A ‘private office’ is a small group of personal advisers attached to Commissioners.
There are typically around six academic assistants in a private office. Each Commissioner has his own private office, which has the task of helping the Commissioner to formulate policies in his fields and otherwise to assist the Commissioner in the performance of his work and in the preparation of Commission decisions.
If a Commissioner is prevented from taking part in a Commission meeting, the head of the Commissioner’s private office may take part in the meeting and, at the request of the Commission President, present the views of an absent Member on a matter.