We are encouraged by the future

We have a non-profit purpose to bring together national political foundations and think tanks in the European Union, EU candidate countries, EEA member states and those EU neighbourhood countries who, within the framework of liberal, democratic, and reformist ideals, wish to contribute to the European Union.

Forum Libéral Européen
European Liberal Forum

A non-profit association under Belgian law, founded by private deed dated 21 September 2007, published in the appendices of the Moniteur Belge dated 26 September 2007, number 07144686.  

Registered on the Trade Register with company number 0892.305.374.  

Of which the articles of association have been modified by virtue of the minutes from the following general assemblies:  

  1. General Assembly of 25 January 2008, published in the appendices of the Moniteur Belge 29 dated July 2008 (number 08131859);
  2. General Assembly of 09 October 2009, published in the appendices of the Moniteur Belge dated 22 October 2009 (number 09154710);
  3. General Assembly of 01 October 2010, published in the appendices of the Moniteur Belge dated 26 January 2006 (number 11014040);
  4. General Assembly of 16 September 2011, published in the appendices of the Moniteur Belge dated 30 December 2011 (number 11197449);
  5. General Assembly of 27 April 2012, published in the appendices of the Moniteur Belge dated 17 December 2012 (number 12208414);
  6. General Assembly of 26 April 2013, published in the appendices of the Moniteur Belge dated 17 December 2012 (number 14003661);
  7. General Assembly of 25 April 2014, published in the appendices of the Moniteur Belge dated 21 May 2015 (number 15072958);
  8. General Assembly of 19 September 2014, published in the appendices of the Moniteur Belge (see № 12);
  9. Board meeting of 12 June 2015, published in the appendices of the Moniteur Belge (number 15147970);
  10. General Assembly of 22 April 2016, published in the appendices of the Moniteur Belge (see № 12);
  11. General Assembly of 23 September 2016, published in the appendices of the Moniteur Belge (see № 12);
  12. General Assembly of 12 May 2017, published in the appendices of the Moniteur Belge (number 15072958);
  13. General Assembly of 20 April 2018, published in the appendices of the Moniteur Belge dated 20 August 2018 (number 18131812);
  14. General Assembly of 26 April 2019, published in the appendices of the Moniteur Belge (number 19094403);
  15. General Assembly of 12 June 2020, to be published in the appendices of the Moniteur Belge;
  16. General Assembly of 25 September 2020, to be published in the appendices of the Moniteur Belge.
  17. General Assembly of 28 September 2023, to be published in the appendices of the Moniteur Belge. 

As a result of which the following coordination of the text has been drawn up:

______________________________________________________________
COORDINATION OF ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION AS OF 28 SEPTEMBER 2023
______________________________________________________________

CHAPTER I – NAME, REGISTERED OFFICE, PURPOSE AND TERM OF THE EUROPEAN POLITICAL FOUNDATION  

Article 1 – Name  

The European foundation under the form of a Belgian non-profit association is governed by the Regulation № 1141/2014 of the European Parliament, the Council of 22 October 2014 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations and by the applicable provisions of the Belgian Companies and Associations Code. Its name is “European Liberal Forum” in English and “Forum Libéral Européen” in French, also identified as “liberalforum.eu” in English and “forumliberal.eu” in French. It is abbreviated as “ELF-FLE” and hereinafter will be referred to as the “the European Political Foundation “. Both the full and abbreviated names may be used interchangeably.  

All acts, invoices, announcements, publicity, letters, orders, websites and other documents, whether in electronic format or not, issued by the European Political Foundation, shall contain the following data: 

  1. the name of the European Political Foundation; 
  1. its legal form, in full or in abbreviated form; 
  1. the precise indication of its registered office; 
  1. its number from the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises; 
  1. the terms “legal persons register” or the abbreviation “LPR”, followed by the indication of the Court of the registered office of the European Political Foundation ; 
  1. as the case may be, the email address and website of the European Political Foundation; 
  1. as the case may be, the indication that the European Political Foundation is being wound up.  

The logo of the European Political Foundation shall consist of the following letters and image:  

Depending on the background, the logo may be used in its original colours, in black and white, or in any other shading in order to obtain sufficient contrast with the background. 

