General Assembly 

Article 9

The General Assembly has the broadest powers with a view to the realisation of the association’s objects. It consists of all members entitled to vote, who each have one vote.

Members who are not entitled to vote can attend the General Assembly and have an advisory vote.

The following matters fall within the exclusive powers of the General Assembly:

1. Approval of budgets and accounts;
2. Appointment and dismissal of the managers and of the external auditors, if any;
3. Amendments to the articles of association;
4. Voluntary dissolution of the association;
5. Exclusion of a member;
6. Discharge to the managers and to the external auditors, if any;
7. Appointment of the Audit Committee;
8. Date and location of the next meeting.

Article 10

The General Assembly meets under the presidency of a President elected for a period of one year, once a year at the office of the association or at any other place indicated in the convening notice.

General Assembly meetings are convened by the Management Board, at least sixty days before the meeting will take place. The convening notice indicates the items of the agenda.

Moreover, an extraordinary general assembly can be convened by two thirds of the members for the following purpose and under the following conditions: amendments to the articles of association, provided that a registered letter is addressed to the Management Board.

The Management Board then has thirty days to send the convening notices. These convening notices provide for an extraordinary General Assembly within thirty days after receipt of the convening notice.

Article 11

Every member entitled to vote can be represented at the General Assembly by another member entitled to vote, by means of a specific power of attorney. A member entitled to vote cannot hold more than one power of attorney. The General Assembly can only deliberate validly if fifty per cent of the members entitled to vote are present or represented.

Article 12

Except for the exceptional cases referred to in the present articles of association, the decisions are taken by a simple majority of the members present and represented.

All members are notified of the decisions that have been taken. No decisions can be taken on items that are not on the agenda, unless these items have been considered necessary and relevant by a simple majority of the members entitled to vote, who are present at the beginning of the general assembly.

The decisions of the General Assembly are recorded in a register, which is signed by the president of the Management Board and kept by the secretary-general, who puts this register at the disposal of the members whenever requested.