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Orginal: German (per the 25^th General Assebly in Graz July 2003)

 

Constitution

Article I         Name

The name of the Association shall be the EUROPEAN UNION OF WOMEN (EUW)

 

Article II        Fundamental principles

The Union – in association with political and civic organisations of the free peoples of Europe, which equally subscribe to the spiritual and moral values that form the basis of Christian principles – stands for the safeguard of human dignity and freedom and the maintenance of the cultural heritage of Europe as well as for social and economic progress safeguarding the rights of the individual.

The Union serves the strengthening of peace on the basis of justice and the free cooperation of the peoples in Europe an in the world.

 

Article III        Aims

The fundamental principles shall be realised through strengthening and deepening of the influence of women on political and civic life in European nations and in European and international organisations.

It is a special responsibility of the Union to establish and increase contacts between women and the free European nations.

 

Article IV      Organisation

The Union shall be an economically and financially independent association with its own constitution and standing orders.

The Union shall be organised in national sections in the free countries of Europe. The official languages of the Union shall be English, French and German.

The Headquarters of the Union shall be in the country of residence of the chairman holding office.

 

Article V       Membership

Sec 1            Composition

The national sections shall be members of the Union. Each country may be represented by one section only. The national sections shall be composed of women who shall be members of political or civic organisations, which support the principles of the Union (Article II).

Only such persons may hold office in the Union.

In case of doubt the Council of the Union shall determine whether the principles of such an organisation are in accordance with Article II, after consultation with the national section concerned (Article IX 3n).

Women in support of its aims may also join the Union by becoming a member of their national section.

Sec 2            Admissions

Applications for admission to the Union shall be submitted with the relevant documentation to the Executive committee and the Political Committee of the Union. After scrutiny it shall be forwarded to the council by the Executive for decision.

The applicant, as well as each national section, shall have the right of appeal to the Council within three month of this decision…. In the event that no appeal is lodged within the said period, the decision of the council on the application shall then come into force….

Sec 3            Admission of Further Organisation (new)

In the case of the intention of a national section to invite a further organisation to join it, the Section should inform the Executive Committee organisation and the Political Commission and forward the necessary documents.

Sec 4            Withdrawal

Members shall have the right to give notice of withdrawal from membership. Such notice shall be at least six months before the end of the year and shall be submitted to the Executive Committee, which shall notify the other national sections.

Sec 5            Expulsion

The Executive committee may, on its own decision or at the request of a national section stating its grounds, propose to the Council the expulsion of a member failing in its obligations. The Council shall decide the issue after hearing the section concerned…. There shall be the right of appeal to the Council….

Sec 6            Further European organisations

a)     EUW is a member of EWA (European Women’s Association)

b)     The elected chairman, the vice-chairman and the treasurer are members of the Steering Committee of EWA,

c)      in addition two further members of the Executive are to be elected by the Executive to be sent to the Steering Committee of EWA,

d)     at least two substitutes may be elected by the Executive to attend the Steering Committee of EWA, if one of the nominated members cannot attend a meeting,

e)     all members nominated for the Steering Committee have to be from different countries.

 

Article VI   Rights  

Sec 1            Rights

National sections may

a)     send representatives to the Council,

b)     appoint specialists to the commissions and to the Constitution and Election Committees and

c)      submit motions to the Council and the Executive Committee, make proposals, state a position and make recommendations.

Sec 2            Duties

National Sections shall uphold the fundamental principles and interests of the Union. They shall endeavour to strengthen and extend its basic aims and shall strive towards their realisation.

National sections shall

a)     act in accordance with the Constitution and Standing Orders and

b)     pay the quota as laid down regularly.

 

 

Article VII      Structure

The structure of the Union shall compose

a)     the Council and

b)     the Executive Committee

 

 

Article VIII     The Council

Sec 1            Composition

a) The Council shall be composed of

-          the Executive Committee

-          three members of each national section, who shall reflect the different political and civic organisations which constitute their national section: substitute delegates may be appointed,

-          the chairmen and vice-chairmen of commissions

-          the representatives of the Union at the Council of Europe and the United Nations.

-          the auditors

b) The General Secretary shall take part in the Council.

c) The following may take part in the Council:

-          the members of commissions

-          members of national sections, in consultation with the hostess section,

-          observers of like-minded organisations and parties not members of a national section.

Where no national section exists in the relevant country, the invitation shall be from the Executive Committee: in other cases the agreement of the existing national section shall be sought before the invitation is sent and

-          specialists on the invitation of the Executive Committee.

 

Sec 2            Meetings

The ordinary Council shall be held at least once every two years in one of the countries of which the national section has extended an invitation at the previous session. The Council shall decide the place and date of its next session by a simple majority.

