By-Laws of the Pan-Europe Structure

Education International Pan-European Structure is a region of Education International. Its structure and functions are defined in the EI Constitution and By-Laws, and more specifically in the By-Laws of Education International Europe (EIE), also known as the Statutes of the Pan-European Structure.

By-Laws of Education International Europe (EIE)

1. Name

  1. The regional structure of the Education International in Europe shall be defined as the EI Pan-European Structure incorporating the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE).

2. Composition

  1. The EI Pan-European structure shall be composed of EI member organisations in the European region as defined by the Executive Board in accordance with EI By-Law 18.
  2. ETUCE is an autonomous organisation within the EI Pan European structure that is composed of EI member organisations in the countries of the European Union and the European Free Trade Association. ETUCE shall be the European Industry Federation for the education sector of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). Articles in these statutes referring specifically to ETUCE are regarded as the Constitution of ETUCE.

3. Functions

  1. The functions of the Pan-European Regional structure shall be:
    1. to promote the aims and principles of Education International in the European region;
    2. to promote regional cooperation and collective action to protect and advance the rights and interests of teachers and education employees and of education at the Pan European level;
    3. to participate in the formulation of EI policy at the world level with particular regard to the World Congress;
    4. to advise the EI Executive Board in accordance with Article 13 (c) (i) of the EI Constitution on policies and activities to be undertaken in Europe, and to assist in the implementation of these policies and activities;
  2. The functions of ETUCE shall be:
    1. to promote the interests of member organisations within the European Union (EU) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) with all relevant EU and EFTA institutions through consultation and other trade union means and action;
    2. to promote the social dimension of the European Union and the European Free Trade Association in association with the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC);
    3. to determine and develop policies in relation to the EU and EFTA, and to represent member organisations at those bodies, as foreseen in article 13 (c)(ii) of the EI Constitution;
    4. to serve as the Industry Federation for education within ETUC and as social partner for the education sector in the EU Social Dialogue;
    5. to promote assistance programmes by serving as the liaison between EU institutions and the Committee's member organisations with regard to national programmes sponsored by EU institutions in countries within the European Union and the European Free Trade Association;

4. Organisation

The organisation of the EI Pan-European structure shall be:

  1. Governing Bodies
    1. The EI Pan-European Conference consisting of representatives of Member organisations; to be convened jointly with the ETUCE General Assembly, that will consist of the representatives of member organisation from EU and EFTA countries
    2. The EI Pan-European Committee – consisting of representatives elected by the Conference; the ETUCE Executive Board will comprise representatives elected from EU and EFTA member countries
    3. The EI/ETUCE Bureau – consisting of the EI Pan-European and ETUCE officers elected by the Conference;
  2. Advisory Bodies
    1. The ETUCE Council
    2. Advisory and Standing Committees
    3. Panels and Networks
  3. Secretariat:
    1. The Secretariat shall comprise the ETUCE General Secretary and the EI Regional Coordinator.

5. The Pan-European Conference

Functions

  1. An ordinary session of the EI Pan-European Conference, hereafter referred to as the Conference, shall :
    1. adopt its rules of procedures and agenda;
    2. elect the President(s), Vice Presidents and other members of the Pan European Committee;
    3. determine the policies, principles of action and programme of the EI Pan European Regional Structure;
    4. approve the activity report, the financial report and the proposed budget ;
    5. determine the supplementary membership fees.
  2. The ETUCE General Assembly shall:
    1. conduct any elections required for positions specific to ETUCE;
    2. determine the policies, principles of action and program pertaining to the special functions of ETUCE;
    3. approve the activity report, the financial report and the proposed budget pertaining to the special functions of ETUCE;
    4. determine the ETUCE supplementary membership fees;
    5. appoint auditors

Delegates and Observers

  1. The Conference shall be composed of delegates representing member organisations and the members of the Pan-European Committee. The ETUCE General Assembly shall be composed of the delegates representing member organisations in the EU and EFTA countries. Delegates from other countries shall be entitled to participate as observers at the ETUCE General Assembly.
  2. Each member organisation shall be entitled to one delegate and one additional delegate for every 20,000 members or a part thereof with a maximum of 25 delegates.

