Article 19 — Meetings of the Management Board

1. Meetings of the Management Board shall be conducted in accordance with its rules of procedure and convened by its Chairperson. 2. The Executive Director shall take part in the deliberations except where his or her participation may lead to a conflict of interest, as decided by the Chairperson, or where the Management Board is to take a decision in accordance with Article 32. 3. The Management Board shall hold an ordinary meeting twice a year. In addition, it shall meet on the initiative of the Chairperson or at the request of the Commission or of one-third of the Member States. 4. When a matter of confidentiality or a conflict of interest arises, the Management Board may decide to examine specific items on its agenda without the members concerned being present. This shall not affect the right of the Member States and of the Commission to be represented by an alternate or by any other person. Detailed rules for the application of this provision shall be laid down in the Management Board’s rules of procedure. 5. The Management Board may invite any person whose opinion can be of interest to attend specific agenda items of its meetings as an observer. 6. The members of the Management Board may, in accordance with its rules of procedure, be assisted by advisers or experts. 7. The secretariat for the Management Board shall be provided by the Agency.