The Statutes
European Network of Initiatives for Economical and Social Integration
In short "REIIES"
Non Profit-making International Association
According to Belgian law of 27 June 1921 regarding non-profit making associations, international non-profit making associations and foundations, which has been modified by the law of 2 May 2002 , an international non-profit making Association for international purposes is established, the statutes of which are as follows:
Title I: Denomination and registered office
Article 1: The Association is named "Réseau Européen d' Initiatives d' Intégration Economique et Sociale", in short "REIIES", meaning « European Network of Initiatives for Economical and Social Integration). The association is set up for an indefinite term. The Association is an international non-profit making association governed by the provisions of article 3 of the law of 27 june 1921 regarding the non-profit making associations, the international non-profit making associations and foundations.
Article 2: the Registered Office is established in Belgium, rue de Trazegnies, 41 à 6031 Monceau-sur-Sambre.
Title II. Social aim
Article 3: The Association is a non profit organization it's object is to increase the abilities and knowledge of the network 's members, all acting for the economic and social integration of disadvantaged people and contributing for the development of actions for the development of the third sector and with the philosophy of sustainable development; particular attention is put on collaboration with the native countries of immigrant populations living into the countries of the REIIES' members. It aims at putting in place a cooperation among the members as described in article 4. Another goal is to ease and promote the knowledge of the aims of European policy, the experience, the tools and services towards territories and organizations in the candidate countries and the accession countries.
The REIIES, as well as all of its members, implement their actions following these principles:
- To fight against any kind of discrimination
- To promote equality between men and women
- To respect all the principles on which the strategies of sustainable development are funded (principle of integration, principle of rationality, principle of solidarity, principle of participation)
Article 4: To achieve its main goal, the REIIES will:It may lend its services and be involved into any activity similar to its mission. It may also run any operation directly or indirectly linked to its object. It may also create and manage any service or institution sharing the same missions as its own ones.
- promote the communication between its members
- provide time for reflection, brainstorming and debates
- become a recognized interlocutor of the EU authorities to influence the policies linked with the social object as defined in article 3
- make the transnational cooperation of the members easier
- deliver European information to its members
- make the collaboration between members easier, for example by setting up task forces in - charge of specific missions
- help the sharing and exchange of experiences and practices
- discuss, analyse, evaluate and take position regarding policies, initiatives and programs of - the European Union in order to facilitate their implementation for the socially and - economically excluded people, respecting in all cases the legislations, rules and policies - of the European Union
- get published through newsletters, seminars, etc… any question raised inside the REIIES
- establish a permanent system of evaluation and adaptation relating to the functioning of - the REIIES, in line with the norms of quality and ethics as per their development and - implementation
- if needed, promote tools and/or services to the benefit of its members and as per the - requests or needs of any organization sharing the same objectives as the REIIES
- promote entrepreneurial spirit and capabilities and provide help for any initiative leading - to promotion and creation of jobs
Title III. The members
Article 5: The association is made of effective members hereafter named "members" and adherent members, Belgian or foreigners, legal entities having been legally established as per the laws and rules of their country of origin. The number of members is unlimited. It cannot be less than three. Founding members are the first members of the association.
Article 6: Effective members may be only democratic organizations developing local or sub-regional actions for the economical and social integration of populations in difficulty. Only Effective members will have full rights.
Article 7: Adherent members may be organizations or individuals having recognised achievements in a field which is directly linked to the mission of the association, committing themselves to bring their contribution to the development of the association and referring to an ethic which excludes racism, xenophobia or any other kind of discrimination; they must also correspond to the criteria here above mentioned.
Article 8: Prior to any request for membership, the application of a member must be approved by the members of the same country, and then must be sponsored and introduced by one or more members of the same country. If there is no member to sponsor the application, the sponsoring will be done by a member of another country or by the board of directors. Written applications must be addressed by written to the board of directors and submitted for approval to the general assembly. The decision of the General Assembly is irrevocable and does not have to be motivated. The candidate will be informed by ordinary mail.
