STATUTE

EUROPEAN FEDERATION FOR FREEDOM OF BELIEF ASSOCIATION

CONSTITUTION


The European Federation for Freedom of Belief Association (FoB) is hereby constituted.

The Association is a free society of culture and information independent from any party;


It reaffirms the freedom of religious, philosophic and spiritual creed;


It aims to the diffusion, the development and the realization of these principles within the European Community and the International Organization;


It protects individuals or associated people from any barrier limiting or discriminating their religious freedom;

It appeals to the States for the removal of any block and for the attainment of pacific and free religious choice.


In the Association perspective, the actual achievement of freedom of religious creed, protecting both believers and non-believers, is a relevant element toward a pacific and universal people alliance.

1. SEAT – DURATION

1. The European Federation for Freedom of Belief (FoB) is an association, of Italian law, inspired to the principles of democratic participation, of solidarity and social promotion, of autonomy and responsibility, and to all the principles the European Union was founded on.

The Association unites and coordinates the affiliated associations that, as time goes, will become part of the federation.

The association is seated in Rome, viale Angelico 38.

With the approval of the Board of Directors, the Association will be able to set up delegations in national and supranational public entities, and to appoint representatives in Italy, in the European Union and abroad. With the approval of the assembly, the seat within the municipality of Rome can be changed without modifying the statute.

The Association’s duration is unlimited, in relation with the permanent nature of its purposes.

2. PURPOSE

2.1. The association adopts the unitary purpose of reuniting into a federation, associations with similar purposes and of actively participating to the creation of a community of civilized societies and States, where freedom of religion and creed is effective and protected within the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of all the human rights. It assumes as a general reference point, Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations’ General Assembly on the 10^th of December 1948 and, in particular, Article 9 of the European Convention of Human Rights signed in Rome on the 4^th of November 1950 (plus 14 additional protocols) and Article 10 of the Chart of the Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Official Journal of the European Union, 30 March 2010, C 83/389. It expressly excludes any and every discrimination against any religion or any new religious or spiritual movement, whether recognized or not, whether having legal personality or not; this applies to any ideology, doctrine, belief or thought relating or referring to the exercise of the right of religious freedom.

2.2. Although the purpose is as universal as the rights of Man, the Association primarily, but not only, addresses the European States and the States that joined and will join the European Union to emphatically assert, both within the communities and systems of the single States and in the inter-relations with each other and with all, the right of religion and creed as a right belonging, both naturally and by positive right, to every single human being, based on the principle of equality, non- discrimination and universality.

2.3. The Association is independent, apolitical, non- denominational and, in keeping with the European Union’s principles, does not go into the substance of the various religions, creeds or spiritual movements and undertakes to grant without any distinction every creed or religion, no matter how extraneous to the religious traditions of the single countries and different from them and, at the same time, grant to everyone the right to change creed or religion or the right to abandon it or not to have one at all. The covenant includes as well the granting of the right of public exercise and of propaganda of the religion or creed.

2.4. The Association is a no profit association and does not divide, not even in an indirect way, profits nor operating surplus. All the capital gains eventually realized shall be exclusively employed toward the achievement of the associative purposes thereby expressed.

3. CORPORATE AIM

3.1. The association, in line with its purpose and with the guidelines of the Union and in keeping with the laws and the recommendations of the Council of Europe, intends to carry out activities aiming to:

a. Create a European net, getting bigger and bigger, of associations, foundations, persons, scholars, whether or not members of religious denominations, wishing to make a commitment to the promotion and creation of a culture, increasingly common and shared, that asserts the respect and the acceptance of religions and beliefs;
b. Get that culture more and more represented in the legal systems and institutions, Public Security included, of the single European States and of the European Union;
c. Monitor the exercise of freedom of religion and creed in the European States and, in particular, in the European Union;
d. Denounce violations of freedom of religion and creed, and discriminations in the European States and in particular in the European Union; and should the violations occur in the European Union, it undertakes to offer advice to the Community institutions and to the European Court of Human Rights;
e. Actively operate, in every legal mean, to bring to an end any violation of freedom of religion and creed and any discrimination in the European States and in particular in the European Union, promoting, where needed, the intervention of the Community justice bodies;
f. Constantly keep the European Community institutions, the public opinion and the media informed on the state of the exercise of the right of freedom of religion and creed in Europe and on its violations;
g. Cooperate with public institutions, associations, foundations and every other entity, including private ones, in every State of the Union, and with the institutions, associations, foundations and Community entities having the same purposes;
h. Carry out any other promotion or pressure activity needed in order to achieve the purposes.

