Articles of Association of SFP-Europa asbl

1. The non-profit association is named "Syndicat de la Fonction Publique - Europa", hereinafter referred to in abbreviated form as "SFP-Europa". The names in English and German are respectively: "Union for Civil Services - Europa" (SFP-Europa) and "Gewerkschaft Öffentlicher Dienst - Europa" (SFP-Europa).
2. The purpose of SFP-Europa is to promote and animate trade union action at international and European level, in particular within European institutions and bodies.
3. SFP-Europa may associate with other trade union organisations and welcome them into its ranks.
4. SFP-Europa may establish sections by organisation, institution or geographical location.
5. In these articles of association, the titles of functions apply to both masculine and feminine, with due attention to gender parity.

The registered office of the SFP-Europa asbl is established in the Brussels-Capital Region, in the judicial district of Brussels, in the premises of the European Parliament, Rue Wiertz, 60, B-1047 Brussels – Belgium.

1. The statutory aim of SFP-Europa is to promote, defend and safeguard the interests and rights of its members and the staff of international and European institutions.
2. SFP-Europa carries out, in particular, the following activities:
   1. representing its members and staff in their relations and negotiations or consultations with their institution;
   2. conducting negotiations, taking initiatives and carrying out all actions in the interest of and on behalf of its members;
   3. organising conferences and seminars in the interest of its members or staff;
   4. collecting, preparing and distributing information of interest to its members and all staff.
3. SFP-Europa carries out its activities in full independence.
4. Furthermore, in order to finance the pursuit of its non-profit aim, SFP-Europa may incidentally carry out acts of a commercial or financial nature.

1. Where sections are established, a section is the basic body responsible for promoting and animating trade union action within one or more relevant organisations, institutions or geographical locations.
2. It operates within the framework of its own internal rules in conformity with these articles of association.

1. Affiliation to SFP-Europa is open to any person employed or formerly employed by a European or international organisation or institution who accepts these articles of association and the internal and financial regulations.
2. Membership is acquired voluntarily by submitting a membership form and paying a subscription. The governing body must give reasons for any refusal of admission.
3. The number of members is not limited.
4. Decisions of the general assembly must be respected in relations with members and any associates.

1. Every member has the right to request that a matter of interest to staff or to themselves be analysed by the governing body, provided it is compatible with the aims and activities set out in Article 3.
2. Members are required to protect and promote the interests of SFP-Europa and to comply with the resolutions adopted by the general assembly.
3. Members are required to notify the President of any change of email address, institution or administrative status.

1. Membership is lost by resignation notified to the President.
2. A member may be excluded from SFP-Europa on grounds of serious and wilful obstruction of the union's aims or of wrongful acts prejudicial to the union.
3. Such exclusion is submitted by the governing body to the general assembly, which decides by a two-thirds majority of those present.
4. A member in arrears with subscriptions has neither the right to vote at the general assembly nor the right to support from SFP-Europa. After two reminders from the treasurer, they are considered to have resigned.

In accordance with the provisions of the Code of Companies and Associations (CCA), the executive bodies of SFP-Europa are:

1. the general assembly of members;
2. the group of full members, known within SFP-Europa as the "executive committee" (COMEX);
3. the governing body, known within SFP-Europa as the "bureau of the executive committee" or "bureau".

1. The general assembly is the sovereign body of SFP-Europa.
2. It is composed of all members in good standing with their subscriptions.
3. It meets on convocation, by electronic means, from the President:
   1. as an ordinary general assembly, at least once a year, no later than 30 May;
   2. as an extraordinary general assembly when the governing body or the executive committee deems it necessary, or upon the written request of at least 30 members.
4. The general assembly is held by videoconference, avoiding periods of parliamentary sessions, annual leave and office closures.
5. The general assembly is chaired by the president or, if unavailable, by a vice-president or a full member designated by the governing body.
6. Once the presence of half of the full members is established, the general assembly deliberates and decides validly regardless of the number of those present.
7. Votes are taken by show of hands; however, if at least one third of the members present or the president so requests, a written procedure shall be used.
8. Decisions are taken by simple majority; in the event of a tie, the president's vote is decisive.
9. The general assembly votes on, among other things:
   1. the election of members to constitute the executive committee (COMEX) and the governing body;
   2. the definition of trade union policy guidelines;
   3. the examination and adoption of activity and financial reports, and the discharge of the governing body;
   4. the fixing of the amount of monthly subscriptions, up to a maximum of €50;
   5. the approval of the internal regulations and the financial regulations.

1. The group of full members elected by the general assembly is composed of a minimum of 7 and a maximum of 15 members, with due attention to gender equality and equitable distribution between locations.
2. The mandate of full members is 2 years, renewable.
3. Any affiliated member may, at any time and on the basis of a statement of motivation, submit a candidacy to the governing body to join the group of full members.
4. The governing body takes its decision within 60 days, communicates its decision to the applicant and to the group, gives reasons for any rejection, and places the matter on the agenda of the next general assembly.
5. A register containing the up-to-date list of full members is kept at the registered office.