Article 2 – Registered office
The registered office of the European Political Foundation is located at Rue d’Idalie 11-13, B-1050 Ixelles in the Brussels-Capital Region. The registered office may be transferred to any other location in the Brussels-Capital Region by a decision taken by the Board of Directors. The decision to move the registered office must be published in the Annexes to the Belgian Official Gazette (i.e. Moniteur Belge).  

Article 3 – Purpose and objectives
The European Political Foundation has as a non-profit purpose to bring together national political foundations and think tanks in the European Union, EU candidate countries, EEA member states and those EU neighbourhood countries who, within the framework of liberal, democratic, and reformist ideals, wish to contribute to the European Union. The European Political Foundation observes the values on which the Union is founded, as expressed in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union, namely respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minority groups.  

The European Political Foundation is the official European political foundation of the ALDE Party. The European Political Foundation’s governing bodies, as well as its financial accounts and day-to-day management, are separate from those of the ALDE Party. Through its activities, within the aims and fundamental values pursued by the Union, the European Political Foundation underpins and complements the objectives of the ALDE Party.  

To achieve this purpose, the European Political Foundation will:  

– serve as a framework for national political foundations, think tanks, networks, academics and leading liberal personalities to work together at the European level;  

– develop close working relationships with and among its Members, the parliamentary Group that represents the member parties of the ALDE Party in the European Parliament, the liberal, democrat and reform groups and alliances in other international fora, Liberal International and the youth organisation of the ALDE Party;  

– observe, analyse and contribute to the debate on European public policy issues and the process of European integration through education, training, research and the promotion of active citizenship within the European Union, particularly with regard to young Europeans;  

– strengthen the liberal, democrat and reform movement in the European Union and throughout Europe;  

– seek a common position, as a transfer of the experience gained from contracting Members, on all important matters affecting the European Union;  

– develop cooperation in order to support liberal democracy throughout Europe and its neighbourhood;  

– inform the public and involve it in the construction of a united European democracy;  

– support and co-sponsor European seminars and conferences and studies on such issues between the aforementioned stakeholders.  

The European Political Foundation may carry out any operations and conduct any activities, both in Belgium and abroad, which directly or indirectly increase or promote its purpose and objectives.  

Article 4 – Term
The European Political Foundation is incorporated for an unlimited period of time.  

CHAPTER II – FULL AND AFFILIATE MEMBERS
Article 5 – Criteria for Full and Affiliate Membership, categories of Members and rights and obligations of Full and Affiliate Members
Membership of the European Political Foundation is open to those national political foundations, associations and think tanks that: promote liberal, democrat and reform ideals and values; accept these Articles of Association, the Internal Regulations and the policy programmes of the European Political Foundation; and adhere to the Stuttgart Declaration of the ALDE Party, aisbl. As an exception to the foregoing, full membership is automatically granted to the President of the ALDE Party, asbl, and the signers of the founding Act.  

The European Political Foundation has Full and Affiliate Members, which are natural persons or legal entities lawfully established in accordance with the laws and customs of their country of origin. The European Political Foundation shall be composed of at least seven Full Members.  

Full Members have to be based in the European Union, in an EU candidate country, in an EEA member state, in an EFTA member state or an EU neighbourhood country.  

New applicants shall first be admitted as Affiliate Members. Affiliate Members based in the EU shall be subject to pay half the minimum Full Membership fee. Affiliate Members not based in the EU are exempt from membership fees. They have the right to take part in the meetings of the General Assembly and to voice their opinion. They do not have the right to vote. Affiliate Members can either apply for Full Membership, after having actively participated in a minimum of three European Liberal Forum events, or decide to remain Affiliate Members. 

If a candidate Member does not dispose of a legal status in accordance with the laws and the customs of its country of origin, it shall, in its written application for membership, appoint a natural person who will act on behalf and for the account of all the members of this candidate Member in his/her capacity as a common proxy holder.  

Full Members shall pay a membership fee. The minimum fee shall be 500 EUR, corresponding to one delegate. A fee of 2,500 EUR will apply to three delegates and the fee for five delegates shall be 5,000 EUR, with the exception of the President of the ALDE Party, aisbl, and the signers of the founding Act. The General Assembly shall determine their fee, which shall be no less than 500 EUR and shall not exceed 5,000 EUR.  