3.2. The association, to the sole aim of reaching its purposes and within their boundaries, will be able to engage in any non-speculative and not-restricted by law operation that is considered appropriate to the achievement of the corporate aim, even including the management of the quarters where the activity is to take place, purchase and sale operations, and exchanging of personal or real property subject to registration; conclusion of contracts, request for loans and granting of pledge or mortgage relating to corporate assets; granting of sureties and/or other corresponding guaranties.
Within the limits of the present statute and of the laws directing every single matter or sector, the association will be as well able to perform any activity instrumental to the realization of its purposes and the achievement of the corporate aim, and to no other end, such as, to make some example:

- Jointly representing all the allied Associations and Foundations;
- Looking for sponsors for specific activities;
- Organizing, including use of videos, congresses, seminars, lectures, and publishing their records;
- Being an observatory on the exercise in Europe of the right of religion and belief, or associating and cooperating with existing observers;
- Creating and running a library and archive related to the corporate aim or associating and cooperating with existing libraries and archives;
- Associating to every project public or private entities or associations, including no profit ones;
- Promoting or establishing foundations or committees;
- Emanating publications, including collective articles;
- Editing monographs, articles and documents;
- Appointing experts and attorneys;
- Utilizing every existing means of communication and digital advertising or any tools that might come into existence to promote its purposes;
- Organizing and running a study centre and a press agency;
- Doing any other activity aiming to the realization of its purposes.

3.3. The association, toward the best realization possible of its purpose, keeps and increases contacts with government’s and Community institutions, no profit associations, entities, communities, societies and firms and with business or performing arts fields, wherever needed, also by the agency of authorized representatives duly selected amongst the partners and officials.

4. MEMBERS

4.1. The Association is an association of both Associations and natural persons. The members are founding members, ordinary members, supporting members and honorary members.

4.2. The Association is composed by the individuals undersigning the deed of incorporation, this statute and in particular the aim.

4.3. Can be ordinary members the European and Community Associations and Foundations that, in keeping with the laws of their own countries, adopt its statute and, in particular, its purpose and target, adopt the name in English with a translation in the language of their country and accompanied by an indication of the State they belong to, and who request membership with the  modalities foreseen for the ordinary members and have their request accepted. Will be taken in consideration in particular those associations that stand out in terms of activities in support of freedom of religion and belief.

4.4. Can be ordinary members of the association individuals who, without any distinction of nationality, citizenship, sex, religion, political views, political affiliation, census, race, financial condition or else, enter into its statute sharing and accepting its purposes, target, methods, ways of implementation and internal organizational dispositions or rules and have their request accepted.

4.5. In no case the acceptance of the request of ordinary membership of the Federation constitutes a right of the candidate. For Associations and Foundations, the request shall be submitted to the Board of Directors and addressed to the Chairman, together with the statute of the Association or Foundation, the organizing board and the statement of the official in charge of the liaison and of the exercise of the membership rights. The request shall contain authorization to the treatment of personal data, both of the collective subject and of the official in charge.

4.6. Any and every statutory modification from the members, Associations and Foundations, shall be communicated in writing to the Chairman of the Federation, attaching copy of the modified statute, the minutes of the modifying Assembly and, if applicable, the new org board. Statutory modifications that, directly or indirectly through the organization, modify the purpose or the target, suspend the Association or Foundation from the status of member of the Federation.

4.7. On what concerns natural persons, the applications as ordinary member, submitted to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, shall include the attachment of a presentation and a summary indication of the person’s curriculum made by at least one member of the Association or Foundation in good standing with the Association, as well as the authorization to the treatment of the applicant’s personal data.

