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11 Organs of PPEU

11 Organs of PPEU

EGPStatutes:
ARTICLE 6
Structure and Bodies of the European Green Party
6.1. The bodies of the European Green Party are:
6.1.1 the Council;
6.1.2 the enlarged Council called the Congress;
6.1.3 the Committee;
6.1.4 the Finance Advisory Board;
6.1.5 the Conciliation Panel;
6.1.6 any other body as determined by the Council by a three-quarters majority vote.
6.2 Meetings of the Council shall be held in public unless otherwise decided by the Council.
6.3 Council
6.3.1 The Council is the highest decision-making body of the European Green Party. It is convened by the Committee and must meet at least once a year in person. Council meetings may be held in person or by telecommunication means under conditions laid down in the Rule Book.
6.3.2 An extraordinary meeting of the Council may be convened by request of at least one-third of the Full Members.
6.3.3 The Council shall, inter alia:
6.3.3.1 decide on the common political agenda;
6.3.3.2 approve the annual Activities plan, annual budget and accounts;
6.3.3.3 promote the development of common campaigns;
6.3.3.4 elect and remove the Committee and other internal bodies;
6.3.3.5 support and evaluate the Committee's activities;
6.3.3.6 decide on the application, regulation and termination of all categories of membership;
6.3.3.7 set up and review working groups and networks;
6.3.3.8 decide on changes to the Green Charter, the Statutes and the Rule Book;
6.3.3.9 decide on the liquidation of the European Green Party;
6.3.3.10 decide the place and date of Congresses.
6.3.4 The composition of delegations for Council meetings is based on the principle of a minimum of two delegates per Member. The allocation of votes for Full Members is based on their size and other criteria. In addition, GGEP and FYEG have the right to appoint delegates to Council and to vote.
6.3.5 In general decisions are made by voting with a two-thirds majority of the votes cast. Full regulations for the conduct of Council meetings and decision-making are set out in the Rule Book.
6.3.6 All delegates from one Member or from the GGEP or the FYEG constitute a delegation.
6.4 Congress
6.4.1 The Congress is an enlarged meeting of the Council, which shall be convened by a decision of the Council and which meets at least once every 5 years.
6.4.2 The composition of delegations for Congress meetings is based on the principle of a minimum of four delegates per Member. The allocation of votes for Full Members is based on their size and other criteria. In addition, GGEP and FYEG have the right to appoint delegates to Congress and to vote. Full regulations for the conduct of Congresses are set out in the Rule Book.
6.5 Committee
6.5.1 The Committee is responsible for the day to day management of the European Green Party, its finances and the execution of decisions of the Council.
6.5.2 The Committee consists of nine members elected by Council:
6.5.2.1 one female Co-Chair,
6.5.2.2 one male Co-Chair,
6.5.2.3 the Secretary-General,
6.5.2.4 the Treasurer,
6.5.2.5 five further persons.
6.5.3 The Committee is entitled to make political statements on behalf of the European Green Party based on decisions of the Council and the common political agenda of the European Green Party.
6.5.4 The Committee meets at least 6 times per year in person or by telecommunication means. It works in a consensual way and takes decisions by a simple majority vote.
6.5.5 Committee members may be suspended or dismissed by a vote in Council.
6.5.6 Detailed regulations for the election and dismissal and/or replacement of Committee members and further definition of their tasks and responsibilities are set out in the Rule Book.
ARTICLE 7
The Finance Advisory Board (FAB)
7.1 The Council shall elect a Finance Advisory Board of 3 persons to work with the Treasurer and the Committee to supervise the financial management of the European Green Party, including its accountability and financial transparency and to give advice to the Council and the Committee of the European Green Party as well as to its Members on these matters.
The Board shall also report to Council annually on whether the European Green Party has acted in accordance with the Statutes and Rule Book.
7.2 The composition of and regulations for the Finance Advisory Board are further defined in the Rule Book.
ARTICLE 8
The Conciliation Panel
8.1 The Council shall elect a Conciliation Panel consisting of a minimum of 5 persons to assist in settling disputes between Members, persons and/or bodies of the EGP on issues relating to the interpretation of these Statutes or the Rule Book or other operational matters.
The Panel shall report to Council with recommendations and Council shall determine the appropriate course of action. All persons and bodies of the European Green Party shall be bound by the outcome of this process.
8.2 The composition of and regulations for the Conciliation Panel are further defined in the Rule Book.
Rule Book:
II Council
Article 7 Composition and powers
7.1 The Council is the highest decision making body of the European Green Party.
7.2 Council meetings are normally open to the public unless the Council itself decides otherwise for all or part of its proceedings.
7.3 The Council shall consist of delegates representing Full Members, GGEP and FYEG determined according to the Rules for the allocation of delegates and votes as provided for in Article 10.
Non-voting representatives of Candidate and Associate members, the Committee, EGP Office staff, and elected members of other EGP bodies can participate as well.
7.4 The Council:
• co-ordinates initiatives and activities consistent with the Green Charter and the Global Greens Charter, agreed common policy and the Statutes of the European Green Party;
• is responsible for the political agenda of the European Green Party and adopts policy papers and resolutions;
• elects the Committee and other representatives of the European Green Party, such as the Finance Advisory Board; the Conciliation Panel; the European Green Party representatives to the Global Greens Coordination, as described in Article 40; the European Green Party representatives to the GEF General Assembly, as described in Article 39.
• decides on the application, suspension and exclusion of Full, Candidate, Associate and Special Members;
• advises the Green Group in the European Parliament on their decisions on the admission of MEPs who do not belong to a Member of the European Green Party, after consultation with the national Green party concerned;
• supports and evaluates the Committee's activities;
• approves the annual Activities plan and budget, reports and accounts and financial regulations after hearing the Finance Advisory Board;
• adopts and changes the Statutes of the European Green Party;
• adopts and changes this Rule Book.
Article 8 Council meeting proceedings

8.1 The Council meets at least once a year in person and normally meets twice a year.
8.2 The Council is normally convened by the Committee by regular mail or email.
8.3 An extraordinary meeting of the Council may be convened at the request of one third of the Full Members.
8.4 Exceptionally, Council meetings and/or votes may be convened and held via telecommunication means. Rules for such exceptional meetings and/or voting are to be developed by the Committee and appended to the Rule Book after approval by Council.
8.5 At each Council the Committee proposes the date and place of the next Council. The Secretariat shall inform the delegates as soon as possible about the venue of the Council. The convocation mail is sent out at least 6 weeks before the Council and includes a draft agenda.
8.6 Each plenary session is presided over by a chair and co-chair who are responsible for the orderly conduct of each meeting session. S/he opens and closes the debate, put questions to the vote and announces decisions. S/he allocates speaking rights and can limit the speaking time when necessary.
8.7 The Secretariat shall issue, on the first day of each meeting of the Council a list of participants.
8.8 The Secretary General or her/his representative attending the Council shall be responsible for taking the minutes of the meetings. The minutes shall be issued and be made available to all delegates within six weeks.

8.9 For purpose of clarity of the minutes all plenary Council sessions shall be recorded.
8.10 All resolutions and decisions taken by the Council shall be made public on the European Green Party’s official website.
8.11 English is the working language of the European Green Party. Other languages may be used if so decided by the Committee. All official documents shall be edited for clarity in English.
8.12 The European Green Party organigramme is to be found in the Annex G.
Article 9 Quorums and votes
9.1 A quorum of a simple majority of the Allocated Votes shall be present before each voting session can take place.
9.2 Voting shall be by two-thirds majority vote of the votes cast with the exception of:
• changes to the Rule Book, which shall require a two-thirds majority of the Allocated Votes; and
• admission of members;
• suspension and expulsion of members;
• changes to the Articles 6.5 and 6.6 of the Rule Book;
• changes to the EGP Statutes;
• liquidation of the EGP, which shall require a three-quarters majority of the Allocated Votes.
9.3. An overview of the voting procedures and majorities is to be found in Annex D.
9.4. For amendments to resolutions and to other documents a simple majority of the votes cast is
sufficient.
9.5 Where EU provisions for the European political parties require decisions to be made only by Member Parties in the EU countries, the European Green Party will comply by consulting all Members and then taking a decision by vote of those Full Members in the EU countries.
Article 10 Allocation of Votes and Delegates
10.1 Allocation of Votes
10.1.1 Each Full Member has a minimum entitlement of one vote.
10.1.2 The Full Member is entitled to one additional vote for each of the following thresholds reached during the last National or European elections: 150.000 votes; 400.000 votes; 800.000 votes; 1.200.000 votes; 1.600.000 votes; 2.000.000 votes and every additional million votes.
10.1.3 The Full Member is entitled to a supplementary vote for each of the following thresholds reached during the last National or European elections: 4%, 8%, 12%, 16% and 20%.
10.2 Allocation of Delegates
10.2.1 Each Full Member has a minimum entitlement of two delegates to achieve gender balanced participation.
10.2.2 Full Members are entitled to 2 additional delegates if their total number of votes is 4 or more or to 4 additional delegates if their total number of votes is 8 or more.
10.3 Allocation of votes and delegates for Multiple Full Members
10.3.1 For those countries with more than one Full Member in the European Green Party the rules of article 10.1 to 10.2 are applied as follows:
• Election results for regional parliaments are not used for the allocation system in the European Green Party.
• The additional voting rights based on absolute numbers of votes as allocated under Art.10.1 apply to each Full Member.
10.3.2 For the additional voting rights based on National and European % election results, the following system is used to give effect to the provisions of Art. 10.1-10.2:
• the highest national or European % election result of both Members are calculated together and that sum is used for the allocation system. The additional voting rights are distributed to the Full Member with the highest % electoral result.
• in the case of Full Members which are regional parties these additional voting rights are proportionally distributed among those Members based on the highest % electoral results those Members have in the area where they run respectively.
10.4 Where Full Members participate in an electoral alliance or coalition, their votes will be calculated in proportion to the Green votes in the total votes of the alliance/coalition based on the seats gained respectively by the alliance and the Full Member.
10.5 Adjustments to the number of delegates and votes shall be made immediately following elections, whose results change them.
10.6 The highest result reached in the last National or European elections is used for calculating the number of votes and delegates.
10.7 In addition to Full Members, the Green Group in the European Parliament and the FYEG have the right to four delegates each and to four votes each.

