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1. The Scientific Committee shall be composed of 11 independent persons, highly qualified in the field of fundamental rights, with adequate competences in scientific quality and research methodologies. The Management Board shall appoint the 11 members and approve a reserve list established by order of merit following a transparent call for applications and selection procedure and after having consulted the competent committee of the European Parliament. The Management Board shall ensure even geographical representation and shall endeavour to achieve an equal representation of women and men on the Scientific Committee. The members of the Management Board shall not be members of the Scientific Committee. The rules of procedure referred to in Article 12(6), point (g) shall lay down the detailed conditions governing the appointment of the Scientific Committee.

2. The term of office of the members of the Scientific Committee shall be five years. It shall not be renewable.

3. The members of the Scientific Committee shall be independent. They may be replaced only at their own request or in the event of their being permanently prevented from fulfilling their duties. However, where a member no longer meets the criteria of independence, he or she shall resign forthwith and shall notify the Commission and the Director. Alternatively, the Management Board may declare, on a proposal of one third of its members or of the Commission, a lack of independence and revoke the appointment of the person concerned. The Management Board shall appoint the first available person in line on the reserve list for the remaining term of office. Where the remaining term of office is less than two years, the term of office of the new member may be extended to a full term of five years. The list of members of the Scientific Committee shall be made public and shall be updated by the Agency on its website.

4. The Scientific Committee shall elect its Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson for a term of office of one year.

5. The Scientific Committee shall be the guarantor of the scientific quality of the Agency's work, guiding the work to that effect. For that purpose, the Director shall involve the Scientific Committee as early as appropriate in the preparation of all documents drawn up in accordance with Article 4(1) (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (h). The Scientific Committee shall in particular advise the Director and the Agency on the scientific research methodology applied in the Agency’s work.

6. The Scientific Committee shall pronounce itself by two thirds majority. It shall be convened by its Chairperson four times per year. If necessary, the Chairperson shall launch a written procedure or shall convene extraordinary meetings on his or her own initiative or at the request of at least four members of the Scientific Committee.