1. The COMEX is composed of, among others, deputy political secretaries, deputy treasurers, delegates and implicitly members.
2. The executive committee meets at least 4 times a year; meetings are convened by the political secretary at the request of the president or of at least one third of the members of the executive committee, on the basis of an agenda distributed at least three days before the scheduled date.
3. In urgent matters, extraordinary meetings may be held within 24 hours.
4. Meetings are held in hybrid format, with care taken to alternate between workplaces.
5. The quorum required for deliberations is at least one third of the members present.
6. Decisions are taken by a majority of votes cast; in the event of a tie, the vote of the chair of the meeting is decisive.
7. Meetings are recorded in minutes kept in a register by the Political Secretary and available for inspection by members.
8. In the event of unjustified absence from 3 consecutive meetings, the member may be dismissed by the governing body after being asked to provide justification.
9. The executive committee implements the policy of SFP-Europa in accordance with the guidelines of the general assembly.
10. It undertakes to comply with EU regulations, in particular those relating to the protection of personal data.
11. In the exercise of their mandate and without time limit after its expiry, members of the executive committee are bound by confidentiality.
12. Any proven breach of confidentiality may be subject to proceedings before the data protection authorities and/or national courts.
13. The executive committee may fill any vacancy arising from resignation or disappearance of a member. Such appointment shall be placed on the agenda of the next general assembly.
14. The executive committee appoints an auditor, preferably from among the members of SFP-Europa.

1. At the close of the ordinary general assembly, the designated full members elect from among themselves, by simple majority, the governing body commonly called the "Bureau of the Executive Committee", composed of:
   1. the president;
   2. three vice-presidents;
   3. the political secretary;
   4. the treasurer.
2. The mandate of members of the governing body is 2 years, renewable.

1. The governing body manages the day-to-day work, correspondence and accounts of SFP-Europa.

1. The President directs the affairs of SFP-Europa.
2. The President exercises in particular the following powers:
   1. preparing, convening and chairing the general assembly;
   2. preparing, convening and chairing the governing body and the executive committee;
   3. representing SFP-Europa at all levels, including in judicial and extrajudicial proceedings.
3. The President may delegate these tasks to the vice-presidents or to the political secretary.

1. The Political Secretary ensures the ongoing management of SFP-Europa in direct collaboration with the President, vice-presidents and the executive committee.
2. The Deputy Political Secretary acts as stand-in in the absence of the incumbent.

1. Compulsory expenditure is settled by the treasurer, and non-compulsory expenditure is subject to prior agreement from the president.
2. The treasurer reports quarterly to the executive committee on the financial situation and draws up the annual financial report.
3. The treasurer maintains the up-to-date list of members.
4. A financial regulation establishes the procedures for the execution of payments.
5. Deputy treasurers act according to their place of assignment. They may not carry out any operations on accounts without express authorisation from the President and/or the Treasurer.

1. The functions of member of the governing body and executive committee are performed on an unpaid basis.
2. Allowances may be granted to members who must incur travel and accommodation expenses not covered by the administration or the organiser, on the occasion of meetings or travel decided by the governing body.

1. Members of the governing body and committee are only liable for decisions, acts or conduct that manifestly exceed the margin within which normally prudent and diligent administrators could reasonably have acted.
2. They are only liable for faults that can be personally attributed to them, committed in the performance of their management mission.
3. Members are jointly and severally liable, but are discharged from liability if they did not take part in the fault and reported the alleged fault to all other members of the governing body.

1. SFP-Europa is financed by member subscriptions and by donations and legacies.
2. The collection of subscriptions is the responsibility of the treasurer.
3. The financial year begins on 1 January and ends on 31 December of each year.
4. The governing body submits to the ordinary general assembly for ratification the income and expenditure accounts and the balance sheet of the previous financial year, as well as the draft budget for the following financial year.
5. These accounts and this balance sheet are communicated to the bodies provided for by the Code of Companies and Associations.
6. The funds available to SFP-Europa must be used solely for the achievement of the defined aims.
7. The president and treasurer are responsible for cash management.
8. The approval of the accounts by the general assembly gives the treasurer discharge in respect of the operations recorded therein.

1. Amendments to these Articles of Association are proposed on the initiative of the governing body or at the signed request of 30 members.
2. The general assembly may only validly deliberate on amendments to the articles if:
   1. they are explicitly indicated in the notice of meeting, and
   2. the assembly has at least two thirds of the executive committee present.
3. An amendment to the articles requires at least two thirds of the votes cast.
4. If this quorum is not reached, a second general assembly may be convened, which may deliberate regardless of the number of members present, with an interval of at least 15 days between the two assemblies.
5. Adopted amendments are communicated to members within 5 working days.
6. If the amendment concerns the object or non-profit aim of the asbl, the quorum of votes required is four-fifths of the votes cast.

1. In the event of a conflict threatening the unity of SFP-Europa, a committee of elders of 5 members shall be constituted by a call to all members, ensuring that positions are equitably represented.
2. This committee shall effect a conciliation and has the power to compel the President to organise an extraordinary general assembly.

1. The SFP-Europa asbl is established for an unlimited duration.
2. The decision to dissolve the asbl may only be taken by an extraordinary general assembly specifically including the matter on the agenda.
3. The decision is taken by a two-thirds majority of members.
4. However, it shall be dissolved automatically if the number of members falls below 3.

All matters not expressly provided for by these articles of association, or, as the case may be, by the internal regulations or the financial regulations, shall be governed by Belgian law on non-profit associations.

For the purposes of these articles of association, only the French language is authoritative. The English version of the articles of association is unofficial.