1. The Committee shall meet at least twice a year.
The Committee shall meet in a specific composition to examine questions concerning Information Society services.
2. The Commission shall submit to the Committee a report on the implementation and application of the procedures set out in this Directive, and shall present proposals aimed at eliminating existing or foreseeable barriers to trade.
3. The Committee shall express its opinion on the communications and proposals referred to in paragraph 2 and may, in that regard, propose, in particular, that the Commission:
(a)
ensure where necessary, in order to avoid the risk of barriers to trade, that initially the Member States concerned decide amongst themselves on appropriate measures;
(b)
take all appropriate measures;
(c)
identify the areas where harmonisation appears necessary, and, should the case arise, undertake appropriate harmonisation in a given sector.
4. The Committee must be consulted by the Commission:
(a)
when deciding on the actual system through which the exchange of information provided for in this Directive is to be effected and on any change to it;
(b)
when reviewing the operation of the system provided for in this Directive.
5. The Committee may be consulted by the Commission on any preliminary draft technical regulation received by the latter.
6. Any question regarding the implementation of this Directive may be submitted to the Committee at the request of its chairman or of a Member State.
7. The proceedings of the Committee and the information to be submitted to it shall be confidential.
However, the Committee and the national authorities may, provided that the necessary precautions are taken, consult, for an expert opinion, natural or legal persons, including persons in the private sector.
8. With respect to rules on services, the Commission and the Committee may consult natural or legal persons from industry or academia, and where possible representative bodies, capable of delivering an expert opinion on the social and societal aims and consequences of any draft rule on services, and take note of their advice whenever requested to do so.