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1. Within their national statistical system, Member States shall ensure the professional independence of officials responsible for the tasks set out in this Regulation.

2. To that end, the heads of NSIs shall:

(a) have the sole responsibility for deciding on processes, statistical methods, standards and procedures, and on the content and timing of statistical releases and publications for European statistics developed, produced and disseminated by the NSI;

(b) be empowered to decide on all matters regarding the internal management of the NSI;

(c) act in an independent manner while performing their statistical tasks; and neither seek nor take instructions from any government or other institution, body, office or entity;

(d) be responsible for the statistical activities and budget execution of the NSI;

(e) publish an annual report and may express comments on budget allocation issues related to the statistical activities of the NSI;

(f) coordinate the statistical activities of all national authorities that are responsible for the development, production and dissemination of European statistics, as set out in Article 5(1);

(g) produce national guidelines, where this is necessary to ensure quality in the development, production and dissemination of all European statistics within their national statistical system and monitor and review their implementation; while being responsible for ensuring compliance with those guidelines solely within the NSI; and (h) represent their national statistical system within the ESS.

3. Each Member State shall ensure that other national authorities responsible for the development, production and dissemination of European statistics carry out such tasks in accordance with the national guidelines produced by the head of the NSI.

4. Member States shall ensure that the procedures for the recruitment and appointment of heads of NSIs and, where appropriate, statistical heads of other national authorities producing European statistics, are transparent and based only on professional criteria. Those procedures shall ensure that the principle of equal opportunities is respected, in particular with regard to gender. The reasons for dismissal of heads of NSIs or their transfer to another position shall not compromise professional independence.

5. Each Member State may establish a national body for assuring the professional independence of the producers of European statistics. The heads of NSIs and, where appropriate, the statistical heads of other national authorities producing European statistics may take advice from such bodies. The procedures for the recruitment, transfer and dismissal of the members of such bodies shall be transparent and based only on professional criteria. Those procedures shall ensure that the principle of equal opportunities is respected, in particular with regard to gender.