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1. The Network shall comprise:

(a) the main component elements of the national information networks;

(b) the national focal points;

(c) the topic centres.

2. Member States shall keep the Agency informed of the main component elements of their national environment information networks, especially in the priority areas referred to in Article 3(2), including any institution which in their judgment could contribute to the work of the Agency, taking into account the need to ensure the fullest possible geographical coverage of their territory. Member States shall, as appropriate, cooperate with the Agency and contribute to the work of the European Environment Information and Observation Network in accordance with the work programme of the Agency by collecting, collating and analysing data nationwide. Member States may also join to cooperate in these activities at a transnational level.

3. Member States may in particular designate from among the institutions referred to in paragraph 2 or other organisations established in their territory a ‘national focal point’ for coordinating and/or transmitting the information to be supplied at national level to the Agency and to the institutions or bodies forming part of the Network, including the topic centres referred to in paragraph 4.

4. Member States may also, by 30 April 1994, identify the institutions or other organisations established in their territory which could be specifically entrusted with the task of cooperating with the Agency as regards certain topics of particular interest. An institution thus identified should be in a position to conclude an agreement with the Agency to act as a topic centre of the Network for specific tasks. These centres shall cooperate with other institutions which form part of the Network.

5. The topic centres shall be designated by the Management Board as defined in Article 8(1), for a period not exceeding the duration of each multiannual work programme as referred to in Article 8(4). Each designation may, however, be renewed.

6. The allocation of specific tasks to the topic centres shall appear in the Agency’s multiannual work programme mentioned in Article 8(4).

7. In the light in particular of the multiannual work programme, the Agency shall periodically re-examine the component elements of the Network as referred to in paragraph 2 and shall make such changes as may be decided on by the Management Board, taking account of any new designations made by the Member States.