Article 9: Members may withdraw at any time by sending a letter to the board of directors who will acknowledge receipt of it.
Article 10: The exclusion of a member can only be decided by the general assembly with a majority of two third of the votes expressed by people attending the G.A. or being represented. Members can be excluded who are not respecting the current statutes or who no longer fulfil the conditions of membership particularly those described in article 6, 7 and 12. Before any decision of exclusion, the general assembly must provide an opportunity to hear a representation from the member concerned.
Article 11: Any members dismissed or excluded and its inheritors have no right on the social funds of the association. They cannot claim for any count, inventory or seal.
Title IV. The contributions
Article 12: Members pay a yearly contribution. The amount of this yearly contribution is determined by the general assembly upon proposal of the board of directors. This yearly contribution cannot exceed 1,000 euros p.a.. Should a member not pay its contribution, the board of directors will send an ordinary letter. If within two months of the date of the reminder letter, the member has still not paid, the board of directors may consider this member as dismissed. The B of D will then notify its decision to the member by ordinary letter. The decision of the board of directors is irrevocable. In exceptional cases, the board of directors may propose to the general assembly that an organization becomes or continues as an effective member while being temporarily exempted from the payment of its contribution.
Title V. The functioning of the general assembly
Article 13: The general assembly holds all powers needed to achieve the main goal of the association. The general assembly is made up of all the effective members. The President of the general assembly is the President of the board of directors or, if it is not possible, by another director appointed by the board of directors. The honorary presidency of the GA is given to the organization hosting the general assembly on its territory.
Article 14: The general assembly meets at least twice a year. An extraordinary general assembly may be organised at any time on the decision of the board of directors, at its request or at the request of one fifth of the members.
Article 15: The general assembly is called together by the board of directors and by mean of a postal ordinary letter, or delivered by hand, or by fax, or by E-mail, or any other communication mean at least one month before the date of the assembly. This notification will include the agenda of the day. Any proposal signed by at least one twentieth of the members must be on the agenda.
Article 16: Each member has the right to attend the general assembly. He can be represented by another member presenting a written and signed proxy. Each member may only own one proxy.
Article 17: The principle in the general assembly is one member one vote. Only members having paid their contribution may participate in the vote. Any person having an interest that is against the one of the association is not allowed to participate in the debates and the vote concerning that topic.
Article 18: The general assembly gives decisions independently of the quantity of members attending or being represented at the meeting unless it is differently written in the law or into the present statutes. The resolutions are passed by a simple majority of the votes expressed by the members attending or being represented at the meeting unless it is differently written in the law or into the present statutes.
Article 19: The general assembly can only deliberate on the topics mentioned in the agenda. Exceptionally, a topic not mentioned on the agenda may be deliberated if at least one half of the members are present or represented and that two third of them accept to add this topic on the agenda.
Article 20: The minutes are written by the secretary of the board of directors, or if it is not possible, by another director appointed by the board of directors. They must be signed by the President and one member and are stored in a file in the registered office of the association. Each member is given a copy. Any person expressing a legitimate interest may ask for copies of the minutes signed by the president or another director.
Article 21: In the respect of articles 50 § 3, 55 and 56 of the law of june 27th 1921 concerning the non-profit making associations, any proposal of modification of the statutes or about the dissolution of the association must be required by the board of directors or at least two third of the effective members of the association. The board of directors must inform the members of the association at least one month before the date of the meeting that will decide upon the proposal. This delay is extended to three months if the proposal concerns the dissolution of the association. The general assembly may deliberate only if two third of the members are present or represented. Every decision must be agreed by a majority of at least two thirds. However if that general assembly is not attended by two thirds of the members, a new general assembly will be called as per the same procedure, and it will decide upon the proposal concerned at the same majority of two third of the votes whatever is the quantity of the members present or represented. The general assembly sets up the way of closing down the association. The inheritance resulting from the liquidation of the association will be transferred to another association of the same type and having similar objectives.
Article 22: Any modification of the statutes must be submitted to the Ministry of Justice and published into the Official Belgian Journal. Any modification to the Direction Staff or to the Administration as well as the decision of closing down the association must also be published into the Official Belgian Journal.
