The Institute shall have a Board that approves its annual and long-term work programme and the appropriate budget. The Board shall be a forum for discussing issues related to the Institute’s mission, tasks, functioning and staff.

The Board shall be chaired by the HR or by the HR’s representative. The European External Action Service (EEAS) shall carry out the functions of secretariat of the Board.

The Board shall be composed of one representative designated by each Member State. Each member of the Board may be represented or accompanied by an alternate. The Commission, which participates in the work of the Board, shall also designate a representative.

The Director of the Institute, or the Director’s representative, shall, as a rule, attend Board meetings. The Director-General of the Military Staff and the Chairman of the Military Committee, or their representatives, may also attend Board meetings.

Decisions of the Board shall be taken on a vote by the representatives of the Member States by qualified majority, the votes being weighted in accordance with Articles 16(4) and 16(5) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), without prejudice to Articles 11(2) and 11(3) of this Decision. The Board shall adopt its rules of procedure.

The Board may decide to create ad-hoc working groups or standing committees, dealing with specific subjects or issues within its overall responsibility and acting under its supervision. The decision to create such a working group or committee shall set out its mandate, composition and duration.

The Board shall be convened by the Chair at least twice a year. It shall also be convened at the request of at least one third of its members.