The Executive committee shall convene the Council in writing at least six months in advance of the appointed date. If properly convened the Council shall be competent in all cases to take decisions unless otherwise provided for in the constitution. Decisions shall be by simple majority. The chairman of the session shall have a casting vote.

Sec 3            Rights

The Council shall be the governing body of the Union. It shall delegate its powers for the period between sessions to the Executive Committee in accordance with the constitution.

 

Sec 4            Functions

The Council shall

a)     receive the report of

-          the chairman

-          the general secretary

-          the chairmen of national sections

-          the chairmen of commissions and committees

-          the treasurer regarding financial report and budget and

-          the representatives of the Council o Europe an the United Nations

b)     grant the treasurer her discharge on the proposal of the auditors and grant the other members of the Executive Committee their discharge.

c)      Consider the resolutions and recommendations submitted and vote thereon

d)     determine the programme of activities

e)     elect the chairman (president), vice-chairman (vice-president) and treasurer of EUW in secret ballot according to Article IX section 2

f)        appoint chairmen and vice-chairmen of commissions, after due consideration of proposals submitted by national sections and commissions and the recommendations of the Executive Committee thereon.

Appropriate consideration shall be given to the allocation of appointments to the commissions between national sections.

Chairman shall on principle be eligible for election up to three times consecutively. Elections for chairmen and vice-chairmen shall be by separate ballot.

g)     Elect, on the proposal of the Executive Committee, the chairman and vice-chairman of the Constitution and Elections Committee.

h)      Elect the auditors

i)        Set up commissions on the proposals of the Executive Committee and, similarly, initiate working in co-operation between different commissions or disband commissions. Such disbanding may only ensue after three months notice to national sections by the general secretary.

j)        Draw up Commission and Finance Standing Orders and decide on proposals for amendments thereto,

k)      Determine amendments to the Constitution

l)        Determine, on appeal, the admission or expulsion of members

m)   Convene the Arbitration Committee in accordance with Article XIII

n)      Consider any proposed amendments to the Constitution in accordance with article XIV

o)     determine questions of membership in accordance with Article V and

p)     Decide on the dissolution of the Union

 

Sec 5            The right to speak and vote

a) - the three delegates from each national section. If a section shall be registered and represented by fewer than three delegates, one extra vote shall be allotted to each delegate present up to a maximum of three votes in all.

-          the chairmen and vice-chairmen of commissions and

-          the members of the Executive Committee with the right to appoint a deputy, which right is entitled only to the national section chairmen.

b) The following shall have the right to speak, but not to vote

-          the representative of the Union at the Council of Europe ant the United Nations

-          the auditors on finance

-          members of commissions on commission work and

-          specialists on matters in their field

Sec 6            Extraordinary Sessions

On the decision of a Council or on the proposal of the Executive Committee or on the written request stating the grounds therefore, submitted to the Executive Committee by one third of the members, an extraordinary Council Meeting shall take place within three months. At least two months notice shall be given. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the preparation of such an Council.

 

Article IX      Executive Committee

Sec 1            Composition

The Executive Committee shall be composed of

                      the chairman (president)

                      the vice-chairmen (vice-president)

                      the treasurer

                      the chairmen of the national sections

The members of the Executive Committee shall consider the interest of the Union as a whole; they shall not therefore represent nor be regarded as representing any particular country or organisation. On the proposition of the chairman, a general secretary shall be appointed. She shall attend all meetings of the Executive Committee in an advisory capacity

Sec 2            Elections to the Executive Committee

Elections to the Executive Committee shall take place every two years in the Council. The following shall be entitled to vote

a)     – the three delegates from each national section. If a section shall be registered and represented by fewer than three delegates, one extra vote shall be allotted to each delegate present up to maximum three votes; notification of additional votes claimed shall be made in writing to the chairman of the Elections Committee.

b)     – the members of the Executive Committee.

Elections for the

a)     chairman (president)

b)     vice-chairman (vice-president)

c)      treasurer

shall take place in at least three secret ballots..one... for each position. In the event of ties a second ballot shall take place.

The treasurer shall be eligible for re-election without limitation of length of service.

The chairman (president) and the vice-chairman (vice-president) shall be eligible for election three times consecutively. Should a vice-chairman be elected to chairman for the first time after two terms, her membership may be prolonged one term.

Sec 3            Meetings

The Executive Committee shall meet at least twice a year. One half of its members shall constitute a quorum.

The chairman of a national-section may appoint a deputy, when she cannot attend a meeting. Decisions shall be taken by simple majority. The chairman shall have a casting vote.