Article 11 Guidelines for Delegates
11.1 Delegates are crucial to the proper functioning of the European Green Party, they are the liaison between the Parties and the European Green Party and vice versa. Delegates are the representatives of their Parties and are either elected or appointed by their respective Parties to the European Green Party. All elected/appointed delegates from one Member or from the GGEP and FYEG form a delegation. A delegate who has the right to vote is referred to as a voting delegate. Each Party has to elect/nominate at least two delegates. The delegates shall remain in post for the period in between the Council meetings.
11.2 The European Green Party strongly recommends a process whereby Delegates are elected within their Parties. Besides specific rules within the Members this election procedure shall be organized in a democratic way.
11.3 Members are encouraged to have an internal discussion within their Party on what the delegation should promote and how.
11.4 Delegates shall be mandated for a reasonable period to encourage continuity and experience but with a clear limitation of the consecutive mandates to ensure wider participation.
11.5 Each Member appoints a main contact person who liaises with the European Green Party and who is politically responsible for the internal organisation and distribution of responsibilities within the delegation and the communication from the European Green Party level towards the Member.
11.6 Delegates are expected:
• to take an active part in the decision-making process inside the EGP, including the participation in working groups and networks;
• to participate in the process of strengthening communication and exchange of knowledge between the European Green Party and the Member (or institution) the delegate represents;
• to report back regularly from the Councils and other meeting of the European Green Party to their respective parties and stimulate and organise discussion on the developments within the EGP at national level;
• to promote European and cross-border cooperation at national/regional level.
11.7 Delegates to Council can only represent one delegation and carry the votes of that delegation.
III Congress
Article 12 Composition and powers
12.1 As stated in the Statutes (Section 6.4) the Congress is an enlarged meeting of the Council, which shall be convened by a decision of the Council and which meets at least once every 5 years.
12.2 The purpose of a Congress is to unite in a joint assembly a larger part of the Green family in the deliberations and decision-making process and to allow a greater representation of Members at Congress meetings. A Congress is more than a decision-making meeting. It shows and highlights the development and strengths of the European Green Party and the Green family at large.
12.3 The composition of delegations and the allocation of votes for Congress meetings are based on the principle of a minimum of four delegates per Member and voting rights for Full Members based on their size and other criteria as defined below. In addition, GGEP and FYEG have the right to appoint six delegates each to Congress and have the right to six votes each.
12.4 The rules regarding the conduct and proceedings of the Congress are to be voted on at the Council preceding the Congress in so-called Congress regulations. Furthermore the preceding Council shall vote on the proposed allocation of delegates. Each Congress the Committee will appoint several experienced party members into a Congress Presidium which will be responsible for the correct proceedings and regulations during the Congress and which will allocate the speaking time in cooperation with the Chair and the Co-Chair. The Committee will propose the Congress Presidium to the Council preceding the Congress.
12.5 The European Green Party shall make provisions over a 5 year period in the budget to be able to organise a Congress. The amount of money allocated to the Congress budget shall stay reserved for the purpose of enabling the organisation of a Congress until a Congress is convened by the Council.
12.6 If Council decides to call for an extra Congress the Members shall contribute to the extra costs incurred for the Congress.
12.7 With regards to voting, the quorum and voting rules are applied in the same way as in Council, the Congress being an enlarged Council.
12.8 Congress rules are to be found in the Annex F.
Article 13 Allocation of delegates and votes
13.1 Allocation of Congress delegates shall be as follows:
• The Congress consists of 400 delegates allocated proportionally.
• Each Member shall have at least four delegates.
• The delegates will be allocated according to two principles:
◦ 50% of the 400 delegates are proportionally divided according to the highest number of votes which the Member gained in the last national or last European elections. Votes above 2 million are divided by 4 for this calculation;
◦ the other 50% of the 400 delegates are proportionally divided according to the highest percentage reached in the last national or last European elections.
13.2 Where members participate in an alliance or coalition their votes will be calculated in proportion to the Green votes in the total votes based on the seats gained respectively by the alliance and the EGP Member.
13.3 Members which do not qualify for a minimum of four seats via the proportionally allocated delegates shall be allocated additional seats (above the 400).
IV Committee
Article 14 Composition
14.1 The Committee is the executive body of the European Green Party and is responsible for the day to day management of the Party within the budget and the guidelines approved by the Council. The Committee consists of 9 members, 4 members are elected in function: the Secretary-General, the two Co-Chairs and the Treasurer. The Committee is convened by email. The Committee members are elected for a three year term. Individual members may not serve more than three consecutive terms.
14.2 Only one of the posts of the European Green Party Co-Chairs may be held by a sitting MEP.
14.3 On the proposal of one-third of the Full Members any member of the Committee can be suspended or dismissed by the Council by a two thirds majority of the votes cast after debate in Council where the member is given adequate opportunity to present her/his case.
14.4 In case of resignation of a member of the Committee, an election to replace the member will take place at the following Council meeting. The person elected will stay in office for the period coinciding with the end of term of all the other Committee members. This period does not count towards the cumulative period of their mandate.
14.5 In the case of resignation or incapacity of the Secretary-General, the Committee shall appoint (from its body) a Secretary-General ad interim within one month. This replacement shall continue in place until the election of a new Secretary-General at a subsequent Council meeting or until the Secretary-General is able to resume her/his duties. In the case of resignation, the timetable for election shall be advertised by the Committee within six weeks. The Council must make its decision within six months of the resignation/death/incapacity of the Secretary- General.
14.6 The Committee works as a collegial body, deliberations and decisions are reached in a consensual way. The Committee can vote and take decisions by a simple majority. The Committee operates on a principle of collective responsibility in decision-making.
Article 15 General tasks and responsibilities
15.1 The Committee is responsible for the permanent political representation of the European Green Party, the execution of the Council's decisions and the activities of the European Green Party office.
15.2 It is entitled to make political statements on behalf of the European Green Party based on the Council's decisions and the political agenda of the European Green Party and is politically responsible to the Council.
15.3 The Committee is responsible for the management of the European Green Party within the budget and the guidelines approved by the Council.
15.4 Every member of the Committee is expected:
• to be present at the Committee and Council meetings during the year, which amounts to a minimum of 20 days per year;
• to take responsibility for specific projects/party-relations/working groups and networks, which amounts to a minimum of 40 days per year, among which:
◦ to visit certain Members on a regular basis and represent the Committee at conferences, seminars etc., within or outside Europe;
◦ to liaise with the European Green Party office and report back to the Committee on a regular basis.
15.5 Those Committee members who are elected in a specific function have extra duties and responsibilities, as described in Articles 16-18.
15.6 Committee members have no voting rights at the Council.
Article 16 Secretary-General
16.1 The main focus of this function is to ensure communication and coordination between the European Green Party Members and the other European Partners and to promote cooperation on the European level as well as interparty cooperation. The Secretary-General participates on a regular basis in meetings of these bodies.
16.2 The Secretary-General:
• liaises with the Co-Chairs for the day to day political management of the European Green Party and supervises the Secretariat and office organisation. The Secretary General has a specific responsibility to liaise with the European Green Party Members and its European Partners;
• engages in and maintains a structural relationship with all Members;
• is responsible to organise the agenda setting process within the Committee and coordinates afterwards the agenda setting process within European Green Party;
• is responsible for the organisation and convening of Committee and Council meetings;
• is employed by the European Green Party;
• is responsible for the application procedure as well as the monitoring process of European Green Party Membership;
• is responsible for the coordination of the working groups and networks;
• co-ordinates the internal and external communications;
• shall carry out the decisions taken by the bodies of the European Green Party;
• co-ordinates the co-operation of the secretariats of the Members with the bodies of the European Green Party;
• is responsible for the agenda, the minutes and the conduct of the meetings of the European Green Party;
• reports annually to the Council on the Secretariat’s activities and on the political and organisational developments and policies of the European Green Party.

