[TO BE REVIEWED BY MEMBERS]
The European Council of Construction Economists
1. GENERAL MATTERS
1.1 Establishment
1.1.1 It is established between the adherents to the present statutes an association governed by the Law dated 1st July 1901 and the Order in Council dated 16th August 1901 under the title: LE COUNCIL EUROPÉEN DES ECONOMISTES DE LA CONSTRUCTION/European Council for Construction Economists, abbreviated “CEEC”, hereafter referred to as “The Council
1.2 Registered Office of the Council
1.2.1 The registered office of the Council is located at 8, Avenue Percier – 75008 Paris and can be relocated by Vote at the General Meeting.
1.3 Applicable Law
1.3.1 The applicable law shall be the law in France
1.4 Enforcement of the Statutes
1.4.1 These statutes come into force on the date of their registration.
1.5 Definitions
Affiliate Members Affiliate Members are firms, organisations, academic institutions and any other individuals or bodies whom the committee consider appropriate to admit. Affiliate members have no voting rights.
Assets – The assets of the council shall include all the tangible assets of the Council
Board – The Board comprises the President, Vice-President, Junior Vice President and the General Secretary assuming the tasks of Treasurer. Only delegates or affiliate members can be elected to the Board. In case of vacancy, the Board will temporarily ensure the replacement of its members. It will be proceed with their definitive replacement at the nearest next General Assembly
Council – The members of the Council shall be the President, the General Secretary, Full Members, Affiliate Members and Honorary Members. The Council is managed by the Board, elected at the General Assembly.
Corresponding Members – Corresponding Members are individuals practising the profession of construction economics in European countries in which no professional association or group exists which could qualify for full membership of the Committee. Corresponding Members have full voting rights and a maximum of three corresponding members may represent their country. Each corresponding member has one vote.
Delegate – A delegate is a person appointed by a Full member to represent them and notice of such shall be given to the Honorary Secretary in advance of the next General Assembly
Financial year The financial year shall run from the 1st April to the 31st March
Full Members – Full Members shall be professional associations or groups within a European country, one of whose principal objectives concerns construction economics and which have a substantial number of their members practising the profession of construction economics and are current Full Members in accordance with the Statutes.
General Assembly – A General Assembly is a Council Meeting at which the President or other properly appointed Board member is Chairman and which all delegates may attend and in which voting procedure is restricted
General Secretary – The General Secretary is a person elected by the Council. Once elected he cannot during the term of his office be a delegate on behalf of a full member or an Affiliate member. The General Secretary shall also be treasurer
Giving notice Notice shall be given by post or by e-mail
Honorary Members – Honorary Members are members who are neither Full Members or Corresponding Members and are individuals, firms, organisations or academic institutions who by reason of their position, experience or eminence have been admitted by the Council as Honorary Members. Honorary Members shall have no voting rights
Junior Vice President – The Junior Vice President is a person elected by the council and is a delegate of a full or a corresponding member
Motions – Motions tabled by members and transmitted to the President, at least one month before the General Assembly, must be included on the agenda. Motions must be supported by accompanying documentation.
President – The President is a person elected by the Council. Once elected he cannot during the term of his office be a delegate on behalf of a Full Member or a Corresponding Member.
Proxy Where a member cannot attend a General Assembly then they can appoint a proxy in their place and notice of such shall be given to the Honorary Secretary
Relevant Regulations – Relevant regulations are regulations defined under Article 3.6 of these statutes
Treasurer – The Treasurer shall be the General Secretary and shall in his capacity as treasurer report to the board and the General Assembly regarding the Income and expenses of the Council
Vice President – The Vice President is a person elected by the Council and is a delegate of a Full or Corresponding member
Vote This means unless otherwise stated voting on decisions by the Council in accordance with voting procedure at a General Assembly by a majority vote of Full and Corresponding members present and voting and members having a valid proxy. Proxies will be accepted in all votes.
1.6 Aim of the Council
1.6.1 The aim of the Council shall be:
a) GENERALLY,
to facilitate the promotion of the profession of construction economics both in Europe and throughout the world and the exchange of experience and information between the concerned professions
b) SPECIFICALLY,
1 To promote the profession of construction economics;
2 To represent the interests of the Council to both World and European Institutions;
3 To facilitate the education, training and qualifications of persons who are responsible for construction economics and to prepare mutually acceptable standards of training and qualification;
4 To support and promote the development of construction industry services provided by the Construction Economists;
5 To establish codes of practice and to defend member’s material, professional and ethical interests;
6 To realise any operation in relation with the aim of the Council and in particular but not limited to : studies, publications, organisations of meetings, congresses and web sites
1.7 Duration
1.7.1 The Council is created for an unlimited period.
1.8 Dissolution of the Council
1.8.1 The Council shall be dissolved at a General Assembly by a two thirds majority vote of Full and Corresponding Members present and voting and members having a valid proxy.
