The Management Board sets the Agency's budget, approves the annual work programme and is responsible for ensuring that the Agency works effectively and co-operates successfully with partner organisations across the EU and beyond.
The Board's operational tasks range from adopting legally binding implementing rules, to setting strategic directions for scientific networks, to reporting on the use of European Union (EU) contributions for the Agency's activities:
The tasks and responsibilities of the Management Board are set out in the Agency's legal framework.
The members of the Management Board are appointed on the basis of their expertise in management and, if appropriate, experience in the field of human or veterinary medicines. They are selected to guarantee the highest levels of specialist qualifications, a broad spectrum of relevant expertise and the broadest possible geographical spread within the EU.
The Management Board consists of 35 members, appointed to act in the public interest and in an independent manner.
In order to ensure close cooperation between the Agency and scientists operating in Member States, the composition of the Management Board should be such as to guarantee that the competent authorities of the Member States are closely involved in the overall management of the Union system for authorising medicinal products.
The Management Board is made up of the following members:
In addition to the members, the Management Board also has one observer each from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
The representatives of the Member States, European Commission and European Parliament are appointed directly by the Member State and EU institution concerned. The four 'civil society' Board members (patients', doctors' and veterinarians' representatives) are appointed by the Council of the European Union, after consultation of the European Parliament.
The representatives of the Member States and of the Commission may have alternates.
Board members are appointed for a three-year term, which may be renewed.
The Management Board generally meets four times a year. The European Medicines Agency publishes the agendas and minutes of the meetings of the Management Board as well as related meeting documents, when available, on the meeting pages.