Article 17 Co-Chair
17.1 The main focus of this function is political leadership. The Co-chairs are the public representatives of the European Green Party and are to ensure the political and strategic development of the European Green Party.
17.2 The Co-Chairs shall:
• liaise with the Secretary-General and Treasurer regarding day-to-day events;
• represent the European Green Party at meetings and media events, in collaboration with the Secretary-General;
• speak or write on behalf of the European Green Party using as reference the agreed views of the Committee on topical issues, the European Green Party Council on policy issues, and the Green Charter on general issues;
• liaise with the Secretary-General and Treasurer regarding planning and running of Committee meetings, Council meetings and Congress;
• initiate papers on political, strategic or policy issues for discussion within the Committee, Council or regional bodies of the European Green Party;
• in conjunction with the Secretary-General, initiate and conduct diplomatic and working relations with the GGEP, party and parliamentary representations of Members of the European Green Party, and of Green and other Parties outside the European Green Party or outside Europe as well as NGOs and other external societal organisations.
Article 18 Treasurer
18.1 The main focus of this function is to supervise the budget and the accounts and to exercise financial control. Furthermore the Treasurer, together with the Secretary-General, is responsible for the grant application to the European Parliament and the implementation and execution of the financial rules. The Treasurer will initiate ways to enlarge the financial means of the European Green Party. The Treasurer will initiate and monitor financial protocols to ensure the openness and transparency that characterises a Green Party and that supports Green political goals.
18.2 The Treasurer shall:
• be responsible for the budget and the accounts of the European Green Party. These shall be presented to the Committee, the Finance Advisory Board, the Treasurers' Group and the European Green Party Council;
• determine the yearly membership fees and present this proposal to the Committee, the Finance Advisory Board, the Treasurers' Group and the Council;
• prepare the budget follow-up three times a year and inform the Committee and the Finance Advisory Board;
• supervise joint project budgets with the Green Group in the European Parliament;
• follow-up on financial rules, e.g. reimbursements, criteria for membership fees, to be adopted by the Committee or the Council;
• present expenses to the Committee for decision. Between Committee meetings, decide on expenses together with the Secretary-General and any Committee members concerned;
• monitor the financial developments, protocols and financial transparency in the member parties;
• where possible develop new sources of income.
Article 19 Election procedure of the Committee Members
19.1 Each candidate must be nominated by a Full Member and supported by at least two other Full Members.
19.2 All nominations must specify the particular post for which the candidate is being proposed (i.e. Secretary-General, Co-Chair, Treasurer or a Committee Member). Each Full Member may nominate and support several candidates. Nominations shall be accompanied by a brief introduction of the candidate which will be distributed to the Members with the final list of
candidates.
19.3 All nominations, letters of support and any additional material must reach the Secretariat two months prior to the meeting at which the election takes place.
19.4 All posts will be voted on separately.
19.5 If one candidate gains more than 50% of the votes cast in the first round, the person is elected.
Should no candidate gain more than 50% of the first round vote, a second round will be run between the two highest scoring candidates. The candidate who receives more than 50% of the votes cast in the second round is elected.
19.6 The order of voting:
1) female Co-Chair
2) male Co-Chair
3) Secretary General
4) Treasurer
5, 6, 7, 8, 9 further Committee Members
19.7 Unsuccessful candidates for the designated posts in rounds 1-4 may present themselves for election as further Committee Members in rounds 5-9. If so, their candidacy must be renewed by their main nominating Full Member, supported by two other Full Members, before voting in round 5 begins. In rounds 6 and subsequently all previously unsuccessful candidates will be automatically entered in the elections for the remaining positions unless withdrawn by the candidate her/himself.
19.8 The gender balance will be monitored after each vote, and the Chair will inform the Council on the gender balance requirement in the remaining posts.
19.9 Geographical balance of Member Parties in the Committee is recommended.
Article 20 Allowances for Committee Members
20.1 The European Green Party Committee members (with the exception of the Secretary-General) are entitled to a per diem allowance up to a maximum of 40 calendar days a year or up to a
maximum of 60 days per year for the Co-Chairs and the Treasurer. The European Green Party Committee members are free to decline the per diem allowance. The per diem allowance is subject to taxes in the State where the Committee member resides.
20.2 The per diem allowance is meant to cover participation in the following meetings:
• European Green Party Council and Committee meetings and other meetings organised by the European Green Party;
• Global Greens meetings;
• Party Congresses and meetings of Members;
• Fact finding missions;
• coordination and management of working group and networks;
• meetings with the Secretary-General and office staff on European Green Party projects;
• participation in other events authorised by the Committee.
20.3 In addition to the per diem allowance, Committee members are entitled to reimbursement for their costs for travel, accommodation and daily subsistence costs when travelling, in accordance with the European Green Party reimbursement rules. Further costs for the use of mobile devices will be reimbursed to a maximum amount per month.
20.4 Details of the annual amount of the per diem and other allowances are contained in Annex M. This annex may be amended at the same time as the adoption of the annual budget.
V Financial Regulations
Article 21 Finance Advisory Board
21.1 The purpose of the Finance Advisory Board (FAB) is to support the Treasurer of the European Green Party and the Committee as a whole on all matters concerning the budget as well as operational issues. The FAB is elected according to the rules for the election of bodies for a period of three years.
21.2 The FAB will consist of three members.
21.3 The FAB shall receive all agendas/minutes/documents of the Committee meetings and is invited to the yearly budgetary discussion at the Committee meeting.
21.4 The FAB can be asked for advice on all financial matters of the European Green Party and the FAB is invited to advise the Treasurer and the Committee unsolicited. The FAB shall equally be
consulted on all matters that influence the budget of the European Green Party, such as finding new ways to enlarge the budget for the European Green Party and to broaden inter-party support mechanisms. Members of the FAB will assist the Treasurer at Council meetings where the budget is discussed.
21.5 All executive rules can be found in :
• Annex C - Criteria for Membership fees;
• Annex J - Reimbursement Guidelines for EGP Council and Congress;
• Annex K - Financial Guidelines for Working Groups and Networks;
• Annex L - Overview of the Travel Reimbursement Rules.
VI Conflict Management
Article 22 Conciliation Panel
22.1 The Council shall elect a Conciliation Panel (”the Panel”), which is entitled to settle disputes between Members, persons and bodies of the European Green Party arising from any use or interpretation of the EGP Statutes or this Rule Book or other operational matters.
22.2 The Panel shall consist of a minimum of 5 members, elected for a period of three years. Individual members may not serve more than three consecutive terms. The Chairpersons shall be chosen by the members of the Conciliation Panel. The Panel may co-opt expert advisors. Candidates to the Panel shall be required to demonstrate that they are suitably qualified for such work. Members of the Committee and EGP employees may not serve on the Panel.
22.3 Requests for convening the Panel shall be addressed to the Secretariat, which is then responsible for informing the Panel members and inviting them to act.
22.4 The remit of the Panel shall exclude political differences, points of view, or disputes internal to any one Member.
22.5 If any member of the Panel is directly or indirectly involved in a dispute to be decided on, that person shall be excluded from all deliberations on that case.
22.6 The Panel reports directly to the Council on such disputes referred to it and shall propose a vote in Council to resolve the issue.
22.7 All Members, persons and bodies of the European Green Party shall be bound by the outcome of the Conciliation Panel process and the consequent decisions of the Council.
22.8 The Conciliation Panel may also mediate between Members, persons and bodies of the EGP if invited to do so by those in dispute and in such cases the Panel shall operate to find a consensual agreement.
22.9 The Conciliation Panel may also be consulted by the Committee where problems arise in the exercise of its functions.
22.10 Deliberations of the Panel shall not normally be open to the public. The Panel may however decide on a public hearing with the consent of all concerned parties.
22.11 Full procedures for the operations of the Panel including time limits for the conciliation process shall be developed by its members and brought to the Council for approval.
EFAGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Article 11 The General Assembly is the highest organ of the organisation. It decides on the political and financial policy of the non-profit organisation. The General Assembly of the European Free Alliance asbl/vzw establishes the political programme of the party. It can always take all the necessary decisions in order to realise the goals of the organisation. The General Assembly can adopt an internal regulation for the organisation. This regulation can specifically mention the possibilities creating supplementary organs, their capacities and way of functioning within the framework of the legal prerogatives and the prerogatives of the General Assembly as foreseen in these statutes.
The general assembly shall be composed of all the full members. They alone have the right to vote. The observer members are invited to the general meeting.
If they so wish individual and honorary members may also be present but shall have only a consultative vote.
Its decisions shall be binding on all the members and on members who are absent, abstain or vote against.
Article 12 The general assembly shall be the supreme body of the association. It has powers assigned to it expressly by the law or by these statutes.
It shall be exclusively authorised:
1. to amend the statutes;
2. to appoint and dismiss directors;
3. to appoint and dismiss auditors and determine their remuneration if they are paid;
4. to give a discharge to directors and auditors;
5. to approve budgets and accounts;
6. to dissolve the association;
7. to accept and/or exclude members;
9. to appoint liquidators, define their authority and the method of liquidation;
10. to determine the annual subscription of members, who form part of the general meeting of the association;
11. to deal with any other matter reserved to it by law and/or these statutes.
12. the adoption of the political programme
Article 13 The general assembly shall be convened as the purpose or interest of the association so requires.
It must be convened at least once a year to approve the previous year’s accounts, give a discharge to the directors and auditors and approve the budgets for the following year, at a place and time chosen by the board of directors but before 30 June of the year concerned.
The Bureau may at any time call an extraordinary general meeting. The meeting must be convened by the board of directors if requested by a minimum of one-fifth of the members of the general meeting, as defined under Article 14 of the statutes, and must take place within one month of such a request being submitted to the board of directors.
All members of the general meeting must be invited to attend.
Article 14 The general assembly shall be convened by the Bureau by ordinary letter or electronic mail, signed by the chairman and/or the secretary on behalf of the Bureau, forwarded to each member of the general meeting at least eight days before the meeting.
The agenda, drawn up by the Bureau, shall be announced in the letter convening the meeting, which also announces the place, date and time of the meeting.
Any proposal signed by one-twentieth of the members of the general assembly, as shown by the most recent list of members registered and deposited with the district commercial court, must be placed on the agenda.
Save in the cases provided for in Articles 8, 12 and 20 of the Law of 27 June 1921, the meeting may legitimately consider items not announced on the agenda, provided that all members of the general meeting are present and/or represented and so agree at the meeting by a simple majority vote.
Article 15 All members of the general assembly shall be entitled to attend the meeting. They may be represented by proxies, who must themselves be members of the general assembly and have authorisation in writing.
A member of the general assembly may represent only one other member.
Article 16 The general assembly shall be chaired by the chairman of the Bureau or in the chairman’s absence by the vice-chairman or, if neither is able to attend, by the oldest director present, unless decided otherwise by the Bureau.
They may form a bureau comprising the chairman, secretary and two persons who are members of the general meeting and are responsible for collecting and counting the votes.
Article 17 The general assembly may validly decide to dissolve the association or amend the statutes only in accordance with the provisions of Articles 8 and 20 of the Law of 27 June 1921.
Article 18
1. In the general assembly all members shall have an equal voting right: each full member shall have one vote.
Decisions shall be taken by simple majority of the votes present and represented unless otherwise provided for by law or in these statutes.
Its decisions shall be equally binding on members who are absent, abstain or vote against.
In the event of a tie, the chairman or the director substituting for him shall have the casting vote.
Any vote concerning persons shall be by secret ballot.
2. The general assembly may validly decide only if a majority of its members are present or represented.
It may decide to amend the statutes only if the amendment is announced when the meeting is convened and if two-thirds of the members entitled to vote are present or represented.
If this number is not attained a second meeting may be convened which may take a valid decision irrespective of the number of members present and represented. The second meeting may not be held within 15 days following the first meeting.
The general assembly may decide to amend the purpose of the association or dissolve it only by a majority of four-fifths of the votes present or represented.
3. For conversion into an association with a social purpose the attendance requirements for amending the statutes must be fulfilled and the decision taken by the majority required to amend the purpose of the association.
Article 19 A record shall be taken of every meeting in the form of minutes, signed by the secretary and entered in a register specially designated for the purpose.
The register shall be kept at the registered office, where it may be inspected by any member but may not be removed.
Extracts shall be signed by the secretary or a director.
Any amendment of the statutes must be deposited with the registry of the commercial court and published in the Annex to the Belgian State Gazette.
This shall also apply to the appointment, resignation or dismissal of a director.
BUREAU
Article 20 The association shall be managed by a Bureau composed of at least three members of the bureau appointed for a period of three years who may be dismissed by the association at any time. The members of the bureau must be member of a full member of the association.
The members of the bureau shall act collectively. The number of member of the bureau must at all times be fewer than the number of members of the association forming the general assembly.
The duration of the term for which the members of the bureau are elected shall be determined by the general assembly. In addition, a directorship shall be terminated by death, resignation or dismissal.
Outgoing members of the bureau may be re-elected.
Except as otherwise decided by the general assembly and without prejudice to the reimbursement of any expenses incurred, the members of the bureau shall serve free of charge.
If, due to death, resignation, the expiry of terms or dismissal, the number of members of the bureau has fallen below the statutory minimum, the general assembly shall at its next meeting appoint a new member of the bureau, whose term shall expire at the end of the term which was to have been served by the member of the bureau whom he replaces.
Serving members of the bureau shall remain in office until provision has been made for their replacement.
Every appointment, resignation or dismissal shall be published in the Annex to the Belgian State Gazette.
Article 21 The candidacies for the appointment of new members of the bureau shall be submitted to the Bureau in writing, stating reasons.
The proposals must be submitted at least one month before the general assembly at which the new members of the bureau are to be appointed.
Article 22 The Bureau shall elect a chairman, a secretary and a treasurer from among its own members.
The chairman shall chair the meeting. If the chairman is unable to attend the meeting his duties shall be undertaken by the vice-chairman and otherwise by the oldest of the members of the bureau present, without prejudice to any decision to the contrary taken by the Bureau.
Article 23 The Bureau shall be convened by the chairman and/or the secretary. It may take decisions only if a majority of the members are present.
Except in the event of urgent necessity, which must be justified and confirmed by the Bureau in the minutes, these meetings shall be convened by ordinary letter or e-mail, at least eight days before the meeting.
The agenda for each meeting of the Bureau shall be announced, at the latest, at the meeting.
If two members of the bureau so request, the meeting must be held within two weeks of their written request. If the meeting has not been convened in time, the members of the bureau who have requested its convening shall have the right to convene the Bureau themselves.
Any member of the bureau may authorise another member of the bureau in writing to represent him at a meeting of the Bureau; nobody may act as a proxy for more than one person.
The members of the bureau shall act collectively; the Bureau may take a valid decision only if at least half the members of the bureau are present. If this quorum is not attained, a fresh Bureau meeting may be convened with the same agenda, at which matters shall be validly considered and decided upon if at least two members of the bureau are present or represented.
Decisions shall be taken by a simple majority of the votes. In the event of a tie, the chairman or the person substituting for him shall have a casting vote.
Decisions of the Bureau shall be equally binding on members who are absent, abstain or vote against.
Any vote concerning persons shall be by secret ballot.
A record shall be taken of every meeting in the form of minutes, signed by the secretary and entered in a register specially designated for the purpose. Any extracts that must be provided and any other documents shall be signed by the secretary or a member of the bureau.
Article 24 The Bureau shall manage the business of the association and represent it in all judicial and non-judicial transactions. The Bureau is in charge of the administrative management of the organisation. The Bureau also defines the political policy and the activities of the organisation on a day to day basis. This can only be done within the political framework decided by the General Assembly.
It shall enjoy the fullest powers to manage and administer the association and shall be empowered to act in all matters which neither the law nor these statutes explicitly reserve for the general assembly.
The Bureau may also perform acts of disposal, including inter alia the alienation, even for no consideration, of moveable and immoveable property, mortgaging, borrowing and lending, any commercial and banking transactions and the redemption of mortgages.
The Bureau shall also be responsible for executing the decisions of the general assembly.
ELArticle 7
The European Left has the following organs:
- the Congress
- the Council of Chairpersons
- the Executive Board
Mode of work
Article 8
The work of the EL organs has to be performed openly and transparently, its documents are to be published. The EL documents and materials are supplied to all member parties and political organisations.
For the concrete mode of work of all bodies as well as regulations concerning the decision-making process rules of procedures have to be worked out and to be adopted by these organs on proposal of the council of chairpersons.
Respecting the values of gender democracy the share of women in all organs (except the Council of Chairpersons) must be 50%.
Being a pluralistic association, proceedings of the EL have to be chosen that guarantee the rights of different sensitivities.
Article 9
The EL is striving to cooperate closely with parliamentarian groups of the Left in other European bodies and networks.
The EL will establish forms of cooperation with youth organisations of the European Left - both representing national or regional organisations as well as European structures and other international networks.
The Congress
Article 10
The Congress:
The Congress approves and adopts the basic documents and the statute.
The Congress ratifies the admission of applicant parties or political organisations.
The Congress:
- elect the EL chairperson and Vice-chairperson/s on the basis of a proposal by the
- Council of Chairpersons following a rotation principle;
- elects the treasurer on the basis of a proposal by the Executive Board;
- elects the Executive Board consisting of two members of each party in accordance to the nomination by each respective member party;
- elects at least three and odd auditors;
- establishes in accordance with the Council of Chairpersons the plan of action;
- decides on political statements of the EL and recommendations to the Executive Board;
- elaborates common guidelines for the elections to the European Parliament;
- comments on the report of activities for the preceded period and on the program for further work presented by the Executive Board;
- proposes discussions of and/or within member parties or political organisations on political developments or special questions.
Article 11
The Congress shall hold at least one session every three calendar years. It is convened by the Executive Board, which can also decide on convening an extraordinary congress.
Before election to the European Parliament, a Congress or Electoral Conference must be convened at least six months before the European elections.
The Congress takes place alternately in different member states of the European Union or in European states where EL member parties or political organisations exist.
A Congress can be convened at the request of at least 25% of its delegates.

Article 12
The Congress consists of:
12 Delegates of each member party. The key for the number of delegates is decided upon by every Congress for the next Congress.
The delegates are elected by their parties with respect to the gender equality, i.e. with at least 50 % of women.
The key for the number of delegates to the Foundation Congress is fixed by agreement of the Council of Chairpersons. Parties do not have to use the full number of delegates.
All other participants are observers without the right to vote: i.e.:
- Representatives of the observer parties resp. organisations
- Members of the Executive Board, not being delegates
- Invitees and guests, including members of the Parliamentarian groups of Left parties in the European Parliament, the National Parliaments or in other European bodies resp. networks
Article 13
In addition, the Executive Board is permitted to invite representatives of other parties or organisations to the Congress.
The Council of Chairpersons
Article 14
The Council of Chairpersons is meeting at least once a year.
Members are:

- the Chairpersons of all member parties
- the EL Chairperson and Vice-chairperson/s
The Council of Chairpersons can invite other representatives of EL bodies or from EL member parties resp. political organisations to participate in its meeting.
For the preparation of the EL Foundation Congress a preliminary Council of Chairpersons consisting of the Chairpersons of all member parties is built up.
Article 15
The Council of Chairpersons has, with regards to the Executive Board, the rights of initiative and of having objection on important political issues.
The Council of Chairpersons adopts resolutions and recommendations that are passed to the Executive Board and the Congress.
The Council of chairpersons decides about applications for EL membership.
The Executive Board
Article 16
The Executive Board consists of:
- the Chairperson and vice-chairperson/s
- the treasurer
- further Members elected on the basis of a key of two persons from each member party by the Congress at a gender-quoted basis
- the Head of the secretariat (without the right of vote)
Article 17
Executive Board meetings take place at least four times a year.
The convening of a meeting of the Executive Board can also be asked for by a member party or political organization.
Article 18
The Executive Board carries out the decisions on the basis and orientations of the Congress and in accordance with the Council of Chairpersons
The Executive Board is responsible for organizing the daily work of the EL. It is responsible for the creation, composition and functioning of the Secretariat. The Executive Board has to adopt the rules of its own work as well as the rules of the work of the Secretariat.
It determines the political guidelines of the EL between the Congresses. It proposes, plans and convenes political initiatives, for the EL, convenes conferences or thematic meetings. It sets up permanent or ad-hoc working groups, whose responsible staff are chosen by, and whose tasks are fixed by the Board.
The Executive Board convenes the Congress, fixes the proposals for time-table and venue, and suggests the standing orders and agenda.
The Executive Board is also authorised to name ad-hoc working groups etc. on special political issues and questions in accordance with the plan of action established by the Congress in accordance with the Council of Chairpersons.
The Chairperson
Article 19
The Chairperson is elected by the Congress. A candidate for the EL Chairperson is presented by the Council of Chairpersons until and including the next Congress. The candidacy should follow a rotation principle.
On a proposal of the Council of Chaipersons the Congress elects one or more Vicechairpesons on a gender quota basis.
Article 20
In case the post of the Chairperson becomes vacant before the next ordinary Congress, the Executive Board can name a Chairperson ad interim until the next Congress.
Article 21
The Chairperson has to perform the following tasks with help of the Secretariat:
- running the regular business and preparing the meetings of the Executive Board
- maintain close relationships with the whole prime executives of the member policies
- developing close relations with all the observer-parties
- executing the decisions and respective orders of the Executive Board
- maintaining the contact of the EL with the Parliamentarian Groups in which there will be deputies of Left parties in the EP and other European /international institutions etc.;
- representing the EL in the contacts with representatives of organisations and institutions, including the EU authorities, Trade Unions, non-governmental organisations and associations.
The Vice-chairperson/s support/s the Chaiperson in fulfilling his/her duties.
The Secretariat
Article 22
The Secretariat carries out the decisions of the EL organs. It is an auxilliary committee lead by the Chairperson. Its composition and functioning are the responsibility of the Executive Board, including financing and staff. In particular it is responsible for:
• supporting the Chairperson,
• preparing and organizing meetings,
• maintaining contacts to the member parties and political organizations,
• supporting the EL working groups,
• maintaining relations to the media,
• running the archives,
• securing transparency of all political work,
• guiding the work of the EL office,

• reporting on its work to each Executive Board meeting
PESArticle 16 – Organs of the PES
The aims of the PES will be pursued in the following organs:
● Congress
● Council
● Presidency
● Leaders' Conference
● Secretariat
CHAPTER IV – THE CONGRESS
Article 18 – Powers of the Congress
18.1. The Congress is the supreme organ of the PES and lays down the political guidelines of the PES.
18.2. The PES Congress shall:
● elect the President;
● confirm the members of the Presidency, as proposed by the Member parties and organisations;
● adopt resolutions and recommendations to parties, the Presidency and its group in the European Parliament ;
● give its response to the report of activity of the PES for the preceding period and on the action programme for the future submitted by the Presidency;
● discuss and take note of the report of activity submitted by the its group in the European Parliament.
18.3. By a qualified majority (cf. Art. 17.5.) and on a proposal from the Presidency, the Congress shall:
● adopt and amend the Statutes of the PES;
● decide on the admission and exclusion of members as well as the status of member parties and organisations.
18.4. Full and associate members may present proposals to, and speak of these before the
Congress.
Article 19 – Composition of the Congress
19.1. The PES Congress shall consist of the following delegates with voting rights:
● representatives from full member parties, following the calculation formulated in Annex 3 of
these statutes;
● a representative from each National delegation of the Group in the European Parliament;
● two representatives from each other full member organisation;
● the members of the PES Presidency.
19.2. The PES Congress shall also consist of the following delegates without voting rights:
● all members of its political groups in the European Parliament and the Committee of the
Regions not covered by art. 19.1.;
● bureau members of other full member organisations;
● 5 delegates from each associate member;
● 2 from each observer member.
19.3. Parties shall elect or nominate delegates no later than two months prior to the Congress. The number of delegates from each party with voting rights shall be laid down in an annex to the internal rules of procedure of the Congress.
19.4. Neither gender should make up less than 40% of a delegation of a member party or organisation.
19.5. The following are also ex-officio delegates, without the right to vote:
● the President of the European Parliament if he/she is a PES member;
● PES members of the European Commission;
● the President of the European Council, if he/she is a PES member;
● the President or 1st Vice-President of the Committee of the Regions, if he/she is a PES member;
● the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe if he/she is a PES member;
● the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE, if he/she is a PES Member;
● the President of the European Security and Defence Assembly, if he/she is a PES member;
● the President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly, if he/she is a PES member.
19.6. The Presidency of the PES may also invite guests to attend the Congress.
Article 20 – Meetings of the Congress:
20.1. The Congress shall be held on a regular basis, twice during each parliamentary term of the European Parliament, the Presidency may also decide to hold an extraordinary Congress.
20.2. In principle, the Congress shall be held successively in the different Member States of the European Union.
20.3. The Congress shall be convoked by the Presidency, with at least 6 months notice. The invitation shall be sent by mail, fax, e-mail or any other written form.
20.4. The Presidency shall also decide on a timetable for presenting and discussing resolutions and amendments to the statutes to be adopted by the Congress.
Article 21 – Decisions of the Congress
The decisions and the documents adopted by the Congress shall be communicated to members of the PES and shall be published on the PES Website.
CHAPTER V: THE COUNCIL
Article 22 – Powers of the Council
22.1. The Council shall contribute to the shaping of the PES policy; it shall serve as a platform for strategic discussions.
22.2. The PES Council can adopt resolutions and recommendations to the member parties and organisations, the Presidency, the Congress and its group in the European Parliament in full respect of the Congress being the supreme organ of the PES.
22.3. The Council adopts the PES Manifesto for the European elections.
Article 23 – Composition of the Council
23.1. The PES Council shall consist of the following delegates with voting rights:
● representatives of full member parties, equal to 25% of the number obtained by following
the calculation formulated in Annex 3 of the present statutes;
● representatives of the its group in the European Parliament, equal to 25% of the number of National delegations, rounded upwards;
● one representative from each other full member organisation;
● the Members of the Presidency
23.2. The PES Council shall also consist of the following delegates without voting rights:
● a delegation of its political groups in the European Parliament and the Committee of the
Regions, equal to 25% of its members, rounded upwards;
● a delegation of the bureau other full member organisations, equal to 25% of their members,
rounded upwards;
● 2 representatives per associate member
● 1 representative per observer member
23.3. Neither gender should make up less than 40% of a delegation of a member party or organisation.
23.4. The following are also ex-officio delegates, without the right to vote:
● the President of the European Parliament if he/she is a PES member;
● PES members of the European Commission;
● the President of the European Council, if he/she is a PES member;
● the President or 1st Vice-President of the Committee of the Regions, if he/she is a PES
member;
● the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe if he/she is a PES member;
● the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE, if he/she is a PES Member.
23.5. The Presidency of the PES may also invite guests to attend the Council.
Article 24 – Meetings of the Council
24.1. The PES Council shall meet in those calendar years where no Congress is held.
24.2. The Council is convoked by the Presidency of the PES, with at least 4 months notice. The invitation shall be sent by mail, fax, e-mail or any other written form.
24.3. The Presidency shall also decide on a timetable for presenting and discussing resolutions to be adopted by the Council.
Article 25 – Decisions of the Council
The decisions and the documents adopted by the Council shall be communicated to members of
the PES and shall be published on the PES Website.
CHAPTER VI: THE PRESIDENCY
Article 26 – Powers of the Presidency

26.1. The Presidency is the highest organ for the management of the day-to-day business of the PES and for the execution of the tasks as set out by these Statutes.
26.2. The Presidency shall implement the decisions of the Congress and of the Council and fix the political guidelines of the PES during the period between Congresses and Councils.
● It shall draw up recommendations to the Congress concerning general political guidelines and statements of principle, the Statutes of the PES, admission, status and exclusion of members of the PES.
● It shall convene the Congress, fix the date and venue and propose the rules of procedure and agenda of the Congress.
● It shall convene the Council and set its agenda.
● It shall also be empowered to organise special conferences or meetings, nominate rapporteurs and set up committees and working parties, in respect of which it shall appoint the Chairs and secretariat and lay down terms of reference.
26.3. The Presidency shall, after consulting the full member parties following a proposal from the PES President:
● elect the Vice-presidents (maximum 4) and the Treasurer from among its members;
● appoint other office holders for specific mandates;
● appoint the Secretary General and, if need be, deputy Secretaries General of the PES;
● appoint from among its members two Auditors.
26.4. The Presidency shall also:
● decide on the length of the mandate of the Vice-presidents, the Secretary General, the treasurer, the auditors and office holders;
● approve the annual accounts and budget and fix the membership fees;
● adopt its internal rules of procedure.
Article 27 – Composition of the Presidency
27.1. Members of the PES Presidency with voting rights are:
● the President of the PES;
● one representative from of each full member party (as confirmed by the Congress);
● the Secretary General of the PES;
● the President of its group in the European Parliament;
● one representative from each other full member organisation (as confirmed by the Congress).
27.2. Members of the Presidency without voting rights are:
● one representative of each Associate party (as confirmed by the Congress);
● one representative of each Associate organisation (as confirmed by the Congress).
27.3. The following are also ex-officio members of the Presidency, without the right to vote:
● the President of the European Parliament, if s/he is from a PES member party;
● one representative from the PES Members of the European Commission.
27.4. The President may invite guests to attend the Presidency.
27.5. If a Member of the Presidency resigns, its member party or organisation appoints a replacement which shall be confirmed by the Presidency.
Article 28 – Meetings of the Presidency
28.1. The Presidency shall meet as often as necessary, but not less than three times in each calendar year.
28.2. Meetings shall be convened by the President, or, in his/her absence, a Vice-President.
28.3. The President may, if necessary, convene additional meetings of the members with voting rights.
28.4. Upon receipt of a written request from at least 20% of full members, the President shall convene a meeting of the Presidency within 10 days.
Article 29 – Decisions and minutes of the Presidency
The decisions of the Presidency are registered in Minutes. The Minutes shall be adopted by the following meeting of the Presidency and communicated to the members of the Presidency.
Article 30 – The President
30.1. The President, with the assistance of the Secretariat, shall ensure:
● the day-to-day administration of the PES and the preparation of meetings of the Presidency;
● the implementation of Presidency decisions and any general or specific instructions given by the Presidency;
● liaison between the PES and the parties, the group in the European Parliament and the Socialist International;
● representation of the PES in any organisation or institution, in particular, the institutions of the European Union, European trade unions, professional organisations, co-operatives and associations.
30.2. The decisions of the Congress, the Council, the Leaders’ Conference and the Presidency are executed by the President of the PES in co-operation with the Vice-Presidents and the Secretary General, other office holders of the Presidency and the President of its group in the European Parliament.
CHAPTER VII: PES LEADERS' CONFERENCE
Article 31 – Powers of the Leaders’ Conference
The PES Leaders' Conference may adopt resolutions and recommendations to the member parties and organisations, the Presidency, the Congress and its group in the European Parliament in full respect of the Congress being the supreme organ of the PES.
Article 32 – Composition of the Leaders’ Conference
32.1. The Leaders’ Conference consists of:
● the President, the Vice-Presidents and the Secretary General;
● PES Heads of Government;
● the Leaders of the full member parties;
● the Leaders of full member organisations;
● the President of the Socialist International;
● the President of the European Parliament, if he/she is a PES member;
● two representatives from the PES Members of the European Commission, including the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, if he/she is a PES member;
● the President of the European Council, if he/she is a PES member;
● the President or 1st Vice-President of the Committee of the Regions, if he/she is a PES member.
32.2. Once a year the President shall also invite the Leaders of the Associate Parties and Organisations to a meeting of the Party Leaders' Conference.
32.3. The President may invite guests to the Leaders’ Conference.
Article 33 – Meetings of the Leaders’ Conference
33.1. The Party Leaders' Conference should be convened at least three times a year.
33.2. Meetings shall be convened by the President, or, in his/her absence, a Vice-President.
CHAPTER VIII: ADMINISTRATION OF THE PES
Article 34 – The Secretariat
34.1. The secretariat shall execute the decisions of the PES. In particular, it shall be responsible for:
● assistance to the President;
● preparation and organisation of meetings;
● contacts with member parties and organisations and institutions;
● relations with the press and public;
● updating the website;
● finances and the keeping of accounts;
● the keeping of archives;
● distribution of documents.
34.2. The Secretary General has a right of initiative during meetings of the PES concerning the implementation of decisions taken by the PES.
Article 35 – The Coordination Team
35.1. The Secretary General shall convene meetings of a Coordination Team to discuss the planning, preparation, follow-up and financing of PES activities.
35.2. The Coordination Team shall consist of one representative from each full member. The Secretary General may also invite representatives from associate and observer members and other organisations.
35.3. Meetings of the Coordination Team shall take place at least three times in each calendar year.
Article 36 – Administrative organ
36.1. The administrative organ of the PES is composed of the President, the Treasurer and the Secretary General appointed according to articles 18.2. and 26.3. of the present statutes.
36.2. The length of their mandate is ruled by articles 20.1. and 26.4. of the present statutes.
36.3. The Administrative organ presents the annual accounts and the budget to the PES Presidency.
EUDArticle 7: Organs
The Association is administered by the following organs:
• The Congress
• The Board
• The Secretariat
Article 8: The Congress
Composition of Congress
The Congress shall consist of one representative per member organisations/party, members on an individual capacity and all members of the Board. The Congress is open to individuals and other observers on a non-voting capacity.
The number of representatives shall be determined by the Founding Congress and decided upon by every Congress for the next Congress.
The budget allocated for each Congress is decided by the board.
Responsibilities of the Congress
The Congress (and Board) shall meet once a year.
Every member organisation will have one vote each. Every board member will have one vote each.
The Congress will:
• Amend the Statute of the Association
• Appoint and dismiss members of the Board
• Determine and approve the political programmes of the Association
Decision-making in the Congress
Decisions in the Congress shall be taken by a simple majority of votes cast.
Every member shall have the possibility to represent a maximum of one other member with the written approval of that member.
The Congress shall be summoned at least seven days before the appointed date. The agenda shall be set by the Board.
Decisions shall only be taken on issues listed on the agenda.
Article 9: The Board
The annual Congress elects a board, a President and a Vice-President. The latter acts only when the President cannot act.
The Board will be composed of one member per participating party/organisation plus President and Vice-President.
Every party has the right but not the obligation to appoint a Board member. The Board approves the annual budget.
Information campaign budgets and the implementation of political decisions are decided by the Board.
Decisions in the Board shall be taken by a simple majority of votes cast.
Annual Meeting
Every member can have a point on the agenda. It must be sent ten days in advance.
Extraordinary annual meetings can be decided by simple majority.
Composition of the Party
The composition of the party is decided by the board by simple majority. New members must accepted by the board.
Article 10: The Secretariat
The Secretary and other EUD staff shall provide support and assistance to the organs of the Association under the supervision of the President.
The Secretary and other Secretariat staff may also attend all Board meetings in a non- voting capacity.
ELDRCHAPTER III – BODIES OF THE ASSOCIATION
Article 9
The bodies of the Association are:
(i)
The Congress;
(ii)
The Council;
(iii)
The Bureau.
CHAPTER IV - CONGRESS
Article 10 - Composition and powers
The Congress shall consist of all full and affiliate members and the members of the Bureau.
In accordance with the Internal Regulations, individual members and third parties may be granted the right to take part in a meeting of the Congress. They may voice their opinion but do not have the right to vote.
The decisions taken by the Congress shall be binding on all members, including those absent or dissenting.
The following powers are restrictively reserved to the Congress:
a) election, dismissal and discharge of the members of the Bureau;
b) amendments to the Articles of Association;
c) dissolution and liquidation of the Association;
d) approval of the common political programme for the European elections.
Article 11 – Notices and meetings
The Council convenes the Congress. Congress shall meet at least once in each calendar year and not more than 18 months must elapse between two meetings of the Congress.
The Bureau or the Council or at least a third of the full members may convene extraordinary meetings of the Congress.
The notice is sent by mail, facsimile, email or any other written means. For the rest, the rules related to the agenda, timetable and conduct of the meetings of the Congress will be laid down in the Internal Regulations.
Article 12 – Representation
Full, delegates, appointed in accordance with the rules laid down in the Internal Regulations will represent affiliate and individual members at the Congress.
Each full member will have as many votes as delegates. A delegate may cast two votes at most.
Article 13 - Proceedings, quorums and votes
The delegates shall sign an attendance list of full and affiliate members prior to the meeting, under the name of the member they represent.