1.8.2 One or more liquidators are appointed by The General Assembly and the assets are, when necessary, devolved according to article 9 of the Law dated 1st July 1901 and the Order in Council dated 16th August 1901.
2. MEMBERSHIP
2.1 Council
2.1.1 The Council meeting in a General Assembly is the Governing body
2.1.2 All requests for admission to the Council as Full Members shall be presented to the President or General Secretary. The President or General Secretary in accordance with the relevant regulations, if any, shall notify existing Full Members or Corresponding Members from the applicant’s country, examine the application and subject to compliance with those regulations may accept or reject the application. If the application is accepted the President or General Secretary will give notice to any existing Full Members or Corresponding Members from the applicant’s country of the application and the existing Full Members or Corresponding Members shall agree with the applicant the share of the voting rights for that country and the existing Full Member shall notify the President or General Secretary of the agreement. Should they fail to agree within three months of being given notice, the dispute shall be referred to the President who shall on examination of submissions from all the relevant parties determine the share of the voting rights taking account of existing regulations, if any, on the matter and notifying all parties concerned. When the share of voting rights has been agreed or determined the President or General Secretary shall propose, giving a minimum of one months notice, the applicant’s membership at the next general Assembly. The application shall be examined and voted on at the General Assembly. .
2.1.3 All requests for admission to the Council as Corresponding Members or Affiliate Members shall be presented to the President or Honorary Secretary. The President or Honorary Secretary in accordance with the relevant regulations, if any, shall examine the application and subject to compliance with those regulations may accept or reject the application. If the application is accepted the President or Honorary Secretary shall propose, giving a minimum of one months notice, the applicant’s membership at the next general meeting. The application shall be examined and voted on at a General Assembly.
2.1.4 Any Full Member or Corresponding Member may submit to the President or Honorary Secretary for admission to the Council as Honorary Members any party they believe would be suitable for admission as an Honorary Member. The President or Honorary Secretary in accordance with the relevant regulations, if any, shall examine the submission and subject to compliance with those regulations may accept or reject the submission. If the submission is accepted and subject to the party’s agreement to being proposed as an Honorary Member, the President or Honorary Secretary shall propose, giving a minimum of one months notice, the applicant’s membership at the next general meeting. The application shall be examined and voted on at a General Assembly
2.2 The President
2.1.1 The President shall be elected by Vote at a General Assembly. In the event that no candidate obtains an absolute majority and should this situation persist after a second ballot, the candidate having the longest term of service within the Council shall be chosen.
2.1.2 The President shall hold office for a two year period and may be eligible for one further re-election.
2.1.3 The President shall ensure the implementation of the decisions of the Council, chair meetings, represent the Council and administer the budget under the control of the Council.
2.1.4 The President shall carry out his duties on a strictly neutral basis and shall not be permitted to serve during the term of his office as a delegate or Corresponding Member.
2.3 The Vice-President and Junior Vice President
2.3.1 There shall be a Vice-President and a Junior Vice president of the Council, each elected by vote at a General Assembly. In the event that no candidate for each position obtains an absolute majority and should this situation persist after a second ballot, the candidate for each position having the longest term of service within the Council shall be chosen.
2.3.2 They shall hold office for a two year period and may be eligible for one further re-election.
2.3.3 The Vice-President shall be drawn from a different country from that of the President and the other Vice-President.
2.3.4 The Vice-President or in his absence the Junior Vice President shall perform the functions of the President in the event of the latter being unable to do so.
2.4 The General Secretary
2.4.1 There shall be a General Secretary of the Council, elected by vote at a General Assembly. In the event that no candidate obtains an absolute majority and should this situation persist after a second ballot, the candidate having the longest term of service within the Council shall be chosen
2.4.2 The General Secretary shall hold office for a two year period and may be eligible for one further re-election.
2.4.3 The General Secretary shall ensure the efficient administrative and financial management of the Council and, in particular, he shall as treasurer prepare the annual accounts and budget for the Council.
2.4.4 The General Secretary shall carry out his duties on a strictly neutral basis and shall not be permitted to serve during the term of his office as a delegate or Corresponding member.
2.5 Resignation
2.5.1 The resignation of a Member must be submitted in writing and received six months prior to the expiry of the Financial year. Obligations contracted for the unexpired portion of the financial year shall be honoured by the resigning member.