Entitlements

  1. Votes shall be allocated to each member organisation whose membership fees have been paid in full prior to the Conference in accordance with the following scale:
    - up to 1,000 members: 1 vote;
    - and more than 1,000 members, 1 additional vote for every 1,000 members or a part thereof.
  2. Only member organisations from EU and EFTA Member States shall be entitled to vote on decisions pertaining to the tasks of ETUCE specified in Article 5 (b);
  3. Member organisations shall receive provisional notification by the Bureau of the number of delegates and votes to be allocated to them. A Credentials Committee to be appointed by the Bureau shall verify and determine the allocation of delegate credentials and voting rights for each member organisation. No roll-call voting shall take place until the Conference has adopted the report of the Credentials Committee.
  4. A member organisation may give its votes by proxy to be exercised by another member organisation. Notice of this intention must be given in writing to the President prior to the opening of the Conference. No member organisation shall exercise a proxy vote on behalf of more than two organisations. This provision is restricted solely to the conduct of voting in elections of the European Committee as provided for in By-Law 6.

Frequency of Conference

  1. The Pan-European Conference, with the ETUCE General Assembly, shall meet in ordinary session at least once every three years.
  2. The venue, date and provisional agenda of the Conference shall be determined by the Pan-European Committee. Notification of the convening of the Conference shall be given at least three (3) months prior to the scheduled date.
  3. An Extraordinary Pan-European Conference shall be convened by the Pan-European Committee deciding by a two-thirds majority vote. An Extraordinary ETUCE General Assembly shall be convened by the ETUCE Executive Board deciding by a two-thirds majority vote. In either case, an Extraordinary Conference and/or Assembly shall be convened at the formal and properly substantiated request of at least ten (10) Member Organisations together representing at least one quarter of the paid membership. Notification of the convening of an Extraordinary Pan- European Conference shall be given at least two (2) months prior to the scheduled date, unless the European Committee determines that the extreme urgency of the Pan-European Conference requires a shorter period of notice.

Amendments and dissolution

  1. The Conference shall have the authority to amend these Statutes by a two thirds majority vote. The amended Statutes shall be submitted for endorsement to the Executive Board of the Education International. Amendments related expressly to the ETUCE shall come into effect by vote of the ETUCE General Assembly with a two-thirds majority.
  2. The ETUCE is an autonomous organisation and can only be dissolved by the ETUCE General Assembly with a two-thirds majority.

6. The EI Pan-European Committee and ETUCE Executive Board

Function

  1. The Pan- European Committee shall direct the affairs and activities of the Pan-European structure between the Pan-European Conferences. It shall meet at least twice a year. The Pan-European Committee shall:
    1. draft the agenda for the Pan European Conference;
    2. review implementation of the resolutions and decisions of the Conference;
    3. initiate policies and actions in accordance with the resolutions and decisions of the Conference ;
    4. review and approve financial statements and submit budgets to the Conference;
    5. submit to the Conference a report on its decisions and activities;
    6. identify issues requiring coordination between the Pan-European level and ETUCE, taking into account the recommendations of the ETUCE Executive Board.
  2. The ETUCE Executive Board shall direct the affairs and activities of the ETUCE between ETUCE Assemblies. It shall meet in conjunction with the Pan European Committee. Members of the Pan European Committee from non EU/EFTA countries shall have the right to attend as observers, without the right to vote. The Board shall:
    1. draft the agenda for the General Assembly;
    2. review implementation of the resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly;
    3. prepare recommendations to the Pan European Committee regarding issues requiring coordination between the Pan-European level and the ETUCE;
    4. initiate policies and action in accordance with the resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly
    5. consider for approval financial structure and submit a budget to the General Assembly;
    6. appoint from among its Members a Treasurer;
    7. appoint for a three year term, the ETUCE General Secretary, who shall be eligible for reappointment for additional terms; candidates must be nominated by a national Member Organisation from an EU/EFTA country;
    8. have the power to remove the General Secretary from office in the event of misconduct, incompetence or dereliction of duty;
    9. submit to the General Assembly a report on its decisions and activities

Composition

  1. The Pan-European Committee shall be composed of
    1. the President(s);
    2. six (6) Vice-Presidents, at least one of whom shall come from a non- EU/EFTA country;
    3. one (1) person from each country;
    4. one (1) additional person from each country with more than 250,000 dues paying members and not more than 500,000;
    5. one (1) additional person from each country with more than 500,000 dues paying members;
    6. At least twelve (12) Members of the Committee shall be women, including at least two Officers;
    7. two (2) persons from the WCT/WCL group in EI ;
    8. the Regional Coordinator of the Education International, and the General Secretary of the ETUCE shall be ex officio members of the Committee without voting rights;
    9. no national organisation shall have more than one (1) Member of the Committee, the Regional Coordinator of the Education International, and the General Secretary of the ETUCE not being counted for this purpose.
  2. The ETUCE Executive Board shall be composed of the members of the Committee from the member countries of the European Union and the European Free Trade Association, and the ETUCE General Secretary.