The Congress may validly proceed if at least one third of the full members are present. Where this quorum is not reached, a new meeting of the Congress shall be called no earlier than 15 calendar days after the first meeting. The second meeting of the Congress shall be entitled to validly take decisions, irrespective of the number of full members present.
Decisions of the Congress, including the election and dismissal of the members of the Bureau, shall be taken with a simple majority of the votes cast. Abstentions shall not be taken into account and, in the case of a written vote, blank and invalid votes will not be counted in the votes cast. In the case of a tie vote, the decision will be rejected.
Article 14 - Minutes
The decisions of the Congress are recorded in minutes. The minutes are approved during the next meeting of the Congress and signed by the Chair of the approving Congress.
The minutes are kept in a register, at the members’ disposal at the registered office of the Association. A copy of the minutes is also sent out to all full and affiliate members.
The minutes of the Congress may also be published in full or in part.
CHAPTER IV - COUNCIL
Article 15 - Composition and powers
The Council shall consist of all full and affiliate members and the members of the Bureau.

In accordance with the rules laid down in the Internal Regulations, individual members and third parties may be granted the right to take part in a meeting of the Council. They may voice their opinion but do not have a voting right.
The decisions taken by the Council shall be binding on all members, including those absent or dissenting.
The following powers are restrictively reserved to the Council:
a) approval of the annual accounts, the annual report, the budget, the membership fees and any other form of financing;
b) admission, suspension and expulsion of full or affiliate members;
c) approval and amendments to the Internal Regulations;
d) preparation of the common political programme for the European elections to be approved by the Congress;
e) interpretation of the Articles of Association and the Internal Regulations;
f) upon proposal of the Bureau, appointment and dismissal of the Secretary-General;
g) nomination, dismissal and determination of the basic fee of the auditor(s).
Article 16 – Notices and meetings
The Council is convened by the Bureau each time this is necessary for the interests of the Association or upon written request of 1/4th of the full members.
At least two meetings of the Council must be held every year.
The notice is sent by mail, facsimile, email or any other written means. For the rest, the rules related to the agenda, timetable and conduct of the meetings of the Council will be laid down in the Internal Regulations.
Article 17 – Representation
Full, delegates, appointed in accordance with the rules laid down in the Internal Regulations will represent affiliate and individual members at the Council.
Each full member will have as many votes as delegates.
Article 18 - Proceedings, quorums and votes
The delegates shall sign an attendance list of full and affiliate members prior to the meeting, under the name of the member they represent.
Unless otherwise provided for in the Articles of Association, a Council may validly proceed if at least one third of the full members are present. Where this quorum is not reached, a new meeting of the Council shall be called no earlier than 15 calendar days after the first meeting. The second meeting of the Council shall be entitled to validly take decisions, irrespective of the number of present full members.
Unless otherwise provided for in the Articles of Association, decisions of the Council shall be taken with a simple majority of the votes cast. Abstentions shall not be taken into account and, in the case of a written vote, blank and invalid votes shall not be counted in the votes cast. In the case of a tie vote, the decision will be rejected.
Decisions of the Council may also be taken by circular letter, in accordance with the rules laid down in the Internal Regulations. Decisions taken by circular letter are deemed to be taken at the registered office of the Association and are deemed to come into force on the date mentioned on the circular letter.
Article 19 - Minutes
The decisions of the Council are recorded in minutes. The minutes are approved during the next meeting of the Council and signed by the chair of the approving Council.
The minutes are kept in a register, at the members’ disposal at the registered office of the Association. A copy of the minutes is also sent to all full and affiliate members.
CHAPTER VI – BUREAU
Article 20 - Composition and powers
The Bureau shall consist of at least nine members, elected by the Congress, amongst whom a President, seven Vice-Presidents and a Treasurer. No member of the Bureau will serve consecutively for more than six years.
The Congress can grant the title of Honorary President of the Association.
In accordance with the rules laid down in the Internal Regulations, third parties may be invited to take part in a meeting of the Bureau, as observers. Observers may voice their opinion but do not have the right to vote.
Unless specifically decided otherwise by the Congress, the term of office will take effect immediately and expire at the end of the second meeting of the Congress taking place after the election.

The function of member of the Bureau is not remunerated. Reasonable expenses supported by appropriate documentary evidence will be reimbursed.
The Bureau shall be vested with the power to undertake any act necessary or useful to achieve the purpose and objectives of the Association, except for those powers that the Act or these Articles of Association reserve to the Council or the Congress.
The Bureau may delegate, under its responsibility, part of its powers for particular or specific purposes to an attorney-in-fact.
The Bureau may set up advisory and working groups for any purpose it thinks fit. The composition, terms of reference and the rules of procedure of such advisory and working groups will be laid down in the Internal Regulations.
Article 21– Vacancy before term
In the event that a vacancy occurs, a new member of the Bureau can be appointed by the Bureau, in accordance with the provisions laid down in Article 20.
The term of office of the replacing member of the Bureau shall expire at the same time as the term of the replaced member of the Bureau. The appointment shall be ratified at the next meeting of the Congress.
Article 22 – Notices and meetings
The Bureau shall meet at least three times a year.
Meetings of the Bureau shall be called by the President or by three members of the Bureau.
The meetings of the Bureau shall be chaired by the President or, in his absence, by another member of the Bureau, appointed by his peers.
The notice calling the meeting shall contain the place, date, time, agenda and, as the case may be, working documents. It must be sent to all members of the Bureau by letter, facsimile or e-mail or any other written means, at least eight calendar days prior to the date of the meeting.
Article 23 – Proceedings, quorums and votes
Decisions shall be valid when at least half of the members of the Bureau are present. Where this quorum is not reached, a new meeting of the Bureau shall be called no earlier than eight calendar days after the first meeting. The second meeting of the Bureau shall be entitled to take valid decisions irrespective of the number of members of the Bureau present.
The Bureau may only deliberate on the matters set out in the agenda, unless all members of the Bureau are present and decide unanimously to discuss other matters.
Each member of the Bureau will have one vote. A member of the Bureau may not grant a power-of-attorney to another member of the Bureau.
The decisions of the Bureau shall be taken with a simple majority of the votes cast. Abstentions shall not be taken into account and, in the case of a written vote, blank and invalid votes shall not be counted in the votes cast. In the case of a tie vote, the chairman of the meeting shall have a casting vote.

Decisions may also be taken by conference call or videoconference. Decisions taken by conference call or videoconference are deemed to take place at the registered office of the Association and are deemed to come into force on the date of the meeting.
Article 24 - Minutes
Decisions taken by the Bureau shall be recorded in minutes. The minutes are approved during the next meeting of the Bureau and signed by the Chair of the next approving meeting.
The minutes are kept in a register, at the disposal of the members of the Bureau at the registered office of the Association. A copy of the minutes is also sent out to all members of the Bureau.
CHAPTER VII – MANAGEMENT OF THE ASSOCIATION
Article 25 - The Secretary-General
The Council shall delegate the daily management of the Association to the Secretary-General upon proposal of the Bureau. The Bureau defines the scope and financial limitations of the daily management powers of the Secretary-General. The Treasurer will take a particular role with the Secretary-General in administration and personnel management of the Association.
The term of office of the Secretary-General shall be for a maximum period of two years, renewable.
The Secretary-General shall be remunerated, according to decision of the Bureau. Reasonable expenses supported by appropriate documentary evidence will also be reimbursed.

The Secretary-General may delegate a part of his/her powers for particular or specific purposes to a third party, under his/her responsibility.
EDPItem III: Organs
Article 11:
The organs of the European democratic party are:
-the Congress
-the Council
-the Presidency
-the President(s)
-the General Secretary(ies)
-the Treasurer
I THE CONGRESS or general assembly
Article 12: Composition of the Congress
Within the limits of forty representatives for party members, the
Congress contains the following members:
-Six delegates per party member. If in a State member of the European Union, there is more than one Party member, the delegates are divided between the member parties in function of the average votes obtained in the preceding european elections. This rule does not apply to the founding members.
-The number of delegates per member party is defined in function of the average votes obtained in the preceding European elections.
-One delegate for every thirty thousand(30,000) votes or at least fifty percent of the same, up to three hundred thousand(300,000) votes.
-one delegate for every one hundred and fifty thousand (150,000) votes, or at least fifty percent of the same, starting from three hundred thousand (300,000) votes and up to three (3) million votes;
-one delegate for every five hundred thousand (500,000) votes or at least fifty percent of the same, up to three (3) million votes;
In the case in which a member party had participated in the last european elections as part of a list of coalition with other national parties, the number of its delegates shall be equal to double the number, determined by the same criteria, of delegates resulting from the calculation of the votes received in the preceding national political elections.
-A number of delegates per party member in function of the average votes this party received in the preceding national or regional political elections (in the case that it is not possible to calculate the results of the party in the national elections due to the local electoral system);
-A delegate for every two hundred and fifty thousand (250,000) votes, or at least fifty percent of the same, up to three (3) million votes.
A delegate for every five hundred thousand (500,000) votes, or at least fifty percent of the same, over three (3) million votes.
-The members of the European Parliament who are members of the European Democratic Party;
-The members of Council;
-The individual members;
-Two delegates per party with the status of affiliate;
The physical persons sighted in article 7 point 5 may be invited to
participate in Congress. This decision is made by the Council on the suggestion of the president(s).
The Congress of the EDP engages in taking position and, in the exceptional case, give it to propositions presented by at least 30% of physical persons sited in article 6 point 5 and of moral persons sighted in point 6.
Article 13: Members invited with advisory votes
The following persons may be invited to Congress with the title of invited persons:
-one delegate per party with the status of observer.
-the members of the EDP groups in the Western European Union, in the OSCE, in the NATO, and in the INCE.
All other persons may be convocated to Congress with the title of invited person based on the decision of the Council.
These persons will have only an advisory vote at the time of the
deliberation of Congress.
Article 14: Participation of the civil society
The EDP maintains direct, close and open relations with the citizens, the social partners and the european organized civil society.
The european citizens, the civil society, the non-profit associations and the enterprises may participate directly in the work of Congress and participate in the drafting of the final documents. A special meeting of Congress, including its members and the delegates, the european citizens, the civil society, the non-profit associations and the enterprises may be convocated for such an end.
A special meeting between the EDP Presidency and the european citizens, the civil society, the non-profit associations and the enterprises may be convocated before the meeting of Congress.