4.8. Acceptance as ordinary member is granted by the Board of Directors acting by a majority of its members present to the meeting, during the first meeting after the submission of the application. The Council has the right to reject any application without motivating its reject.
The acceptance or the reject of the application are communicated to the applicant in writing.

4.9. If the application is accepted, the candidate is required to enroll in the members register and shall pay the joining fee. If the application is rejected, the personal data of the applicant are automatically blocked.

4.10. (Each ordinary member enjoys the membership rights and, in particular, has the individual right to vote and to stand and the right to participate on an equal footing to the Association’s life).

4.10 bis. The enrollment procedure of the supporting member takes place digitally through the compilation, subscription and transmission of the application form present on the website of the Association. The compilation, besides all personal data of the applicant, must also indicate  the e-mail where the member can receive social communications. The application contains the authorization to the treatment of personal data for associative purposes. Along with the request of association a membership fee is paid with on-line  payment (through PayPal or other suitable instrument to execute on-line transactions) or through a bank wire (the bank parameters are indicated in the website).
The enrollment is automatic and a confirmation from the Association is not needed.
The supporting members cannot be elected as members of the Association bodies and have not right to vote.

4.10 ter. People resident in countries where there are no legislations aimed at protecting freedom of religion, can enroll as supporting members without having to pay a membership fee.

4.10 quarter. The Board of Directors in the next meeting may revoke the registration of the supporting member and in such a case the revocation will be communicated in writing by digital communication. The name will be cancelled from the members book and the amount of the fee paid will be returned. The personal data of the member will be automatically blocked.

4.11. Associations or Foundations with ordinary or supporting memberships cannot be corporate bodies of the Association.

4.12. Membership Associations or Foundations, without prejudice to the statutory agreements, are each independent and autonomous.

5. REMUNERATIONS AND REIMBURSEMENTS

5.1. The Association is based on voluntary work. No office is remunerated and the activity of the member -- whether Association, Foundation o natural person -- for services rendered to the Association, is freely given.

5.2. The Board of Directors has the right to establish a fee only for those members (natural persons) agreeing to devote themselves to the Association continuously on a full time basis, or at least on a half-day basis. The fee shall not constitute consideration and, while taking into account the nature of the service rendered and the strong commitment, shall not exceed the limit established in Italy for the ONLUS (non-profit organizations).

5.3. The Board directs the reimbursement of the costs incurred by members during the execution of any activity on behalf of the Federation, and may directs the reimbursement of costs advanced by a member only where it considers them urgent and afforded in the interest of the Association.

6. FORFEITURE OF MEMBERSHIP, DEBARMENT, RENOUNCEMENT

6.1. The membership is forfeited if a member, urged by the Chairman of the Board of Directors to do so,

- does not, within fifteen days from the warning,
disburse corporate fees or pay back debts incurred with the Association or with other members for reasons related to the Association;

and, if an ordinary member:
- does not participate to the associative life;
- does not participate to the assemblies without a valid reason.

6.2. Both the ordinary and the supporting member is debarred, if

a) in the case of an Association and Foundation:
- modifies the purpose and the target;
- does not conform with the internal rules of the Association;
- does not accept provisions, directives, resolutions duly issued by the corporate bodies;
- hinders, makes arduous or difficult or impedes the management and the activity of the Association;
- sets up lobbies, movements or internal groups;
- hinders or impedes the achievement of the purposes of the Association;
- damages the properties and the activities of the Association;
- does not conform in its public or private activity to the purposes of the Association;
- does not provide as stipulated in point c) below;

b) in the case of a natural person
- disavows the purpose of the Federation;
- subject to the final opinion of the Directors Committee, is subjected to criminal or administrative proceedings for crimes not compatible with the purpose of the Association;
- does not conform with the internal rules of the Association;
- does not accept provisions, directives, resolutions duly issued by the corporate bodies;
- hinders, makes arduous or difficult or impedes the management and the activity of the Association;
- sets up lobbies, movements or internal groups;
- hinder or impedes the achievement of the purposes of the Association;
- damages the properties and the activities of the Association;
- does not conform in his public or private activity with the purposes of the Association:

c) in the case where the reasons for personal debarment are integrated by the representative of the Membership Association or Foundation, the Association or Foundation he/she represents shall at once see to his/her replacement

