BALTEX Science Steering Group (BSSG)

Terms of Reference

Tasks of the BSSG are to

• undertake the overall planning, monitoring and coordination of the BALTEX programme,
• regulary review and update the BALTEX science and implementation plans, and to assess BALTEX actions and achievements against the provisions of the science and implementation plans,  
• suggest and approve members and chairs of BALTEX panels, including the BSSG, with qualified majority,
• initiate, superwise and review the work of the BALTEX working groups,
• review developments relevant for BALTEX at GEWEX and WCRP levels, suggest related actions for the BALTEX programme, and report, or organise the reporting, to the relevant panels at GEWEX and WCRP levels,
• interact with the various national and internatioal authorities important for BALTEX,
• establish and maintain links to other relevant projects and programmes and asure cooperation whenever possible and adequate,
• establish and maintain links to stakeholders, policy-makers and the public in order to i) create awareness of BALTEX, ii) make BALTEX results available for use, iii) exchange advise concerning BALTEX results, related requirements, and their application for the benefit of society,    
• undertake suitable steps to both promote funding possibilties at national and international levels,
• actively initiate or support related funding proposals in support of BALTEX,
• initiate and prepare Study Conferences on BALTEX on a regular basis (every 3-4 years)
• initiate and prepare BALTEX symposia and workshops on BALTEX Phase II topics
• meet at least annually, with E-Mail communication between meetings.

Term

• For chairpersons: 3 years with the possibility of one prolongation to a second 3-year term
• For members: 3 years with the possibility of further 3-year terms

Election and approval

• New members need to be identified and suggested by at least one member,
• suggestion of candidate needs to be communicated to all members at least 4 weeks prior to election and approval by a qualified majority of the BSSG,
• approval by BSSG is normally done at a regular BSSG meeting, in important cases approval and election may be by E-mail between BSSG meetings,
• final official approval by the BSSG chair,
• chairs and vice-chairs election and re-election for a second 3-year term takes place at a regular BSSG meeting, with qualified majority,
• re-election of members for further 3-year terms takes place at a regular BSSG meeting, with qualified majority

Decisions

• Unanimously
• The “qualified majority” is 2/3 of the elective SSG members present at a meeting,
• A minimum of ½ of all SSG members must be present at a meeting in order to take decisions, this may include votes submitted prior to the meeting to the SSG chair

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