CHAPTER I THE MEDIATION PANEL

Article 2 Establishment
In accordance with Article 25(5) of Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013, a Mediation Panel is hereby established.

Article 3 Composition
1. The Mediation Panel shall be composed of one member per participating Member State.
2. The Vice-Chair of the Supervisory Board, who is not a member of the Mediation Panel, shall act as Chair of the Mediation Panel.

Article 4 Appointment of members
1. Each participating Member State shall appoint one member of the Mediation Panel from among the members of the Governing Council and the Supervisory Board. The Chair shall facilitate the achievement of a balance between Governing Council and Supervisory Board members.
2. The mandate of the Mediation Panel members shall expire if they cease to be members of the body from which they were appointed.
3. When acting as a member of the Mediation Panel, each member shall act in the interest of the Union as a whole.

Article 5 Attendance at Mediation Panel meetings
1. Except as provided in paragraph 2, attendance at Mediation Panel meetings shall be restricted to its members, its Chair and its Secretary.
2. Upon invitation of the Mediation Panel, experts may attend specific Mediation Panel meetings if their expertise is required.

Article 6 Mediation Panel meetings
1. Whenever the Chair deems it necessary, he/she may convene a Mediation Panel meeting.
2. The Mediation Panel shall hold its meetings at the premises of the ECB.
3. At the request of the Chair, Mediation Panel meetings may also be held by means of teleconferencing, unless at least three members object.
4. The proceedings of Mediation Panel meetings shall be submitted to the members for approval at their next meeting or before that by written procedure, and once approved shall be signed by the Chair. They shall be made available to the Governing Council and the Supervisory Board.
5. The Secretary of the Supervisory Board shall act as Secretary of the Mediation Panel. In the latter function, he/she shall assist the Chair of the Mediation Panel in preparing for Mediation Panel and Case Committee meetings and shall be responsible for drafting the proceedings of these meetings. He/she shall also assist the Secretary of the Governing Council in preparing for Governing Council meetings regarding any issues in which the Mediation Panel has been involved and shall be responsible for drafting the respective part of the minutes of the proceedings.

Article 7 Voting
1. In order for the Mediation Panel to vote, there shall be a quorum of two-thirds of its members. If the quorum is not met, the Chair may convene an extraordinary meeting at which members may vote without regard to the quorum.
2. Each member shall have one vote. The Mediation Panel shall decide by a simple majority of its members. In the event of a tie, the most senior member of the Mediation Panel in terms of office in the first instance, and by age in the event of two or more members having equal standing in terms of office, shall have the casting vote.
3. The Mediation Panel shall proceed to vote at the request of the Chair. The Chair shall also initiate a voting procedure upon request from three Mediation Panel members.
4. At the request of the Chair, decisions may also be taken by written procedure.