Statutes of the EUI Alumni Association
Article 1 Nomination
By this Statute there is established an Association of Alumni of the European University Institute, Florence. The Association shall be called The European University Institute Alumni Association (or in Italian Associazione degli Alumni dell'Istituto Universitario Europeo) and is referred to hereinafter as the Association.
Article 2 Seat
The association shall have domicile at the Badia Fiesolana, Via dei Roccettini 9, San Domenico di Fiesole, Italy.
Article 3 Limitation in time
The Association is not limited in time.
Article 4 Objectives
1. The objectives of the Association are:
a. To promote and reinforce contacts, mutual assistance and information exchange between its Members in the spirit of the Convention setting up the European University Institute:
b. To maintain close links to the European University Institute in the furtherance of the above objectives and to participate, when appropriate, in the activities of this Institute.
2. The Association does not aim at gaining economic profit.
3. In furtherance of the aims mentioned above, the Association may cooperate with institutions and associations which have the same objectives.
Article 5 Membership
1. Full membership of the Association shall be open to all research students who have been enrolled at the European University Institute for at least one academic year.
2. Associate membership of the Association shall be open to persons who for at least one academic year
a. belonged to the teaching and research staff of the European University Institute;
b. belonged to the library and administration staff of the European University Institute;
c. have been attached to the European University Institute as Jean Monnet Fellows.
3. Honorary membership of the Association may be extended to such persons as the General Assembly may from time to time decide on proposal of the Executive Committee.
4. Membership is ended
a. by decease of
b. by withdrawal of the Member. This has to be notified in writing.
Article 6 Rights of Members
1. Full Members have the right to participate in the General Assembly and to vote in decisions. They have the rights to stand for election to the Executive Committee and to all other committees and functions within the Association.
2. Associate Members and Honorary Members may participate in and shall be kept informed of all activities of the Association. They have no right to vote in the General Assembly nor to serve on the Executive Committee nor to chair any sub-committee.
Article 7 Duties of Members
Membership of the Association is independent and voluntary, but the Members are bound to respect the Statute, the decisions taken by the executive bodies following the competencies given by this Statute, and the Italian law.
Article 8 Structure
The Association shall conduct its affairs through:
a. the General Assembly (art. 9 - 11);
b. the Executive Committee (art. 12);
c. the President, in his/her absence the Vice-president (art. 13);
d. sub-committees for specific tasks (art. 16 - 17).
Article 9 Composition of the General Assembly
The General Assembly is composed of all Full Members of the Association as defined in art. 5 of this Statute.
Article 10 Tasks of the General Assembly
The General Assembly has the right and the duty to:
a. Elect the Executive Committee by simple majority following the procedure given in art. 17 of this Statute.
b. approve the Treasurer's report (art. 22).
c. approve the administration of the Executive Committee;
d. decide on the dissolution of the Association (art. 24).
e. decide on amendments to or modifications of the Statute with a majority of two thirds of the votes cast, following the procedure given in art. 25 of this Statute.
Article 11 Meetings of the General Assembly
1. The Executive Committee shall call a meeting of the General Assembly at least once a year.
2. The Executive Committee shall give all Members of the Association notice of such a regular meeting at least three months before the actual date; the invitation shall enclose the agenda to be discussed.
3. An extraordinary meeting of the General Assembly may be convened by the Executive Committee either on its own motion or as a result of a request for such a meeting signed by one tenth of the Full Members of the Association.
4. More than half of the Full Members of the Association shall form a quorum for the General Assembly,
5. If there is no quorum at the time of the first invocation, a second invocation is held for the same day and place one hour later. At this second occasion, the Full Members present do form a quorum.
6. The General Assembly takes a decision with simple majority of the votes cast except when a qualified majority is required by this Statute. Postal votes are held valid.
7. The members of the Executive Committee shall not vote on the decision regarding their administration. The President, in his/her absence the Vice-president, shall not vote in the General Assembly, except in the event of a tied vote.
Article 12 The Executive Committee
1. The Association shall be administered by an Executive Committee consisting of the five Full Members who are elected by the General Assembly for a period of two years in accordance with the procedure given in art. 17.
2. The members of the Executive Committee are re-eligible.
3. The Executive Committee is accountable to the General Assembly.
4. The Executive Committee shall name from among them the President, the Vice-president, the Treasurer, and the Secretary.
5. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once a year on request of the President, in his absence of the Vice-president. Three members shall form a quorum; decisions shall be taken by simple majority of the votes cast.
