Statute of the Insuleur

Chapter one - General elements

Article 1
Creation - Name

A non-profit association with an economic purpose is established, which operates on a pan-European level. The name of the association is "Network of the Insular Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the European Union" and its distinctive title is "_____". The association aims at a close collaboration of the insular Chambers of Europe, with the view to ensure their economic and social development.

Article 2
Nature - Duration

1. The "Network of the Insular Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the European Union" is a legal entity established in accordance with Greek law. Its operation is governed by Greek law.

2. The duration of the Network is set at 50 years. The Network may be dissolved earlier by decision of the General Assembly according to article 26 of the present Statutes.

Article 3
Registered office

The Network has its registered office in Chios (Greece). The present Statutes are registered with the Court of First Instance of Chios. The Executive Directoratet, which carries out the secretarial tasks of the Network, operates at the place where is situated the registered office. The Chairman of the Board of Directors appoints a member of his Office as a link between himself and the Executive Directorate.

Article 4
Objectives

1. The objectives of the Network are:

1. To ensure the collaboration of its members with the view to support the insular regions of the European Union, put an end to isolation, put forward their particularities and formulate propositions for the solution of their problems.
2. To elaborate an integrated policy for the development of their regions and to collaborate closely with European institutions, as well as with governmental and non-governmental organisations, for the realisation of this policy.
3. To encourage initiatives, projects and perspectives concerning the economic development of the island regions of the European Union.
4. To record the specific problems of undertakings in the island regions of the European Union, study them and submit the appropriate propositions.
5. To organise information and research activities with the view to facilitate the realisation of the above objectives.
6. To buy property and to hire things and plants for the purposes of the Network.
7. To carry out any other activity, which may serve the realisation of the above objectives.

2. For the realisation of the above objectives, the Network

• follows the evolution of economic indices of the European Union's island regions,
• carries out polls among undertakings and inhabitants of the island regions,
• introduces projects for the protection of environment,
• undertakes the appropriate action for the increase of employment,
• contributes, in every possible way, to the increase and development of the islands' infrastructure,
• organises meetings with the competent authorities and instances and edits bulletins and studies.

3. The close collaboration of the members of the Network, through the Executive Directorate, is indispensable for the realisation of the above objectives.

Chapter two - Members

Article 5
Ordinary members

As ordinary members of the Network may register the Chambers of Commerce of the European Union, which have island regions within their jurisdiction, as well as Unions of Chambers exclusively engaged in promoting the development of insular regions.

Article 6
Associated and Honorary members, Observers

1. Any legal entity, whose main object consists in the development of the insular regions of the Europe, may register as an associated member.

2. Any natural person, who has already contributed to the realisation of the objectives of the Network, may register as an honorary member.

3. Any natural or legal person, whose main object is the development of insular regions and does not belong to the previous categories, may register as an observer.

Article 7
Registration procedure

1. Every candidate ordinary or associated member submits a request (for registration) to the Executive Directorate of the Network. The request is transmitted to the Board of Directors in order to be approved by the General Assembly.

2. The honorary members as well as the observers, are proclaimed by the General Assembly following proposition of the Board of Directors.

Article 8
Withdrawal procedure

Every member has the right to withdraw from the Network, by means of a written statement, which produces its effects as from its submission to the Executive Secretariat.

Article 9
Rights of the members

1. The ordinary members have the following rights:

1. To elect and be elected at the Board of Directors.
2. To participate, with the right to vote, in the General Assembly and in all other organs of the Network.
3. To be informed about the activities of the Network and to propose, through the General Assembly, ideas and points of view as to the accomplishment of the Network's objectives.

2. The associated and honorary members, as well as the observers, have the following rights:

1. To participate in the General Assembly, without right to vote.
2. To participate in the Committees and Work Groups of the Network for specific purposes.
3. To be informed about the activities of the Network and to express ideas and points of view for the accomplishment of the Network's objectives.

Article 10
Obligations of the members

Ordinary and associated members are under the obligation to pay the annual contribution to the Network as well as any other amount, which will be fixed by the General Assembly. All members must be engaged in the accomplishment of the Network's objectives.

Chapter three - Organs of administration

Article 11
General Assembly

The General Assembly of the members constitutes the highest organ of administration of the Network. It consists of the ordinary members, which have paid their annual contribution. Associated and Honorary members, as well as observers, participate also in the General Assembly.

Article 12
Quorum - Majority

1. The General Assembly is in quorum when at least 50% of the ordinary members, who have paid the annual contribution, are present. In case a quorum is not reached, the General Assembly is convoked one month later, regardless of the number of members having paid the contribution, which are present.

2. Decisions are taken on the simple majority of present members. In case of amendment of the Statutes or dissolution of the Network, a qualified majority of two thirds of the present members is required.

Article 13
Time and place of meetings

The General meeting is held once per year, upon convocation of the Board of Directors. The meeting is held at a place set by the previous General Assembly. The Board of Directors determines the matters of the agenda. At the beginning of the meeting, the General Assembly elects its Chairman and its Secretary among its members. After the meeting, a par-European conference may be organised on a topical subject to be determined by the Board of Directors.

Article 14
Powers

The General Assembly has the power:

1. To adopt decisions concerning the general policy of the Network and the strategy to be followed, and to elaborate the plan of action.
2. To elect, every 2 years, the Chairman and the members of the Board of Directors, separately for each post.
3. To approve the creation of Committees and Work Groups and to appoint their Chairman.
4. To approve the budget and the annual financial statement, as submitted by the Board of Directors to the General Assembly.
5. To determine the amount of the annual contributions of its members as well as the amount and time of payment of the extraordinary contributions.
6. To determine the time and place for the holding of the next General meeting.
7. To approve any amendment of the present Statutes.
8. To decide on the dissolution of the Network and the liquidation of its property.
9. To transfer a part of its powers to the Board of Directors, provided that such transfer is compatible with the nature of the said powers.
10. To decide the liquidation of the property and the appointment of the liquidators.