6.3. The forfeiture and/or the debarment as a member are adjudicated by the Board of Directors, based on a motivated report by the Chairman of the Board, with a majority of two thirds of the members present to the meeting. Before adjudicating the debarment, the Board of Directors invites the member to submit his/her observations. The member, via the representative in the case of Association or Foundation, may require to be listened to in a hearing before the Board. The adjudication shall be briefly motivated. Wherever the Board adjudicates forfeiture and/or debarment, it shall order the member’s cancellation from the register of members. The adjudication shall be communicated in writing. All the communications to the member shall be sent by registered letter to the member’s address as given in the register of members, or as otherwise communicated to the Association by the member by registered letter addressed to the Chairman. The communications may also be sent using different equivalent forms (such as fax or e-mail) granting that the communication has been received by the addressee or has been made available to him/her.

6.4. In case of forfeiture or debarment, all personal data of the member shall automatically be blocked.

6.5. Forfeiture and/or debarment do not prevent the resubmission of the application as a member whenever the reasons for forfeiture or debarment cease to exist.

6.6. Anyone enrolled can withdraw at any time from the association, by means of written communication addressed to the Chairman of the Board of Directors without the need to furnish a motivation.

6.7. Forfeited, barred or withdrawn members have no right in regard to the Association and its property, nor have any right to the reimbursement of the membership fee disposed of. On the contrary, they retain an obligation for debts incurred with the Association or with members of the Association due to corporate reasons and must pay the membership fee for the year during which the reason for cessation of the membership took place.

7. HONORARY MEMBER

The assembly can assign the title of honorary member to anyone who, with particular reference to the area of activity of the association, revealed particular merits in regard with the purposes and the target of the Association. The title of honorary member does not attribute any membership right nor obligation, aside from the fact of being indicated as honorary member and being able to wear the title. The honorary member may be invited to participate to lectures, seminars, congresses as well as to any other public activity of the Association.

8. ASSOCIATION’S BODIES

The association’s bodies are:

a) the assembly of ordinary members;
b) the Board of Directors;
c) the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Deputy Chairman, the Secretary, the Treasurer;
d) the College of Arbitrators where constituted;
e) the auditor.

9 ASSEMBLY

9.1. The assembly is composed by all the ordinary members. It is convened by the Chairman of the Board of Directors every time this appears needed and appropriate. It can also be convened upon request of two Councilors or of the 10% of the members. It must be convened within 15 days from the request. In case the Chairman and/or the Deputy Chairman are absent or inactive, the Assembly is convened by the eldest Councilor.

9.2. The notice of the convocation must be communicated to the ordinary members at least ten days before the day established for the meeting, and must contain the order of the day, specifying the questions the Assembly is to deliberate on, the day, the date, the hour and the place and the same data for an eventual second meeting.

9.3. The communication shall be sent by registered letter or by any other system of written communication, including digital communication that would allow ensuring that it was received by the addressee or has been made available to him/her.

9.4. The assembly of members shall meet at least once a year for the approval of the accounting records.

9.5. The assembly may happen, and usually will happen, in part or in full in videoconference.

9.6. The duties of the assembly are:

a) Issuing general directives on the activities of the Association and/or modifying them within the limits of the purpose and corporate target;
b) Approving possible statutory modifications and transfer of the seats also outside the municipality of Rome or the opening of branches;
c) Approving the balance or the accounting or the past and future income statement;
d) Discussing and approving the annual program laid down by the Board of Directors;
e) Approving internal regulations proposed by the Board of Directors;
f) Appointing and recalling the members of the Board of Directors, (eventually of the College of the Advisors) and of the financial control body and establishing the numeric composition of the Board of Directors;
g) Based on the Board recommendation, establishing the amount of the joining fee and of the yearly membership fee;
h) Deciding on the winding up or dissolution of the Association and on the devolution of the corporate assets according to the statutory determination or to law;
i) Any other decisions on matters submitted by the Board;
l) Any other decision in order to achieve the purposes of the Association;

9.7. The financial reports and/or the budgets and the final balances shall be kept within the seat of the association and shall be available to the members at least ten days before the assembly. Members with residence abroad can request them to be sent via computer.