Article 15: Powers
The Congress has the most extended powers for the attainment of the purpose of the association.
The Congress has exclusive powers on the following subjects:
-the principle orientations and the political program of the EDP.
-the statutory modifications
-the designation, the exclusion of members of the Presidency and confirmation of the resignations and the exclusions of members.
-the voluntary dissolution of the association.
-the approval of the annual budget and totals, seeing as the Assembly meets only every two years, the Council temporarily approves the annual totals and budget and afterwards submits them to Congress for ratification;
-the nomination and the revocation of one or more commissioners where necessary;
-the nomination and the revocation of the Council members;
-the discharge to give to the Council members.
To define the global politics and the political program of the EDP, the Congress takes into account the orientations and the recommendations provided during the special meetings held on the basis of the article 14 of the statutes.
Article 16: Votes and Majorities
The delegates and the members dispose one vote each. The quorum is set at one third of the members present. If this quorum is not reached, a new Congress, with the same order of the day, will be convocated within at least eight days, and will be able to deliberate validly, independently from the number of members present.

The decisions are approved with a simple majority of favorable votes.
The statute amendments are accepted when three quarters of the delegates vote in their favor.
The decisions made by the Council bind all the members, including those who voted against or who abstained.
Each member may be represented at the assembly by one other member. Each member present may possess only one proxy whose model shall be established by the Council.
Article 17: Convocation and execution of Congress
The Congress is convocated every two years by the Council. The Council decides the date, the place and the order of the day for the Congress. The convocations containing the order of the day is sent to each member of Congress at least ten days before the assembly.
Extraordinary meetings of Congress may equally be convocated at the request of two thirds of the members of Council.
A Congress may be convocated before the european elections, as long as the said Congress has already been programmed for that year.
The assembly may deliberate only on the points set out in the order of the day, unless all the present members at the assembly decide unanimously that a subject not in the order of the day, must be discussed.
Article 18:
After approval by the Congress, the minutes are transcribed in a register kept at the premises of the association and signed by the President and the Secretary of the general assembly or by two members of the general assembly.
II THE COUNCIL or administrative counsel
Article 19
The association is administered by a Council that meets at least two times per year or each time the interests of the association requires it.
Article 20: Composition
The members of Council are designated by Congress for a two-year term.
The Council includes the following members:
-two delegates per member party (the President and one delegate)
-One supplementary delegate per member party for each share of eight hundred thousand (800,000) party votes in the last european elections.
-one supplementary delegate for each member party that participated in the european elections within a list of coalition with other parties, for every share of eight hundred thousand (800,000) votes received in the last election of national Parliament.
-one delegate every five hundred thousand (500,000) votes, or at least fifty percent of this same share, up to three(3) million votes at the last european elections.
-one delegate per member party for each share of eight hundred
thousand (800,000) votes of the party in the last national or regional political elections (in the case in which it is not possible to calculate the results of the party in the national elections due to the local electoral system);
-The members of the Presidency ex-officio;
-One delegate per affiliated party;
-The members of the Commission that belong to member parties or who are members of individual title of the EDP;
The Council members who are delegates of the members parties are nominated by the Congress on the proposal of the member parties. The delegates per member party are a minimum of 3 in number and may not exceed 8 in number.
The Council members who are delegates of the affiliated parties, are nominated by Congress based on the suggestion of the affiliated parties. The delegates per affiliated party are a minimum of 3 in number and may not exceed 8 in number.
The parties with the status of observer are invited to the meetings of the Council and send one delegate per party, who does not have the right to vote.
Article 21: Attributions
1. The Council has the most extensive powers for the administration and the management of the association.
It may make the decisions and function in all the subjects necessary or useful for the realization of the goal of the association, with the exception of the powers relevant to the exclusive competency of the congress.
It can mainly, without it having any restrictive enumeration;

-decide on all the operations relative to the social subject;
-prepare and submit any contract, arrive at settlements, support compromises, acquisitions, exchanges, selling of mobile and immobile assets, stipulate mortgages, loans, leases of long duration, accept bequests, grants, donations and transfers, relinquish all actual rights or others.
-receive and retrieve any sum and goodwill deposited or not , open any account at financial institutions, carry out any activity on these accounts and mainly withdraw funds by cheque, bank draft or transfers or other forms of payment, rent safety deposit boxes, pay any sum owed by the association.
2. Moreover, the Council has the powers that were purposely attributed to it by the present statutes.
The Council is responsible for the global coherence of the political action with the aim to carry out the approved program from Congress.
It decides on the rules of adhesion and on the status of observers.
The Council adopts and amends the entire regulations, on the proposal of the President(s).
It temporarily approves the budget and the annual accounting before the ratification of the later at the first useful subsequent Congress.
Proposes the statutory modifications to Congress, once its members have been nominated.
Council represents the association in all judicial and extra judicial acts. Represented by the President(s), it acts as plaintiff or defendant in all the judicial actions and decides whether or not to use recourse.
For the acts that bind the association, other than those of daily management, the Council is represented at least by one special delegate, by the President(s), who need not justify him\her\themselves of his\her\their own powers with regard to third persons.
The President(s) will have the faculty of special delegate.
The members of Council may be revoked at any moment by the Congress with a majority of two-thirds its members present or represented. In the case of revocation, resignation or death of one of them, the Congress must be convocated, if it’s the case, to designate a new member of Council among the candidates suggested by the member party(ies) or by the affiliated party(ies), from which belonged the ex member.
Article 22: Convocations and the execution of meetings
The Council is convocated by the Presidency.
An extraordinary session of Council may be convocated on the request of the simple majority of the member parties of the EDP.
The decisions are made with a simple majority of the present and voting delegates, unless it is otherwise specified by the statutes.
When less than one third of the delegates are present, the Council may, with a simple majority of its present members, convocate a second meeting that must take place at the earliest two weeks later. The quorum is not required for the adopted decisions in a second meeting.

A member of Council may be represented by another member of Council nevertheless, he\she may not possess more than one proxy at a time.
The resolutions are submitted in a register signed by the President of Council and one other of its members, and it is kept in the social office of the association.
III THE PRESIDENCY
Article 23: Composition
The Presidency is composed of:
-The President(s)
-The President(s) of honor
-The Vice-President(s)
-One representative by national delegation of the member of the EDP to the Parliamentary group at the European Parliament.
-The Treasurer
-the Secretary General(s)
-two representatives of European Assemblies chosen by the Council.
The General Secretary(ies) Deputy(ies) are members ex officio of the Presidency without voting right.
The members of the Presidency are elected by Congress for a term of two years, their mandate may be renewed.
Persons who are non-members of the EDP may be called upon to carry out one of the functions of the Presidency specified in these statutes.
Article 24: Mission
The Presidency is, among other things, committed to:
-propose the Secretary General(s) to the vote of Council.
-propose the Treasurer to the vote of Council.
IV THE PRESIDENT
Article 25:
One or more Presidents may be nominated.
His\her\their mandate lasts two years, and is renewable.
Without prejudice of the dispositions of article 20 of the statutes, the President(s)
-represent(s) the party, both internally and externally.
-preside(s) Congress, Council, and the Presidency. In the event of other obligations, the President(s) delegate(s) this job to one of his\her Vice- Presidents.
-The President(s) may create any position necessary for the proper functioning of the association and delegate his\her\their own powers in the framework of his\her\their tasks without this delegation being general.
V THE SECRETARY GENERAL
Article 26:
One or more General Secretaries may be nominated. He\she will act on the instruction of the President(s).
The mandate of the Secretary General is of two years, renewable.
He\she\they supervise(s) the daily activities, and bring(s) into effect the decisions made by the organs of the party.
The Secretary General drafts the order of the day of the meetings of the party organs, decided by the President(s).
He\she\they supervise the meetings, their preparation and the write up of the minutes.
At the beginning of each year, he\she\they draft a report of all their
activities and he\she\they prepare(s) the program for the present year.
He\she\they sign(s) the daily correspondence .
He\she\they may nominate, revoke, substitute all the agents and
employees of the association on the proposal of the Presidency
The Presidency may propose to the Council to nominate other members of the EDP or thirds to the position of Vice-Secretary General.
Item VI: The Treasurer
Article 27:
He is responsible for the daily management of the association with
respect to the communal and national norms in the matter of the financing of the parties.
By daily management, the current affaires are intended and he mainly:
-has sign, in the name of the association, all contracts with the exception of those that involve property alienation or constitution of real rights and those relative to loans.
-collects and receives from the National Bank, of the Belgian Treasury from every public cashier and administration, society or person, every sum or value owed to the association, in the form of capital interests and accessories, what ever may be the motive, retrieve every sum and value given and received, offer receipt in a proper and valid manner in the name of the association, pay in the form of capital, interests and accessories any sum owed by the association,
-has bank or postal accounts opened in the name of the association;
-signs, negotiates, endorses any type of payment, mandates, cheques, drafts, promissory notes, money transfers and other necessary documents, accepts, guarantees every bill, postpones the due date of payments or bills of expired payments;
-establishes and accepts every compensation, accepts and consents every subrogation, retrieves in the name of the association from the post office, from the customs office, from transportation and rail businesses or receives at his\her residence letters, cases, packages, parcels registered and assured mail; has any deposits delivered to him, presents the cover letters, the accompanying stamps and other necessary documents, signs any
document and receipt;
-manages every type of inventory of assets and values pertaining to the association;
-nominates, revokes, dismisses agents and employees of the association, determines their salaries payments, discounts, bonuses, as well as every other condition relative to their admission and their departure;
-In the framework of these functions he represents the association ahead of any public or private administration;
-substitutes one or more representatives in these parties, of their powers that they themselves determine and for the duration that they themselves decide. The Treasurer is in addition, able to bind the association with his signature in the management of the current affairs.

The accounting period ends the thirty first of December of each year.
The Treasurer prepares the balance budget, drafts the annual report relative to the principle activities, the expenses and the revenue of the association; it also establishes the annual accounting of the past social period.
The President(s) propose(s) the budget at the end of each year.
Considering that the Congress reunites only once every two years, Council temporarily approves the accounting, the statement and the budget and submits them for ratification to the first appropriate Congress.
The Presidency may propose to Council to put into place a financial committee, charged to assist the Treasurer in his task.
EPPIII. ORGANS OF THE ASSOCIATION
Article 10
The organs of the association are:
(i) The Presidency
(ii) The Political Assembly
(iii) The Congress.
IV. PRESIDENCY
Article 11
The association is managed by the Presidency, the executive organ. The Presidency is composed of:
(i) the President of the EPP;
(ii) the President of the European Commission, the President of the European Council, the High Representative on Foreign and Security Policy, the President of the European Parliament (to the extent that these persons are affiliated to the EPP);
(iii) the Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament;
(iv) the Honorary President(s);
(v) ten Vice-Presidents;
(vi) the Treasurer; and
(vii) the Secretary General.
Except for the Honorary President(s) who are elected by the Political Assembly, and for the President of the European Commission, the President of the European Council, the High Representative on Foreign and Security Policy, the President of the European Parliament, the President of the Group of the EPP in the European Parliament, who are ex officio members of the Presidency, the members of the Presidency are elected by the Congress by secret ballot and by separate vote, for a renewable term of three years, exception made for the first nomination of the members of the Presidency immediately after the incorporation of the association, which will be carried out in accordance with the transitional provisions.
The Congress elects first the President who, subsequently, proposes to the Congress a Secretary General to be elected. Only representatives of Ordinary and Associated Member Parties are eligible for these functions.
Candidates who obtain a simple majority of the valid votes cast are elected. Abstentions are not considered valid votes.
Candidates for the functions of President, Vice-Presidents and Treasurer must be nominated, in writing, to the Secretariat General, seven days prior to the date of the election. Presidents and Secretaries General are entitled, on behalf of Ordinary and Associated Member Parties, to propose candidates. All Ordinary and Associated Member Parties shall be informed of the names of the candidates not less than three days prior to the elections.
The members of the Presidency may resign at any time, by giving notice to the Presidency of the decision to resign by registered letter. Their mandate is at any time revocable by the Congress.
If a mandate falls vacant, the Political Assembly may, in accordance with the previous paragraphs of this article, elect a replacement. At the following Congress, confirmation of this election is requested and the Congress determines the duration of the term of office. Members of the Presidency may be re-elected.
Members of the Presidency whose terms of office are coming to an end must, before expiry of the term, call a Congress for the purpose of electing new members of the Presidency. If they fail to do so, they are obliged to remain in office until such time as a replacement can be found, without prejudice to their responsibility for any damage caused by their omission.
On the proposal of the President, and in accordance with the requirements of the agenda, the following persons may be invited to attend meetings of the Presidency:
- members of the European Commission who are member of a Member Party
- the President of the EPP Group at the Parliamentary Assemblies of the Council of Europe, the WEU, the OSCE and NATO as well as in the Committee of the Regions