Title VI. The powers of the general assembly
Article 23: The general assembly is the sovereign power of the association. It owns the power conferred by the law, the current statutes and the " internal house rules".
The general assembly has the right to:
- modify the statutes
- admit the new members
- exclude a member
- pronounce the voluntary dissolution of the association
- to appoint and dismiss the directors and the auditors
- to approve yearly the accounts and the budget
- to decide to institute legal proceedings about the responsibility of any member or director of the association
Title VII. The Board of Directors
Article 24: The association is managed by a board of directors made up of a minimum of five members all coming from different countries, with a maximum of one director per country. The members of the board of directors are chosen from the existing effective members following a call for nominations; they are appointed by the general assembly by a simple majority of the votes of members present or by proxy. The term of office of a Director is three years. An outgoing director may be re-appointed.
Article 25: The directors assume their task for free. However the costs related to the execution of their mission may be refunded. The function of director or delegated director may be remunerated. In this case, the general assembly will determine the amount allowed for this function.
Article 26: The directors have no personal liability as a result of their office. They are only responsible for the achievement of their mandate.
Article 27: Any director wanting to withdraw must inform by written the board of directors. In case of a vacancy during a mandate, a temporary director may be elected by the general assembly at a majority of two third of the votes. Directors may be dismissed by the general assembly by a majority of two thirds of the votes. Title VIII. The functioning of the board of directors
Article 28: The board appoints a president, a vice-president a secretary and a treasurer within its members. If the president is temporarily absent, his/her functions will be taken over by the vice-president or by the oldest director being present.
Article 29: Members of the board may be represented by another director owning a written and signed proxy. Any director may only have one proxy.
Article 30: The board's decisions are valid only if half of its members are present or represented.
Article 31: The decisions of the board are taken by a majority of the votes of the directors present or represented. In case of equality of votes, the president or the director carrying out his/her function has a casting vote. Any director having an interest being against the one of the association is not allowed to participate to the deliberation and the vote concerning that specific topic. The minutes are stored in a register within the official registered office; they are available for any member of the association.
Article 32: The board of directors is called together by the president, or in case s/he cannot do it, by another director. It must meet at least four times a year. It is called together by ordinary postal mail, by fax, E-mail or any other mean of communication at least one month before the meeting. It must contain the agenda of the meeting. The board may only deliberate about the points written on the agenda. Exception can be made about topics not written on the agenda if two third of the directors present or represented agree.
Title IX. The powers of the board of directors
Article 33: The board of directors has all powers of management and administration with the exception of the ones of the general assembly. It may delegate the day-to-day management to the president or one of the directors or somebody appointed for those duties. It may also delegate, under its own responsibility, special and defined powers to one or more persons.
Article 34: Any act committing the association must be, with exception of special proxies, signed by the president or two directors; those persons do not have to justify that power externally.
Article 35: Legal procedures are under the name of the board of directors, being represented by its president or by a director appointed by the by the president.
Title X. Miscellaneous
Article 36: The fiscal year begins on the 1st of January and ends on the 31st of December. Exception being made for the first fiscal year; it begins on the day of the constitution of the association and ends on the 31st of December.
Article 37: The board is bound to submit, for approval of the GA, the financial accounts of the previous year as well as the forecasted budget for the following year. All what has not been foreseen into those statutes will be settled as per the law of june 27th Title XI. Transitional measures
Article 38: The association is established by the general assembly on this day and appoints as directors:
Mrs Erja Lindberg representing the CUP of Järvenpää - Finland
Mr Antonio Del Valle Lopez representing the MIREC of Charleroi – Belgium
Mr Christian Cauvin representing the MEF of Cherbourg – France
Mr Stefano Zanaboni representing the CESVIP of Piacenza – Italy
Mr Miguel Angel Mejias Arroyo representing the Ayuntamiento of Punta Umbria – Spain
Mr Jako Jaagu representing the Jogeva Maavalitsus County Government – Estonia
Statutes as approved by the founder members.