Article 13 The President
1. The President, in his absence the Vice-president, represents the Association towards Third Parties as well as towards State Administration and the Courts.
2. The President, in his absence the Vice-president, chairs the meetings both of the General Assembly and the Executive Committee.
Article 14 The Treasurer
1. The Treasurer is responsible for the accounts of the Association.
2. At the end of an accounting period, the treasurer submits the Treasurer's Report in accordance with the procedure of art. 22.
Article 15 The Secretary
The Secretary documentates the proceedings of the meetings both of the General Assembly and the Executive Committee in written minutes which have to be signed by himself and by the President, in his absence the Vice-president.
Article 16 Sub-Committees
1. The Executive Committee may establish sub-committees for specific tasks. The size of each sub-committee shall correspond to the tasks concerned.
2. Each sub-committee shall include at least one member of the Executive Committee except in the instance of art. 17-3.
Article 17 Electoral Sub-Committee
1. Prior to each election of the Executive Committee, an Electoral Sub-Committee consisting of three members shall be established.
2. The Electoral Sub-Committee shall be responsible for the conduct and scrutiny of the elections of the Executive Committee.
3. The members of the Electoral Sub-Committee may not themselves stand for office at the election with which they are concerned. Given that all members of the Executive Committee in power are standing for re-election, the provision of art. 16, sub 2. shall be waived.
Article 18 Assets
The assets of the Association consist of:
a. the movable and immovable property belonging to the Association;
b. reserve funds carried over from the last balance;
c. donations and inheritance.
Article 19 Revenue
1. The revenue of the Association may include:
a. subscriptions by its Members;
b. subsidies and grants;
c. interest from the assets and other income.
2. The use of the revenue is dedicated to the objectives of the Association.
Article 20 Surplus
Any surplus of funds at the end of an accounting period may be carried over to the next period.
Article 21 Debts
The Association may not engage in loans to finance its activities.
Article 22 Treasurer's Report; Scrutiny
1. Once a year before the General Assembly, the Treasurer shall submit detailed accounts of the Association's financial transactions during the previous year to the Head of Administration and Personnel of the European University Institute for scrutiny.
2. The results of this scrutiny together with the Treasurer's Report shall be presented to the General Assembly for approval.
Article 23 Branches
The establishment, organization and activities of Branches shall be freely determined by its Members in accordance with local requirements in so far as they are consistent with this Statute.
Article 24 Dissolution
The dissolution of the Association shall be decided by at least half of all Full Members. In such a case the General Assembly shall name liquidators and decide on the devolution of the assets in accordance with art. 21 of the Italian Civil Code.
Article 25 Amendments
1. Amendments to or modifications of this Statute may only be adopted by a majority of two thirds of the votes cast in a General Assembly, whether given in person or by post.
2. Proposals for such amendments or modifications may be made by the Executive Committee or by at least one tenth of the Full Members of the Association. Such proposals shall be notified in writing to all Members of the Association by the Executive Committee at least one month before the respective meeting of the General Assembly. Where the Executive Committee unanimously agrees, and where two thirds of the Members at the General Assembly agree, amendments or modifications to this Statute may be the subject of proposals tabled orally in the General Assembly.
Article 26 Reference
For all questions not dealt with by the present Statute, reference is made to the legal norms and the general principles of the law of the Italian Republic.
Statute amendment approved by the General Assembly on 30 September 2005
See:
Given the large increase in the numbers of post-doctoral fellows (almost doubling), some of them staying on for two academic years and the strategic orientation of the EUI towards combining doctoral with post-doctoral studies, the Executive Committee submitted for approval by the 2005 General Assembly a statute revision endorsing full-membership status for the post-doctoral fellows Post-doctoral fellows’ full membership. This would increase the profile of the AA and help the EUI to maintain a cohesive and productive community.
Following his written report and previous addresses to all alumni, the President explained the EC’s proposal to amend the statutes of the AA as to allow post-doctoral fellows to become regular members. The President asked Dr. A. Frijdal, Head of the EUI’s Academic Service, to explain the strategy of the EUI in regard to post-doctoral fellows and research. After general discussion about the implications of the change for the profile of the Alumni Association and about the type of post-doctoral fellows to be entitled to join the AA, the Assembly approved by unanimity the proposed change.
Approved amendments to Article 5 Membership of the Statutes:
Article 5 Membership
1. Full membership of the Association shall be open to all research students and to post-doctoral fellows who have been enrolled at the European University Institute for at least one academic year through the normal Institute selection procedure.