Elections

  1. The elections of Members of the European Committee and ETUCE Executive Board shall not be carried out until a minimum number of candidates has been nominated which satisfy the requirements of this Statute.
  2. Where the number of candidates is greater than the number to be elected, each member organisation shall receive a ballot paper on which shall be indicated the number of votes allocated to that organisation.
  3. The elections shall be carried out in the following order:
    1. The first election shall be for the office of EI Pan-European President and ETUCE President. If there is not more than one candidate, this candidate shall be declared elected. If there is more than one (1) candidate, Member Organisations which choose to vote shall vote for one (1) candidate. The candidate with the highest number of votes shall be declared elected.
    2. If the person elected is not from an EU or EFTA country, there shall be a second election for ETUCE President, and only Member Organisations of the ETUCE shall participate in this election.
    3. The third election shall be for the office of Vice-Presidents. If there are not more than six (6) candidates and they satisfy the requirements of Article 6(c) (ii) , they shall be declared elected. If there are more than six (6) candidates, Member Organisations shall vote for six (6) candidates only. To meet the requirements of Article6(c)(vi), the two women candidates with the highest number of votes shall be declared elected first. To meet the requirements of article 6(c)(ii), the candidate from the non-EU/EFTA countries with the highest number of votes shall be elected next, unless elected under the previous provision. The remaining places shall be filled by the election of candidates with the highest number of votes.
    4. The fourth election shall be for two (2) Members of the WCT/WCL group. If there are not more than two (2) candidates, they shall be declared elected. If there are more than two (2) candidates, Member Organisations shall vote for two (2) candidates. The two candidates with the highest number of votes shall be declared elected.
    5. The fifth election shall be for one or more Members from each country in accordance with 6(c) (iii), (iv) and (v) above. If the number of candidates from a country satisfies the requirements of 6(c)(iii), (iv) and (v), he/she shall be declared elected. If there is more than the required number of candidates from a country, the number necessary to satisfy the requirements of Article 6(c)(iii) shall be elected first. The candidates to fill the places specified in Article 6(c)(iv), then (v) shall be elected next. Member Organisations shall vote for the number of candidates equal to the number of vacancies. To meet the requirements of Article 6(c)(vi) the women candidates with the highest number of votes shall be declared elected first.
    6. Should the result of the elections not satisfy the requirements of the Statutes, the next ordinary meeting of the Committee and Executive Board shall coopt the number of persons necessary, having invited nominations from Member Organisations.

Terms of Office

  1. The term of office of each member of the Committee shall be three years and shall expire:
    1. at the end of the Conference; or
    2. at such time as an organisation to which the member belongs is no longer a member of the Education International.
  2. A member of the Committee, who retires in accordance with paragraph (h) (i), shall be eligible for re-election.
  3. Article 10 (e), (f), (g) of the Constitution of the Education International shall be applicable to members of the Committees. In the event of removal the member concerned shall have the right of appeal to the Conference (meeting as EIE or ETUCE as appropriate).
  4. In the event of a vacancy, the Pan-European Committee or the ETUCE Executive Board, as appropriate, may appoint replacements. If the vacancy occurs:
    1. in the position of Pan-European President, a Vice-President shall be appointed as President until the next Conference;
    2. in the position of ETUCE President, a Vice-President from an EU/EFTA country shall be appointed by the ETUCE Board as President until the next General Assembly;
    3. in the position of Vice-President, a member of the Committee shall be appointed until the next Conference;
    4. in the position of ETUCE Treasurer, a Member of the Executive Board shall be appointed until the next General Assembly;
    5. For other vacancies, the Committee or Board, as the case may be, shall seek a nomination, to which it shall give strong consideration, from the national organisation of the member being replaced.

7. The EI/ETUCE Bureau

Composition

  1. The Bureau shall be composed of:
    1. The Pan-European President, and the ETUCE President (in the event that two different people are elected to these positions)
    2. The Vice-Presidents
    3. The ETUCE Treasurer
    4. The ETUCE General Secretary
    5. The EI European Regional Coordinator as ex-officio member without voting rights.
  2. For the purposes of ETUCE matters, the ETUCE Bureau shall be composed of the officers from EU/EFTA countries. The ETUCE Bureau can convene for extraordinary meetings if needed on the request of the ETUCE President or General Secretary.
    Function and meetings
  3. The Bureau shall:
    1. direct the affairs and activities of the EI Pan-European Conference and ETUCE between the Committee and Board meetings in conformity with the decisions taken.
    2. Prepare European Committee and ETUCE Executive Board meetings and agendas;
    3. Consider for approval financial statements and submit budgets and proposals for supplementary dues to the Pan-European Conference and ETUCE General Assembly in accordance with decisions made in each body;
    4. have the responsibility for establishing Standing Committees, Advisory Panels and ETUCE Networks in accordance with the decisions of the Committee and the Board.
  4. The Bureau shall meet at least four times a year including meetings in conjunction with the Pan-European Conference and the ETUCE Council.