Sec 4            Functions

The Executive Committee shall be primarily responsible for the realisation of the aims of the Union. In particular the committee shall

a)     carry out the Council’s directions.

b)     prepare the themes for the Council and the Union’s programme of work.

c)      support the activities of the national sections

d)     stimulate activity in the commissions and deliberate their findings

e)     consider and forward resolutions submitted

f)        consider proposals for the chairman and vice-chairman of the Constitution and Elections Committees

g)     consider proposals for the chairman and vice-chairman of commissions    submitted by the national sections and commissions and pass these to the Council with recommendations thereon.

h)      Convene the Council, prepare the Agenda of each and chair the meeting and

i)        Ensure the due observance of the Constitution

The Executive Committee shall represent the Union to European and International organisations and authorities.

 

Article X       The Commissions and Committees

Sec 1            Commissions

The commissions study European and world-wide questions taking into account the work of the Council of Europe, the European Union and the United Nations. Standing Orders, drawn up by the Council in accordance with Article VIII. shall apply to the composition and work of the commissions.

Sec 2            Constitution Committee

The Constitution Committee shall consider proposals for amendment to the constitution and to the Standing Orders for the Commission and Finance

a)     Composition

Each national section shall appoint one qualified member. In case of need this member may be replace by a substitute. The Council shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among these members on the nomination of the Executive Committee

b)     Meetings

The Committee shall meet as required. The chairman shall – trough the General Secretary – notify all national sections of each meeting of the committee. The national sections shall have the right to submit proposals to the committee up to one month before the meeting.

The chairman shall, through the General Secretary, report the results to the meeting to the Executive Committee and the national sections.

Sec 3            Elections Committee

a)     The Union shall set up an Elections Committee. Its composition and chairmanship shall be according to that laid down for the Constitution Committee.

b)     The chairman of the Elections Committee shall accept nominations of candidates with supporting statements from the national sections for the Executive Committee and from the Executive Committee for the auditors.

 Substantial nominations, with the written consent of each candidate, shall reach the chairman four months before the Council. She shall immediately circulate the nominations and comments to National Sections six weeks before the Council. In the event of insufficient candidates for vacancies or should a constitutionally nominated candidate be unable to maintain her candidature, further nominations may be submitted to the chairman of the Elections Committee in writing by those entitled to nominate, up to 48 hours before the elections.

The Election Committee shall meet immediately before the Council Meeting. It shall be responsible for checking the mandates of the delegates and for the preparation of the elections, their direction and the counting of votes. No candidate for the Executive Committee may serve on the Elections Committee.

c)  In preparation of a Council meeting in accordance with Article VIII sec 4f concerning the appointment of chairman and vice-chairmen of commissions, the chairman of the Elections committee shall receive substantiated nominations in writing two months before the Council meeting; these shall be submitted by the chairman of the Elections committee to the Executive Committee for comment. It shall then instruct the Elections Committee to submit a schedule of candidatures to the Council.

 

Article XI      Finance

The necessary financial resource shall be obtained through the annual quota of the national sections as determined by the Council and through financial support.

Sec 1            Budget

The treasurer shall submit an annual statement of accounts and budget to the Executive Committee. She shall be instructed by the Committee to submit these to the Council.

Sec 2            Quota

The Council shall, on the proposal of the treasurer, determine the amount of quota to be paid annually by the member of the Union.

Sec 3            Auditors

The auditors shall examine the accuracy, admissibility and good management of the financial affairs of the Union. They shall report to the Council and shall recommend the discharge of the treasurer.

For further details se the Finance Standing Orders.

 

Article XII      Correspondence

The chairman shall be authorised to sign on behalf of the Union. In case of need the vice-chairman may deputise.

 

Article XIII     Arbitration Committee

An Arbitration Committee shall be empanelled in order to resolve difference within the Union. It shall bee composed of three impartial persons, of whom at least two shall be legal experts. Should the need arise these three impartial persons shall be appointed by the Council on the nomination of the Executive Committee. They shall elect the chairman from among their number. Representatives of the contending parties (e g of national sections) may attend the meeting of the Arbitration Committee and represent their interest. The Committee shall make its decision by simple majority. There shall be no right of appeal.

 

Article XIV    Amendments to the Constitution

This Constitution may be amended at a meeting of the Council by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting.

Proposals for amendment may only be considered by the Council if circulated to the national sections by the General Secretary at least six months in advance.

An amendment adopted by the Council shall come into force forthwith.

 

Article XV    Dissolution

The decision to dissolve the Union shall rest with the Council and shall require a two-thirds majority of those present and voting.

In the event of a voluntary dissolution, the assets of the Union shall be divided between the individual national sections in proportion to the funds contributed by them.

In case of force majeur, the funds shall be retained by the country in which they are held and distributed to charitable organisations.

 

16^th General Assembly

Brighton June 1985

Amended 17^th General Assembly

Vienna July 1987

Amended 20^th General Assembly

Dresden August 1995

Amended 25^th General Assembly

Graz July 2003

 

Sidan uppdaterad 27 okt 2005