The following persons are permanently invited:
- the Deputy Secretary(ies)-General of the EPP
- The Secretary-General of the EPP Group in the European Parliament.
The EPP President and/or Secretary General can attend, at will, any meetings of any organs of EPP Groups and Associations.
The members of the Presidency are not remunerated for the exercise of their mandate, unless decided otherwise by the Political Assembly.
In case the President would be prevented to fulfil his powers, as attributed to him by these by-laws and the internal regulations, he will delegate one of the Vice-Presidents as his representative.
Article 12
The Presidency has the powers attributed to it by the law, these by-laws and the Internal Regulations. Its competences consist inter alia of:
- ensuring the implementation of decisions taken by the Political Assembly;
- preparing the annual accounts and budget;
- ensuring the permanent political presence of the EPP;
- monitoring the work of the General Secretariat, and more in particular the budget management;
- issuing statements on behalf of the EPP in the framework of its political program further to a decision of the Political Assembly;
- proposing candidates for the function of Deputy Secretary(ies) General to the Political Assembly in agreement with the Secretary General;
- proposing candidates for nomination as Honorary President to the Political Assembly.
Article 13
The members of the Presidency shall meet at least eight times annually, upon convocation by the President, by letter, fax or email at the latest two weeks in advance, unless in case of urgency. The meetings take place on the day and at the time and place stated in the convocation notice. The notice also contains the agenda, which is fixed by the President. The Presidency may only debate the items on the agenda, unless all the members are present and unanimously agree to deliberate and to approve the agenda set at that time.
The Presidency shall validly deliberate if a majority of its members are present.
In case of failure to achieve this quorum, a second meeting shall be convened with the same agenda, which can validly deliberate, regardless of the attendance quorum.
Decisions shall be taken by an absolute majority of the votes cast. All members of the Presidency shall have one vote. In case of a tie, the President has the casting vote.
The meetings are chaired by the President.
The Secretary General or a Deputy Secretary General shall draw up the minutes of the meetings, which shall be kept at the registered office of the association.
Membership of the Presidency is strictly personal. A representative of a member of the Presidency will not be admitted to meetings.
The mandate of the members of the Presidency will automatically expire if, during the course of the year, a member has not participated in at least half of the meetings.
On the proposal of the President, the Presidency may share work between its members or mandate certain members for specific tasks and delegate specific powers to one or more of its members.
Article 14
If the President considers it advisable, the Presidency may approve a proposal by having all members of the Presidency sign for approval a circular setting out the proposal.
In this case, the Presidency is not required to call a meeting. The circular must include the following information:
- a statement that the text is a proposal for a decision of the Presidency;
- a statement that the decision shall only be approved if signed by all the members of the Presidency;
- a statement that the decision may not be amended and that no reservations may be expressed by members of the Presidency;
- a statement that all the members of the Presidency must return the document signed and with the handwritten words “read and approved”;
- a statement that the signed circular must be returned within ten days to the association.
The meetings of the Presidency may also be organized by video- or teleconference.
V. POLITICAL ASSEMBLY
Article 15
The Political Assembly is the strategic organ of the association.
It is composed of:
a. members ex officio:
- members of the Presidency;
- members of the Presidency of the Group of the EPP in the European Parliament;
- Presidents of Ordinary or Associated Member Parties, Member Associations or their mandated representatives;
- Presidents of national delegations of member parties of the Group of the EPP in the European Parliament;
- Members of the Presidency of the European Parliament, of the European Commission and of the Presidency of the Committee of the Regions, provided they belong to an Ordinary Member Party;
- Presidents of the EPP Groups in the Committee of the Regions and in the Parliamentary Assemblies of the Council of Europe, the WEU, the OSCE and NATO, provided that they are member of an Ordinary Member Party or Associate Member Party.
The mandate of these members of the Political Assembly ends when they loose the capacity in which they became member of the Political Assembly.
b. delegated members:
- Representatives of Ordinary Member Parties and Associated Member Parties.
The Ordinary Member Parties and Associated Member Parties shall nominate their delegates together with an equivalent number of substitutes.
The delegates and voting rights of Ordinary Member Parties are assigned proportionally to the number of Individual Members of the association;
The delegates and voting rights of the Associated Member Parties are assigned by the Presidency.
The mandate of these members of the Political Assembly ends when the delegation by which they became member of the Political Assembly comes to an end. The composition of the Political Assembly is calculated by the Secretary General twice in a legislature of the European Parliament (i): at the beginning and (ii) half-way through the European parliament legislature (any delay in these calculations is limited to a maximum of six months). This calculation must be approved by the Political Assembly
c. non voting members
- The deputy Secretary(ies) General of the Association;
- The Secretary General of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, and Secretaries General of the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions and in the parliamentary Assemblies of the Council of Europe, the WEU, the OSCE and NATO;
- Two delegates of each Observer Member Party.
On the proposal of the President, the Political Assembly may invite certain personalities to give advice.
Article 16
The Political Assembly has the powers attributed to it by the law, these by-laws and the Internal Regulations. Its competences consist inter alia of:
- ensuring unity of action by the EPP and influencing the achievement of European policy in the spirit of its program;
- electing the Deputy Secretary(ies) General on the proposal of the Presidency;
- stimulating and organizing systematic relations between national parliamentary groups and member parties in agreement with the Group of the EPP in the European Parliament;
- adopting the annual accounts and the budget;
- deciding on the applications for membership as well as on the recognition of Member Associations;
- deciding on the exclusion of members and revoking the recognition of Member Associations;
- deciding on the amount of annual dues to be paid by the members;
- formulating recommendations to the Congress as to modifications of the by-laws;
- adopting the Internal Regulations;
- electing the Honorary President(s) on the proposal of the Presidency, except for the first Honorary President(s) elected before the first meeting of the Political Assembly in accordance with the transitional provisions;
- appointing the statutory auditor.
The Political Assembly may establish standing commissions and ad hoc working groups to study specific problems, and decide to dissolve them after having heard the president of the commission or working group.
Article 17
On the invitation of the President, the Political Assembly meets at least four times annually, whenever the object or the interest of the association so requires; an extraordinary meeting can be held at the request of either one-third of the Ordinary Member Parties and Associated Member Parties, or of the Presidency of the Group of the EPP in the European Parliament.
The Political Assembly shall validly deliberate if it is convened regularly, i.e. by letter, fax or email at the latest two weeks in advance, unless in case of urgency, and if a majority of its members are present. Failure to achieve this quorum can only be established on the basis of a formal proposal, at the request of the delegations of at least seven Ordinary Member Parties or Associated Member Parties. If a second meeting has been convened with the same agenda, within at least two weeks and at most two months after the establishing of the failure to achieve the quorum, this second meeting can validly deliberate, regardless of the quorum.
The convocation notice sets out the agenda. Meetings are held at the registered office of the association or at the place stated in the notice of the meeting. For an item not listed on the agenda to be validly put to the vote, at least two thirds of members present must consent.
All votes and election procedures shall be made by absolute majority of the members present. In case of a tie, the President has the casting vote.
The meetings are chaired by the President.
The Secretary General or a Deputy Secretary General shall draw up the minutes of the meetings, which shall be kept at the registered office of the association. All members will receive copies of these minutes within four weeks of each meeting.
The Political Assembly normally meets ‘”in camera”. On the request of the Presidency or of one tenth of the delegates, the Political Assembly may decide, by simple majority, to admit the public to the meeting.
VI. CONGRESS
Article 18
The Congress has the following competences:
- deciding on the political program of the EPP;
- deciding on modifications of the by-laws;
- electing the President, Vice-Presidents, the Secretary General and the Treasurer;
- deciding on the dissolution of the association.
The composition and the functioning of the Congress are regulated in the Internal Regulations.
VII. SECRETARY GENERAL
Article 19
Exception made for the first nomination of the Secretary General immediately after the incorporation of the association, which will be carried out in accordance with the transitional provisions, the Congress elects, on the proposal of the President, a Secretary General, in charge of the day-to-day management of the association, including the representation of the association within the limits of the day-to-day management.
NewropeansStatutes:
ARTICLE 6 - ADMINISTRATION:
The administration of Newropeans is established on two main levels:
- the trans-European level, on the one hand, an executive level including in particular the European executive Committee of the network, the European General Assembly of the network and the Newropeans Sector Groups (trans-European);
- the local/regional level made up of the Local Newropeans Networks, bringing together the members and partners of Newropeans at the municipal or local level. This level and that of the Newropeans Sector Groups are simply administrative levels of the organisation.
1) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The association is headed by the Executive Committee of Newropeans. The Executive Committee is made up of at least 35 members (15 during the first year of the association), of at least 15 nationalities of the EU (5 during the first year of the association) of whom at least 20 are full members. Each full member is responsible for one area. Deputy members take part in the debates of the executive committee but do not vote. They become full members as vacancies emerge. If the number of full members goes below 20 due to a number of vacancies greater than the number of deputy members available, a new election of the Executive Committee will have to be held within a six-month period. The Executive Committee is elected for three years by the General Assembly of Newropeans, according to a one-ballot majority poll, with a fixed list. At any time, the Newropeans General Assembly may replace the Executive Committee by a vote of no confidence, favoring an alternate list winning at least 50%+1, with a quorum of at least 60% of the members having voted. The leading candidate of the elected list becomes president of Newropeans and chairs the Executive Committee. The names of the candidates for the positions of Secretary General and of Treasurer should be specified when the lists are introduced for the election of the Executive Committee. Each candidate on the lists should be capable of carrying out the functions required, including the language skills required.
The executive Committee administers either by email or teleconference at the President’s initiative, either by arranging a meeting convened by the President or by request of a quarter of its members. It rules by a simple majority vote; if candidates fail to gain absolute majority, the President’s vote is a casting vote. Any inexcused absence may be considered to be a resignation, to be confirmed by the majority of full members of the executive committee at the President’s initiative. The working languages of the executive Committee are French and English, untranslated.
The President, the Treasurer and the Secretary General constitute the Office of the Executive Committee. The Office is responsible for the day-to-day management of the association. To do this, it has the most extensive executive and financial authority. It is accountable to the Executive Committee.
2) GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The Newropeans General Assembly is made up of all members (physical persons) whose membership with Newropeans is up to date. It also includes representatives of partners (legal entities) of Newropeans according to the terms defined by Newropeans.
It can take a dual form, both physical and virtual, by taking place in the form either of a physical meeting of all members, a virtual meeting of all members, or a physical meeting of some of the members together with a virtual meeting of all members. Voting through Internet is one of the electoral processes used by Newropeans. If the number of members becomes larger 100,000, Newropeans will set up a Representative Assembly, made of representatives elected by members. It will be possible to invest it with the powers of the General Assembly, with the exception of the authority to elect the Executive Committee.
The General Assembly elects a Members’ Commission every three years, which validates the updating of the electoral list of the General Assembly. Communication within the General Assembly will be carried out in the five following languages: English, French, German, Spanish and Polish.
Ordinary meetings: The President of the association convenes the General Assembly at least once a year to provide information about the activities and the management of the association and to submit for approval the ethical and financial reports of the closed year. The President first sends to every member of the assembly the agenda and the resolutions put to the vote. In case of electronic voting, each member has a period of 7 days from the receipt of the email to vote on the resolutions proposed (for/against/abstention). If a member does not respond within seven days, it will be considered to be an abstention. The members that do not have access to the Internet are invited to vote without meeting and have an additional period of seven days to have their vote sent. In the case of a physical meeting, the convening and agenda are sent at least 15 days before the meeting. The President of the association, together with the members of the Office, chairs the General Assembly. The General Assembly rules by a majority of the members present in person or represented, the number of proxies being limited to one per person. The quorum is 40% of the members.
Special meetings: Special meetings are convened either by the Executive Committee or by request of at least 25% of the association’s members, according to the same terms specified in the article above. The quorum is 40% of the members.
Member Charta:

