Article 15
Changes in consortium membership 1. A consortium may modify its membership on its own initiative and may in particular extend it to include any legal entity contributing to the implementation of the indirect action. A participant's withdrawal shall not affect access rights under Articles 26(2) and 27(2). The consortium must notify any change of its membership to the Commission, which may object within six weeks of the notification. New participants shall accede to the contract in accordance with the terms of Article 12(2). 2. The joint programme of activities for a network of excellence or the implementation plan for an integrated project shall specify which changes in the membership of the consortium shall require the prior publication of a competitive call. The consortium shall publish the competitive call and advertise it widely using specific information support, particularly Internet sites on the Sixth Framework Programme, the specialist press and brochures, and the national contact points set up by the Member States and associated States for information and support. The consortium shall evaluate offers in the light of the criteria which governed the evaluation and selection of the indirect action, defined according to the terms of Article 10(4) and (5), and with the assistance of independent experts appointed by the consortium on the basis of the criteria described in Article 11(2)(b). Subsequent modification of the consortium shall follow the procedure established in the third subparagraph of paragraph 1.