Article 68 — Designation of National Competent Authorities and Single Points of Contact

Article 68

Scientific panel of independent experts

1. The Commission shall, by means of an implementing act, make provisions on the establishment of a scientific panel
of independent experts (the ‘scientific panel’) intended to support the enforcement activities under this Regulation. That
implementing act shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 98(2).

2. The scientific panel shall consist of experts selected by the Commission on the basis of up-to-date scientific or
technical expertise in the field of AI necessary for the tasks set out in paragraph 3, and shall be able to demonstrate meeting
all of the following conditions:

(a) having particular expertise and competence and scientific or technical expertise in the field of AI;

(b) independence from any provider of AI systems or general-purpose AI models;

(c) an ability to carry out activities diligently, accurately and objectively.

The Commission, in consultation with the Board, shall determine the number of experts on the panel in accordance with
the required needs and shall ensure fair gender and geographical representation.

3. The scientific panel shall advise and support the AI Office, in particular with regard to the following tasks:

(a) supporting the implementation and enforcement of this Regulation as regards general-purpose AI models and systems,
in particular by:

(i) alerting the AI Office of possible systemic risks at Union level of general-purpose AI models, in accordance with
Article 90;

(ii) contributing to the development of tools and methodologies for evaluating capabilities of general-purpose AI
models and systems, including through benchmarks;

(iii) providing advice on the classification of general-purpose AI models with systemic risk;

(iv) providing advice on the classification of various general-purpose AI models and systems;

98/144 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj
OJ L, 12.7.2024 EN

(v) contributing to the development of tools and templates;

(b) supporting the work of market surveillance authorities, at their request;

(c) supporting cross-border market surveillance activities as referred to in Article 74(11), without prejudice to the powers

of market surveillance authorities;

(d) supporting the AI Office in carrying out its duties in the context of the Union safeguard procedure pursuant to
Article 81.

4. The experts on the scientific panel shall perform their tasks with impartiality and objectivity, and shall ensure the
confidentiality of information and data obtained in carrying out their tasks and activities. They shall neither seek nor take
instructions from anyone when exercising their tasks under paragraph 3. Each expert shall draw up a declaration of

interests, which shall be made publicly available. The AI Office shall establish systems and procedures to actively manage
and prevent potential conflicts of interest.

5. The implementing act referred to in paragraph 1 shall include provisions on the conditions, procedures and detailed

arrangements for the scientific panel and its members to issue alerts, and to request the assistance of the AI Office for the
performance of the tasks of the scientific panel.