2.5.2 In the event of resignation, the resigning member shall have no rights to the assets of the Council.
2.5.3 On the admission of a new Full Member for a country which was previously represented by a Corresponding Member, that member’s resignation as a Corresponding Member will be automatic.
2.6 Expulsion
2.6.1 The Council may expel a Member for failure to honour its obligations. Expulsions shall be made at a General Assembly by a unanimous vote of the members present and voting and members having a valid proxy.
2.6.2 The expelled member shall not have the right to ask for the reimbursement of any contributions paid.
2.6.3 In the event of expulsion, the expelled member shall have no right to the assets of the Council.
3. OPERATION
3.1 Official Languages
3.1.1 The official languages of the Council shall be English and French.
3.1.2 In the event of there being a dispute on the statutes, the French version shall prevail.
3.1.3 The Council will conduct day to day business in English. Motions, amendments to the Statutes and all Voting procedures shall be in English and French
3.2 General Meeting
3.2.1 All Members are entitled to attend the General Meeting.
3.2.2 The Council shall hold a General Meeting at least once a year. It shall be convened by the President giving notice one month before the due date. The notice shall include the agenda for the General Meeting.
3.2.3 The Council shall make its annual report and accounts available to members.
3.2.4 The maximum number of delegates permitted from each Member to attend shall be set out in the regulations.
3.2.5 The General Meeting shall elect by vote an auditor to approve the annual accounts presented by the General Secretary.
3.3 Project Groups/Commissions
3.3.1 The Council may appoint Project groups/Commissions for the purpose of performing clearly defined tasks.
3.3.2 The members of each Project group/Commissions shall be drawn from the members of the Council. Project group/Commissions may call upon expert advice as necessary.
3.3.3 When appointing a Project group/Commissions the Council shall also:
• promulgate the terms of reference of the Project group/Commission;
• appoint the Chairman of the Project group/Commission, who will report its findings;
• appoint the members of the Project group.Commission;
• fix the budget to be made available to the Project group/Commission.
3.4 Resources
3.4.1 The resources of the Council shall originate from the financial contributions of members.
3.4.2 The Council may receive further contributions from the members of the Council, official European Union organisations, world organisations or any other individuals or organisations, as well as from the benefit of events or other activities, in accordance with the aim of the Council.
3.5 Ordinary and Extraordinary Budgets
3.5.1 General running costs shall be met by an ordinary budget for the financial year, prepared by the General Secretary, which shall be agreed by vote annually at the first General Assembly of that Financial Year .
3.5.2 The amount of the annual contributions is fixed each year at the first General Assembly of that Financial Year.
3.5.3 In cases where exceptional expenditure is envisaged the members of the Council shall by vote agree that an extraordinary budget is required ratify the amount and agree the level of contribution by the members of the Council.
3.5.4 The financial year shall run from the 1st April to the 31st March
3.5.5 The assets of the council shall include all the tangible assets of the council
3.6 Regulations
3.6.1 The Council may make regulations for the administration of its affairs within the framework of these statutes. They shall be published, updated and issued to Members from time to time.
3.7 Amendments to the Statutes
3.7.1 Amendments to the statutes may be proposed by members.
3.7.2 The text of any proposed amendment shall be submitted to the President at least two month prior to a General Assembly. The proposed amendment shall be sent to members at least one month prior to a General Assembly.
3.7.3 Amendments shall be made at a General Assembly by a two thirds majority vote of Full and Corresponding members present and voting and members having a valid proxy.
3.8 Voting procedure at General Assembly
3.8.1 At the General Assembly, the Council may vote only on the agenda. Motions tabled by members and transmitted to the President or General Secretary, at least one month before the General Assembly, must be included on the agenda. Motions must be supported by accompanying documentation. Otherwise the President in consultation with the Board will determine the Agenda.
3.8.2 In the case of European countries that are represented by Full Members, the number of votes per country is three. In the case of there being more than one Full Member, representing one country, those Full Members will agree how the three votes are divided. Any dispute arising as to the division of the votes shall be referred to the President for determination
3.8.3 In the case of European countries that are represented by Corresponding Members, the number of votes per country is one. In the case of there being more than one Corresponding Member, representing one country, those Corresponding Members will agree how the vote shall be used. Any dispute arising as to the share of the vote shall be referred to the President for determination
3.8.4 The General Secretary shall not have a vote
3.8.5 The President shall only have a casting vote where there is a tie except where elections of members of Board are involved where the relevant procedures under Articles 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4 prevail. In the case that the tied candidates have the same length of service the President will have the casting vote.
3.8.6 In urgent cases the President may seek the views of members by post or email.
Issued in Prague, in three copies on 12 April 2008
Gerard O’ Sullivan Pekka Monten John Papworth
President Vice-President General Secretary