Article 9a

Cooperation with the EPPO

The arrangements for cooperation with the EPPO shall be set out in the agreement referred to in Article 103(1) of Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939.’;

‘4.   The request for a recommendation shall contain the information required in Article 142(3) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046. It shall also contain the other relevant information referred to in Article 136 of the aforementioned Regulation, including, where applicable, OLAF reports and the information transmitted by the EPPO to enable the appropriate measures to be taken to protect the Union’s financial interests. It shall include a duly completed information sheet.’;

‘Article 26

Notification of the opinion and the recommendation

The Panel shall notify the opinion without delay to the referring authority, the authorising officer responsible and the observers. Where the EPPO has been invited as an observer, the provisions of the agreement referred to in Article 103(1) of Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 shall apply.’