Article 8a
1. Member States shall ensure that independent fiscal institutions are established by national laws, regulations or binding administrative provisions. 2. Member States may establish more than one independent fiscal institution. 3. Independent fiscal institutions shall be composed of members nominated and appointed on the basis of their experience and competence in public finances, macroeconomics or budgetary management, and by means of transparent procedures. 4. Independent fiscal institutions shall: (a) not take instructions from the budgetary authorities of the Member State concerned or from any other public or private body; (b) have the capacity to communicate publicly about their assessments and opinions in a timely manner; (c) have adequate and stable resources to carry out their tasks in an effective manner, including any type of analysis within their tasks; (d) have adequate and timely access to the information needed to fulfil their tasks; (e) be subject to regular external evaluations by independent evaluators. 5. Without prejudice to the tasks and functions attributed in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 473/2013 for Member States whose currency is the euro, all Member States shall ensure that the following tasks are undertaken by one of the independent fiscal institutions: (a) producing, assessing or endorsing annual and multiannual macroeconomic forecasts; (b) monitoring compliance with country-specific numerical fiscal rules unless performed by other bodies in accordance with Article 6; (c) undertaking tasks in accordance with Articles 11, 15(3) and 23 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1263 and Article 3(5) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97 ( 3 ); (d) assessing the consistency, coherence and effectiveness of the national budgetary framework; (e) upon invitation, participate in regular hearings and discussions at the national Parliament. 6. Independent fiscal institutions shall issue assessments in the context of the tasks referred to in point (a), (b), (c) or (d) of paragraph 5 of this Article without prejudice to the tasks and functions attributed in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 473/2013. Member States shall comply with those assessments or shall explain why they are not following them. That explanation shall be public and be presented within two months from the date of issuance of such assessments.