9.8. The registration fee and the annual fee currently amounts to 50 € (fifty euro).

10. DELIBERATIONS OF THE ASSEMBLY

10.1. The first call assembly is valid if the members present are the half plus one of the total members, the second call assembly is valid whatever the number of members present may be. The second call may happen even in the day after the first call.

10.2. The deliberations are based on the majority of the members present.

10.3. The deliberations related to the winding up and the appointment of the adjustors or to the dissolution and to the devolution of the corporate assets of the association, require the presence and the favorable vote of two thirds of the members.

10.4. The nature of Federation, the purpose and the target cannot be the object of assembly’s deliberation and, in keeping with the law, can only be modified with the agreement of all the members.

10.5. The assembly is chaired by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or in his absence by the Deputy Chairman and/or by the eldest Councilor. The Chairman can name as secretary any association’s member even if not a member of the Board. The Chairman verifies the quorum. Each member cannot have more than two proxies from other members. The proxies must be in writing. The Chairman verifies that they are correct and states so. The proxies must be indicated in the minutes of the Assembly, be attached to them and the attachment kept. The Assembly may occur in full or in part by videoconference.
The vote is by show of hands. It can also happen on long distance (by videoconference) or in writing, as long as the traceability is possible and the exact will of the voting member can be determined. Votes in writing must be attached to the minutes and the attachment kept.
Should the assembly so decide, other forms of vote could be adopted, as long as they afford the same level of security.
Secret vote is not allowed.

10.6. The minutes of the Assembly can be also compiled at a later point using documentation and notes. The minutes are signed by the Chairman and by the secretary of the Assembly, and are entered with all the attachments in the Minute Book of the Assembly, kept and cared for by the Secretary of the Board of Directors.

11. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

11.1. The Association is run by a Board of Directors elected by the Assembly amongst the various ordinary members or representatives of the Associations or Foundations. The Board can also, in corporate acts and correspondence, be referred to as the Executive Council. The Board is composed of a number of members that goes from five to eleven. The first Board of Directors is appointed in the articles of association.

11.2. The Board of Directors, in the first call, elects by an absolute majority, the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman, the secretary and the treasurer. The treasurer can be any association’s member even if not member of the Board.

11.3. The Board meets, also in video conference, each time the Chairman or the Secretary, in agreement with the Chairman, considers this necessary or adequate and at least once every four months.
The meetings are valid if half of the members plus one are present, this including the Chairman.
The deliberations are by simple majority, with the exception of the provision in paragraph 2 of this article.
In the event of a tie, the vote of the Chairman shall establish the majority.

11.4. The Board of Directors duties are:

a) Organizing the activity of the Association
b) Directing the deliberations of the assembly and drawing up the yearly program to be submitted to the assembly for annual approval;
c) Directing the reports on activities done to be submitted to the assembly;
d) Drawing up the annual budget or the past and future income statement;
e) Deliberating on the acceptance of legacies, donations, oblations and various contributions;
f) Submitting to the assembly for approval the internal regulation or modifications of the statute;
g) Other deliberations not reserved to specific bodies of the association;
h) Buying, selling and exchanging real estate or personal properties subject to registration;
i) Negotiating loans and granting pledges or mortgages in relation to the corporate assets;
l) Granting sureties and equivalent guarantees.
m) Proposing the amount of joining fees and yearly fees;
n) Declaring the forfeiture or debarment of a member;
o) Starting representations or appointing delegates;
p) Appointing special agents for single projects or activities and granting them the due powers;
q) Selecting professionals outside the Association and selecting credit institutions and bank contracts;
r) Establishing the maximum cash amount allowed to the treasurer for urgent payments and for small day to day needs;
s) Granting the organizational, financial and administrative transparency of the Association;
t) Appointing the persons in charge of the Press Agency, of the archives and of the study centre;
u) Taking any other action and making any other deliberation in order to achieve the purposes and the target of the Association, in keeping with this statute.