8. The ETUCE Council

Function

  1. The ETUCE Council, hereafter referred to as the Council, shall provide advice to the ETUCE Board on all matters related to ETUCE policies.

Composition

  1. The Council shall be composed of the ETUCE Executive Board and two representatives of each member organisation in the EU and EFTA Member States.

Frequency of Meetings

  1. The Council shall meet annually except in the year that a Pan-European Conference is convened.

9. Advisory and standing committees, Networks and Panels

The Committee or the ETUCE Board may establish such advisory and standing committees, networks and panels as it deems necessary to advise them on specific issues or sectors from time to time. The Committee or the Board will determine the remit of such Advisory Committees and the duration of their operation. Committees, networks and panels established to deal with issues or sectors within the EU/EFTA area shall operate under the supervision of the ETUCE Executive Board.

10. The President(s), Vice-Presidents and ETUCE Treasurer

  1. The President(s) shall be the principal representative(s) of the EI Pan-European structure and, respectively, of the ETUCE.
  2. The President(s), or in his/her/their absence, one of the Vice-Presidents shall:
    1. chair the Pan-European Conference and/or the ETUCE General Assembly;
    2. chair the meetings of the Pan-European Committee and/or the ETUCE Executive Board and the EI/ETUCE Bureau;
    3. represent the Pan-European Structure, and, respectively, the ETUCE;
    4. maintain liaison with the EI Executive Board.
  3. The ETUCE Treasurer shall be responsible to the ETUCE Executive Board for financial affairs, and specifically for recommendations concerning ETUCE supplementary dues and the related expenditures. He/she shall:
    1. supervise the management by the ETUCE General Secretary of income and expenditure;
    2. submit financial statements to the Executive Board and the General Assembly

11. Secretariat

  1. The ETUCE General Secretary shall support the ETUCE structure and carry out the decisions of the ETUCE Executive Board and EI/ETUCE Bureau pertaining to EU/EFTA. He/she shall:
    1. report to the ETUCE Executive Board;
    2. initiate proposals for consideration by the ETUCE bodies, in all matters related to ETUCE policies;
    3. implement the decisions of the ETUCE bodies;
    4. maintain liaison with member organisations in the EU/EFTA countries,
    5. maintain liaison with the European Trade Union Confederation and with the institutions of the European Union and represent ETUCE as appropriate at relevant meetings of those bodies;
    6. convene and prepare meetings of the ETUCE bodies;
    7. keep a record of the proceedings of the ETUCE bodies;
    8. submit activity reports to the ETUCE bodies;
    9. manage, under supervision of the Treasurer, the income and expenditure of the ETUCE bodies;
    10. manage the ETUCE Secretariat and cooperate with the EI General Secretary to make the best use of human and financial resources.
  2. The EI Regional Coordinator shall support the Pan European structure(s), coordinate the work deriving from decisions taken by the Pan European Committee and EI/ETUCE Bureau not pertaining to EU/EFTA, cooperate with the ETUCE, and perform other tasks as determined by the EI General Secretary.
  3. The Coordinator of the WCT/WCL group may attend meetings of the Committee and ETUCE Executive Board and of the Bureau as an observer, with speaking but not voting rights .

12. Finances

  1. Supplementary membership dues to be paid by the member organisations shall be determined by the Conference on a per capita basis in accordance with By-Law 20 of the Education International.
  2. Supplementary dues to cover all expenses related to the ETUCE budget shall be determined by the ETUCE General Assembly.
  3. All supplementary dues shall be paid to the Education International before June 30 of each year, and shall be computed on the membership reported as of 31 December of the preceding year.
  4. Any organisation which is more than twelve (12) months in arrears of the payment of its supplementary membership dues, without the approval of the Committee, may, at the recommendation of the Committee, be suspended by the Executive Board of the Education International in accordance with Article 7 (b) of the Constitution.
  5. If a member organisation is unable to fulfil its financial obligations, owing to extraordinary circumstances, the Committee may recommend the Executive Board of the Education International to, in accordance with Article 19 (c) of the Constitution, grant a delay, a temporary reduction or, in extreme cases, a temporary exemption from the payment of such supplementary fees.
  

 

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