Article 5: The Functioning of Newropeans
Newropeans is a movement that is totally integrated on the European level, without any national-level structures. Its unity of action in the whole of Europe is guaranteed by the trans-European Executive Committee, in the framework of the general guidelines laid down by the general assembly, the Agora:
The Agora brings together the members of Newropeans, all of whom are nationals of one of the member countries of the European Union;
The Executive Committee, elected by a list in the Agora, is made up of members from several nationalities, in conformity with the statutes of Newropeans.
Article 6: Voluntary Nature of Newropeans’ Activities
The activities of Newropeans are based on the principle of volunteering. Members are invited to participate actively in the collective life of the movement through a local or issue specific network (see the list here). The local networks of Newropeans seek to promote the ideas of Newropeans in their town or in their region, by organising events, such as information meetings, conference-debates, educational seminars etc … The trans-European issue specific networks of Newropeans seek to develop and enrich the contents of Newropeans’ political programme. As may be needed, certain members may be given operational or representational functions by the Agora, or the Executive Committee of Newropeans.
Article 7: Supporting Activities for Newropeans
Supporters do not have a right to vote nor do they have access to the members’ Intranet of Newropeans. They may participate, when invited and under certain conditions, in events organised by local or issue specific networks of Newropeans. Supporters receive information by email, or by post on a regular basis.
PPIGeneral Assembly
IX. General Assembly
(1) The General Assembly is the supreme body of Pirate Parties International and is composed of all the Members of that association. The General Assembly shall meet at least once a year.
(2) Extraordinary sessions can be held at the request of one third of the Members or by a decision of the Board.
(3) The General Assembly decides with the majority of the votes, one vote per Member.
(4) Member Organizations are represented at any meeting of the General Assembly by a delegate or delegates not exceeding six from any one Member Organization.
(5) The physical or remote presence of one third of the Ordinary Members shall constitute a quorum.
(6) The General Assembly shall adopt its own rules of procedure.
(7) Meetings of the General Assembly will be announced at least five weeks prior to the meeting. The invitation will be sent out by the Board to all Members and published on the homepage of Pirate Parties International website.
X. Functions of the General Assembly

The functions of the General Assembly are:
a) to consider the policies and standards of the Pirate Movement throughout the world and take such action as shall further the goals of Pirate Parties International,
b) to formulate the general policy of Pirate Parties International,
c) to consider applications for Membership and decide as to the exclusion of Members,
d) to hold elections of the Board, and other committees,
e) to consider reports and recommendations presented by the Board,
f) to consider recommendations brought forward by Member Organizations,
g) to consider proposed amendments to these statutes, and
h) to accept internal regulations for the Pirate Parties International and to exercise other functions resulting from these Statutes.
XIa. Revocation
(1) At any time, a fifth of the Ordinary Members can initiate the revocation of a PPI officer by asking the Court of Arbitration. The Court of Arbitration can reject the revocation request if it is supported by less than a fifth of the Ordinary Members, if an election for the seat took place less than a month ago or will take place within a month, or another revocation process of the same PPI officer is already in progress.
(2)When the request is valid, within seven days the Court of Arbitration warns the Members of the revocation process, and opens an internal consultation of seven days to collect grievances against the concerned PPI officer. The Court of Arbitration then has seven days to send him a synthesis of the grievances.
(3)The PPI officer has seven days to answer. At reception of his answer, or at the end of the time, the Court of Arbitration organizes a postal referendum on the revocation of the PPI officer with the synthesis of the grievances and, if any, his answer. If the revocation is voted, the PPI officer's seat is treated as vacant and this person cannot occupy the same seat until the following General Assembly.
Board
XII. Board
(1) Pirate Parties International is managed by the Board, the executive organ. The members of the Board shall consider the interests of the Pirate movement as a whole and shall neither consider themselves, nor be considered, as representing any particular Member or non-member Organization or region.
(2) The Board and the Alternate Members are elected by the General Assembly at the regular sessions or if an extraordinary session is requested for that purpose.
(3) The Board is composed of:
a) two Co-Chairmen,
b) five Board Members
(4) The Board elects among the Board Members
a) a Treasurer and
b) a Chief of Administration
No Board Member shall fulfil more than one office.
(5) Other positions may be created by the Board.

(6) There shall be four Alternate Members of the Board. If one seat of the Board becomes vacant, one of the Alternate Members shall follow-up according to a list. The position of the Alternate Members on the list shall be determined by approval voting.
(7) Alternate Members following-up on the Board shall have no office, but may be elected into one by a majority vote of the Board.
XIII. Functions of the Board
(1) The functions of the Board are:
a) to act on behalf of the General Assembly between its meetings; to give effect to its decisions, recommendations and policies; and to represent it at international and national events,
b) to promote the Pirate Movement throughout the world by means of visits, correspondence, training courses and other appropriate action,
c) to advise and assist Member Organizations,
d) to recommend the admission of Organizations applying for Membership,
e) to prepare the agenda and procedure of the meetings of the General Assembly, giving consideration to suggestions from Member Organizations, and appoint the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the General Assembly meeting,
f) to appoint the Secretary General of Pirate Parties International, and to appoint his Deputy or Deputies upon a recommendation of the Secretary General; and to supervise the management of the PPI Headquarters,
g) to approve the annual budget and financial statements of the PPI Headquarters,
h) to accept the responsibility for the raising of additional funds, and
i) to exercise other functions resulting from these Statutes.

(2) The Board performs actions according to the decisions of the General Assembly and the spirit of the Pirate Movement.
(3) One natural person named by each Ordinary Member shall be admitted with the right to participate in the Board meetings without the right to vote.
(4) The Board adopts rules of procedure that specify the provisions of internal regulations and voting rules.
(5) One of the Co-Chairmen convenes, opens, suspends, and closes the sessions and meetings and presides over them to ensure the observance of procedure, communicates the points of concern, and informs the Board about absences. In the absence of both of the Co-Chairmen another Member of the Board may be appointed to perform all these functions.
(6) The Board shall meet regularly and not less than once a month. The form of the meeting is free.
(7) The Board meetings are public unless at least one third of the Members of the Board vote in favor of a non-public meeting. The decision to hold a non-public meeting must be justified. Minutes of public meetings have to be published not less than two weeks after the meeting. The Board has to inform the General Assembly on its next meeting on the fact of non-public meetings.
(8) A Board member may resign at any moment. After resignation, death, long term disease or if a Member of the Board does not execute its functions for more than three months, his seat becomes vacant. If the seat has neither become vacant by resignation nor death of the Board Member the remaining Board Members have to declare the seat as vacant by majority vote. The concerned Board Member may appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration within the period of a month. The Court of Arbitration shall pass judgement not later than a month after the appeal was filed. Pending the decision of the Court of Arbitration or until the decision of the Board cannot be appealed anymore the seat shall not be taken by an Alternate Member, but all rights of the concerned Board Member will be suspended.
(9) If the Board has less than three remaining Members, an extraordinary session of the General Assembly has to be held within the next six months, if an ordinary session is not scheduled within this period.
PPI Headquarters
XIV. PPI Headquarters
(2) The PPI Headquarters shall serve as the Secretariat of Pirate Parties International. It shall comprise the Secretary General of the Pirate Parties International and such staff as the Organization may require. The Secretary General shall be appointed by the Board and shall be the chief administrative officer of Pirate Parties International.
(3) The PPI Headquarters shall consist of its international headquarters and any regional offices.
(4) The PPI Headquarters shall be responsible for all administrative and financial matters, and shall report on them and present them for confirmation to the Board at least once a year.
XIVa. Court of Arbitration
(1) The exclusive power to resolve internal disputes shall be vested to the Court of Arbitration. All other organs and officers are required to cooperate with the Court of Arbitration to the extend needed for the proper exercise of its functions.
(2) Complaints may be sent by the organs and officers of the PPI and by the Members. A complaint may be regulated with a fee to be returned if the complaint is reasonable. The complainant may participate in the investigation.
(3) In particular, the Court of Arbitration has the exclusive power to
a) issue a preliminary ruling in an urgent matter of its competence,
b) declare matters of fact when necessary for the functioning of the PPI,
c) decide the disputes between the officers and the organs of the PPI,
d) decide on the restrictions on persons who breach the Statutes and the internal regulations and in these cases degrade an official or declare his further incapability to be elected,
e) decide on the validity of legal acts of the organs of the PPI,
f) decide on the matters of Membership (Art. VII par. 2).
(4) The Court of Arbitration keeps a Register of Mediators. This register lists the name, contact address, and Party affiliation of the people from the Ordinary Members who are willing to help solve the disputes between the Members. All Members may consult this register and choose a Mediator who can help them solve the dispute.
(5) If the mediation fails, the Members or applicants who are in a dispute may present an agreement to the Court of Arbitration, which contains the description of the dispute and their consent to abide by the decision of the Court of Arbitration. The Court of Arbitration will decide the dispute within the limits contained in the agreement.
(6) The Court of Arbitration may answer the preliminary questions of the organs and individuals about the interpretation of the Statutes and the internal regulations; such answers act through their persuasiveness only.
(7) The Court of Arbitration shall have between three and seven Members. The provisions concerning the election of the Members of the Board and vacancies apply accordingly.
(8) A member of the Board cannot be also a member of the Court of Arbitration. In case the results in the General Assembly elections would put the person in position to occupy a seat in both Board and Court of Arbitration, she must immediately relinquish one of the two. In case the person is not able to choose:
- if she already occupied one of the seats before the General Assembly then she relinquishes this position for the new one,
- otherwise it is considered by default that she relinquishes any seat position in the Court of Arbitration.
Jack AllnutsIV - Bodies of the PPEU
Article 14
The bodies of the PPEU shall be as follows:
(1) The Council;
(2) The Congress; and
(3) The Board.
V - Council
Article 15
(1) The Council shall consist of all Members of PPEU.
(2) Each Member shall nominate at least one delegate to represent them at Council meetings.
(3) Chair
(a) The Council shall elect a Chairperson for a renewable fixed term.
(b) The Chairperson's primary responsibility is to chair and draft the agenda for the regular Council meetings.
Article 16
(1) Treasurer
(a) The Council shall elect a Treasurer to the Board for a renewable fixed term.
(2) Other Board Positions
(a) The Council may elect additional members of the Board at its discretion.
(b) Positions created on the Board by the Council by subsection (a) shall be presented to the next Congress for formalisation and addition to these statutes.
Article 17

(1) Regular meetings of Council delegates shall take place online.
(2) The Primary objective of the regular meetings is to discuss common policy and campaign coordination.
Article 18
(1) All Members have the right of expression.
(2) Full Member Parties and Associate Member Parties have the right of initiative.
(3) Full Member Parties and Associate Member Parties shall have one vote each.
(4) Full Member Parties have veto rights over common policy issues only.
VI - Congress
Article 19
(1) The Congress shall consist of all Members of PPEU, all members of the Board, Pirate MEPs and Pirate members of national and regional parliaments and assemblies.
(2) Each participant shall nominate at least one delegate to represent them at the Congress.
Article 20
(1) The Board shall be responsible for organising the Congress.
(2) The Congress shall ordinarily meet once every five years, in the year prior to a European Parliament election.
(3) An extraordinary meeting of Congress may be called by the Council by a simple majority vote.
Article 21
(1) The Congress shall:
(a) Maintain and amend these statutes where necessary;
(b) Set the focus of PPEU for the next electoral cycle; and
© Set the long-term vision for PPEU.
VII - Board
Article 25
(1) The Board shall consist of the Council Chairperson, the Treasurer and further members elected by the Council.
(2) The Chair of the Board may not be the Council Chairperson.
Article 26
(1) The Treasurer shall be responsible for accounting requirements and control of donations, as described in Articles 6 - 10 of Regulation (EC) No 2004/2003 and other relevant legislation.
(2) The Treasurer shall comply as fully as possible with the regulations referred to in section (1) irrespective of whether PPEU is regarded as a political party at European level by the EU.

(3) The Treasurer shall report to the Council once every three months.
Article 27
(1) The Board shall be the executive organ of PPEU.
(2) The Board shall primarily be responsible for the administration of PPEU.
(3) Under the instructions and guidance of the Council and the Congress, the Board shall also be responsible for:
(a) running and coordinating campaigns across Europe;
(b) convening working groups; and
© …
VIII - Policy
Article 28
PPEU shall only develop policy in areas where the EU has been granted competence by its member states except where all Full Member Parties and Associate Member parties agree unanimously.
Article 29
Article 28 notwithstanding, any number of Member Parties can engage in enhanced cooperation regarding common political activities, such as a common election campaign. These activities can take place within PPEU, including the use of its name and logo, subject to the following conditions:
(1) All Member Parties must be informed, though the Council, of the activity and must be welcome to participate if they wish to do so.
(2) The group of Member Parties involved in the activities must not appear to represent the whole PPEU.
(3) The activities shall only be carried out in the countries of the participating Member Parties or, if outside, only with the explicit agreement of the local Member Party.
(4) The use of PPEU's logo or name needs to be approved by a majority of 3/4 in a vote in the Council.
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