11.5. The Board has the right to, temporarily or permanently, delegate some of its powers to a Councilor, should this seem advisable in the interest of the Association.

11.6. The Board can, for specific analysis, research, activities or phase of activity, appoint a s
Scientific Committee.

11.7. The minutes of the Board meetings are kept and signed by all the members present.

12. DURATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

12.1. The office of the members of the Board of Directors lasts three years and the members can be re-elected. Should a Councilor cease to be present, during the current office of the body, the Chairman of the Board shall at once convene the Assembly requesting an order of the day calling for the appointment of the replacing Councilor.

12.2. After three years, the members of the Board, including any councilor appointed to replace another, during the first meeting of the next Assembly, and in any case during the usual annual meeting for approval of the next income statement, shall give in their resignation and the Order of the Day shall automatically include in the deliberations to be made, “the acceptance of the Board’s resignation and the appointment of a new Board”.

13. ADVISORY COUNCIL

The Board of Directors can appoint an Advisory Council. The Advisory Council is formed by national, European or international individuals, including non-members, who are recognized and appreciated for their activities in the field of civil and social rights and, in particular, in the promotion and defense of freedom of religion and belief. Their appointment will be made by acceptance of the invitation by the Board and will be recorded in a special register kept by the Secretary. The Advisory Council will be organizing itself without any formality whatsoever. The Board of Directors will seek the advice of the Advisory Board on any matter in which it deems appropriate questioning and in any case those that relate to the guidelines or policies of the Association. The opinion is not binding, but the Board of Directors will evaluate it and take it into account. Minor issues can also be requested to individual members of the Advisory Council according to their specific skills and qualities. All activities of the Advisory Council will take place by computer.

14. POWERS AND DUTIES - CHAIRMAN – DEPUTY CHAIRMAN – SECRETARY – TREASURER

Chairman

14.1. The Chairman acts as the representative of the association, including legal representation. The Chairman chairs and convenes the assembly and the Board of Directors, signs their minutes and is responsible to enforce the deliberations of the above bodies, ensuring the smooth and coordinated running of the Association and its activities.

Deputy Chairman

14.2. The Deputy Chairman substitutes the Chairman in case of his absence or impediment. When he does so, he has the same powers as the Chairman would have.

14.3. In case of impediment or absence or forfeiture of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, they are replaced by the eldest Councilor.

Secretary and Treasurer

14.4. The control and administrative management of the Association are competence of the Secretary and of the Treasurer.  It is also the competence of the Secretary and of the Treasurer the negotiation of non digital payment orders, being understood that for the amount exceeding the 500 euro amount a double authorization is mandatory while for the utilization of digital payments they can proceed individually.
They keep the relationships with the professionals of the Association, with the institutions and with third parties.

Treasurer

14.5. The Secretary attends the meeting of the Board of Director in this capacity and he compiles the minutes.

His specific task is to furnish reports on all the ongoing activities to all the Membership Associations and Foundations. He oversees the compilation of the balance or of the future income statement, following the instructions of the Board of Directors and of the Chairman.

He sees to the compilation of the past income statement or the annual financial report, to be submitted for approval to the Board of Directors to then be submitted to the Assembly of delegates.
He sees that the corporate accounting is kept up to date in the ways established by the Board and according to the directives and legal rules currently in effect, and sees to regular and orderly bookkeeping.
He takes care of the archives of the Association, recording the incoming and outgoing mail and every other act or document.

He keeps the book of members up to date, seeing to the recording of new members or of the forfeiture or debarment of former members.

He compiles the minutes of the Board’s meetings, writes up the ones relating to the general assembly of the members, and ensures that the last ones are signed by the chairman and the secretary of the assembly.