Article 15
Board of Directors

1.The Board of Directors is composed of 7 members, i.e. the Chairman, four Vice-Chairmans, as well as two other members, one of them will be the Economic Supervisor (Treasurer) , and the other responsible for the Administration of the Network (General Secretary). All the members of the Board of Directors must be of different nationalities. In case this is not possible, it is allowed to elect only two members having the same nationality.

2. The Board of Directors follows the application of the decisions of the General Assembly and it settles all issues arising between General meetings.

3. The members of the Board of Directors may be re-elected only for one term. They do not receive any compensation or remuneration.

Article 16
Time and place of meetings

The Board of Directors meets whenever this is necessary, upon convocation of its Chairman, at a place set by the latter, following arrangements with the Executive Directorate.

Article 17
Quorum and majority

The Board of Directors is in quorum when at least four of its members are present. The decisions are taken with an absolute majority of the members which are present. In case of equality of votes, the Chairman's vote prevails.

Article 18
Authority of the members of the Board of Directors

The Chairman of the Board of Directors convokes the meetings of the Network's organs, he proposes -following arrangements with the Executive Directorate - the matters of the agenda and he signs the minutes of the meetings. The Vice-Chairmans replace the Chairman in case of absence or impediment. The Treasurer supervises the economic management of the Network and the Secretary-General inspects the Executive Directorate and signs the minutes.

Article 19
Powers of the Board of Directors

The Board has mainly the power:

1. To elaborate and submit to the General Assembly the Network's plan of action.
2. To elaborate and submit an activity report.
3. To control the application of the decisions of the General Assembly by the Executive Directorate.
4. To elaborate and submit to the General Assembly, every year, the financial statement and the budget.
5. To propose the accession of new members or to communicate their withdrawal.
6. To exercise any other authority, which has been entrusted to it by the present Statutes.

Article 20
Representation

The Chairman of the Board of Directors represents the NETWORK before any European, regional or national authority of an administrative, jurisdictional or other character.

Article 21
Executive Directorate

1. The Executive Directorate of the Network operates on a permanent basis at the place, where the Network has its registered offices. It is assigned to the Executive Director under the supervision of the President of the Network, and it receives a compensation for its functional expenses. The amount of the said compensation is approved by the General Assembly upon proposition of the Board of Directors.

2. The Executive Directorate executes the decisions of the General Assembly and of the Board of Directors, it performs the tasks of the Network or any other relevant formalities.

3. The General Assembly adopts the by-laws of the Executive Directorate, upon proposition of the latter.

Chapter four - Other organs

Article 22
Working Groups and Committees

The Work Groups and the Committees are created by a decision of the General Assembly. They are involved in matters requiring specialised knowledge and experience; they carry out studies and formulate propositions. The Chairmen of the Work Groups and Committees are invited to participate in the meetings of the General Assembly. The members of the Network, to which they belong, cover the expenses and remunerations of the members of the Groups.

Article 23
Special advisers

Special advisers may be employed by decision of the Board of Directors, in the framework of certain specialised matters. The said decision of the Board of Directors also determines the contract, which sets the duration of the collaboration and the remunerations.

Chapter five - Economic issues

Article 24
Registration fee - Contributions

The General Assembly fixes the registration fee, the annual contribution of ordinary members, the contribution of associated members, the extraordinary contribution of ordinary members, as well as the acceptance of donations or other grants.

Article 25
Bank accounts

The funds of the Network are deposited in a bank account at its registered office. The Chairman of the Executive Directorate, who informs immediately the Treasurer of the Board of Directors, makes withdrawals. The sum of 50.000 Drs will be deposited for the constitution of the initial capital of the Network. The Network's accounts are controlled by a committee composed of three members, which submits a report to the General Assembly every two years.

Chapter six - Various issues

Article 26
Termination - Dissolution

1. The Network is terminated upon expiration of the period set in the present Statutes.

2. The Network is dissolved upon decision of the General Assembly, which is subject to the qualified majority provided for in article 12 of the present Statutes.

Article 27
Amendment

The present Statutes may be amended only with a decision of the General Assembly, which is subject to the qualified majority provided for in article 12 of the present Statutes.

Article 28
Working languages

The working languages of the sessions of the Network's organs are English and French. As far as meetings of the General Assembly are concerned, the language of the place, where the specific meeting is held, is added to the working languages. Other languages may also be set as working languages in specific sessions, by decision of the Board of Directors.

Article 29
By-laws

The General Assembly may adopt the by-laws, which govern the internal operation of the Network. The by-laws regulate the operation of institutions, mainly with regard to the accomplishment of the NETWORK's objectives, the registration procedure, the exercise of the members' rights, the procedural rules pertaining to the convocation and the meetings of the General Assembly, the Board of Directors, the Work Groups, the Committees, as well as any other subject whose application, by its nature, requires detailed provisions.

Article 30
Temporary administration

Until the holding of the first elections for the Board of Directors, the temporary administration is assigned to a Committee, representative of the countries participating in the Network. The members of the said committee are appointed at the founding meeting of the General Assembly. During the said period, the Executive Directorate is assigned to the Chambers Group for the Development of Greek Isles (EOAEN).

Article 31
Final provision

Any other issue, which is not specifically regulated in the present Statutes and the by-laws to be adopted, is settled in accordance with Greek legislation on collective organs and the Greek Civil Code provisions.

Chania, 6 May 2000
The founding ordinary members of the Network