As delegated by the Chairman, he signs the correspondence and the documents.

He maintains the relationships with external professionals, keeps abreast of reference legislation and reports on it to the Board.

14.6. The treasurer is responsible for the management of amounts of money related to the association that he collected or were entrusted to him, and he is supposed to present the accounts each time the Chairman or a member of the Board of Directors so requests.

He makes sure that the cash book and other financial records relating to the entire movement are duly kept.

He is supposed to deposit any amounts he collects to the credit institute named by the Board and on bank accounts belonging to the Association. The treasurer has absolutely no right to pick up any money from the bank and cannot make payments nor collections without standard cash warrants or orders for payment, by the Secretary. The amounts needed for the payments shall be gotten through checks from a checking account or a postal account and the checks shall carry the joint signature of two persons selected amongst the following: Chairman, Deputy Chairman, treasurer, secretary.
 The joint signature shall not be necessary for payments via computer.

When requested, the treasurer submits to the Board the updated liquid assets. He has the right to keep an amount fixed by the Board of Directors to be used for eventual urgent payments and to deal with day to day small expenses.


15. BOARD OF ARBITRATORS

15.1. During its first meeting the Assembly can appoint three Arbitrators selected amongst members with a particular moral authority. The Arbitrators appoint their own Chairman. The Board is in office for three years and its members can be re-elected.

15.2. The Board of the Arbitrators, wherever created, has the purpose of settling such conflicts as might arise amongst members and between members and the Association for reasons related to the corporate relationship. Every member can file a written appeal with the Board, motivating his/her recourse and notifying in the same way the opposing member or Association; the notification is addressed to the in charge or delegate. The Board shall convene the parties as soon as possible for a hearing. The Board, after attempting a possible settlement, shall deliberate without any formality on the matter in discussion, and shall communicate its deliberation in writing to both parties. The Board decisions are final, and the members and the Federation pledge to follow them.

16. AUDITOR

16.1. The Assembly appoints a qualified professional as an auditor, to be selected amongst members or non members, who shall be responsible for the audit of the corporate accounts.

16.2. The auditor is in office until recalled and regularly reports to the Board of Directors as well as, in regard with the presentation of the balance or of the income statement, to the Assembly.

16.3. The Assembly can, instead of an auditor, name an accountancy firm.

17. ASSOCIATION’S INCOME

17.1. The costs required to the running of the association are covered using the following income:

a) the Association’s joining fees;
b) the usual yearly fees of the members;
c) income from possible legacies and donations;
d) after examination from the Board of absence of conflicts of interest, from contributions from States, public o private entities, institutions, associations, foundations or committees;
e) contributions for the publication of acts, magazine subscriptions, promotions;
f) eventual financings from Europe;
h) any other income.

17.2. All income and assets donated or acquired during the Association’s life shall constitute the association’s capital, non redeemable according to Article 37 of the civil code.

17.3. The financial year is coincident with the calendar year and ends on the 31.12 of each year.

18. DISSOLUTION

18.1. In case the activity should cease, due to the provisions of the civil Code or to deliberation of the Assembly of the members, the dissolution would be decided by the Assembly that would appoint, selecting them amongst the members, one or more adjustors and determine their powers. The office of the adjustor is freely given.

18.2. In case of dissolution of the association, all its capital shall be devolved to other national or European state associations with similar purposes and activities, or in any case to public and private entities with similar purposes.

19. FACULTATIVE CLAUSE

19.1. Wherever the Board of Arbitrators is not in existence, the Federation, the Associations, the Foundations and the natural persons are to refer any conflict arisen, or that might arise amongst them, to the Arbitration College in order for them to be amicably settled.

19.2. In all cases, the matter is of exclusive competence of the legal authority, the Law Courts of Rome (Foro di Roma) and of the Italian legislation.

20. LANGUAGE – ORIGINAL

This statute is available also in the English and French versions. The original version has been compiled in Italian.

°°°

Any question not covered in this statute, is to be handled with reference to the laws and regulations of the European Union and of the Italian State concerning specific matters.