Full Members shall have the right to participate in the General Assembly, to express their opinions and to vote, on the condition that their voting rights have not been suspended due to an unpaid membership fee. The membership fee is due one month after invoicing at the latest; after that point in time, the right to vote is suspended until all payments due are received.  

Article 6 – Register of Full and Affiliate Members
A register containing an up-to-date list of all Full and Affiliate Members of the European Political Foundation will be held at the registered office.  

All Full and Affiliate Members may have access to the register at the registered office of the European Political Foundation.  

Article 7 – Admission of Full and Affiliate Members
Foundations, associations and think tanks can apply for membership if they are nominated by two other Members of the European Political Foundation.  

Any application for Full or Affiliate Membership shall be sent to the Board of Directors with all necessary documentation evidencing that the applicant fulfils the membership requirements. This application should include a position paper outlining the prospective Affiliate member organisation’s relationship to liberalism. The Board of Directors shall submit the application, its preliminary report and its opinion to the General Assembly, which will examine whether or not the application meets the Affiliate or Full Membership requirements. The General Assembly shall take its decision with a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast. The decision of the General Assembly to admit the applicant shall be final, and the General Assembly shall be under no obligation to justify its decision.  

Article 8 – Resignation and expulsion of Full or Affiliate Members
Any Full or Affiliate Member may resign from the European Political Foundation at any time by giving three months’ notice by registered letter addressed to the President. The resignation shall only come into force at the end of the financial year.  

A resigning Full or Affiliate Member will remain liable for its financial obligations vis-à-vis the European Political Foundation until the end of the financial year during which its resignation took place.  

If a Full or Affiliate Member fails to meet its financial obligations, a notice is sent by the Treasurer requesting the settlement of debts and also mentioning that the voting right of the Full Member shall be suspended until full payment is received.  

If a Full or Affiliate Member fails to meet its financial obligations for two consecutive financial years, it will be considered as having resigned from the first day of the following financial year.  

Any Full or Affiliate Member may be expelled for any of the following reasons:  

i. not abiding by the Articles of Association or the Internal Regulations;  

ii. not abiding by the decisions of any body of the European Political Foundation;  

iii. no longer fulfilling the conditions for Full or Affiliate membership;  

iv. when any of its actions have been contrary to the interest and the values of the European Political Foundation in general.  

The General Assembly decides on the expulsion of Full or Affiliate Members with a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast, and if at least two-thirds of the Full Members are present or represented and the number of non-EU Full Members does not exceed one-third of the total number of Full Members present and represented. If this quorum is not met, another General Assembly shall be convened no earlier than 15 calendar days after the first meeting. At the second meeting, the General Assembly may validly take decisions regardless of the number of Full Members present or represented, provided that the number of non-EU Full Members does not exceed one-third of the total number of Full Members present and represented. The Full or Affiliate Member will be informed by registered mail of the expulsion proposal. The letter sets forth the grounds on which the proposed expulsion is based. The Full or Affiliate Member has the right to notify its remarks in writing to the President within 15 calendar days subsequent to the receipt of the letter. Upon its prior written request, the Full or Affiliate Member involved shall be heard.  

The expulsion decision sets forth the grounds on which the expulsion is based; but, apart from that, the decision does not need to be justified. The President sends a copy of the decision to the expelled Full or Affiliate Member by registered letter, within 15 calendar days. The expulsion shall come into force immediately, but the expelled Full or Affiliate Member shall remain liable for its financial obligations vis-à-vis the European Political Foundation until the end of the financial year.  

A Full or Affiliate Member who has resigned or been expelled shall have no claim against the assets of the European Political Foundation.  

CHAPTER III – BODIES OF THE ASSOCIATION
Article 9 – The Bodies of the European Political Foundation
The bodies of the European Political Foundation are:
i. The General Assembly;
ii. The Board of Directors;
iii. The Executive Director.

CHAPTER IV – GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The General Assembly consists of the Full Members (natural persons), and the representatives of the Full Members and of the Affiliate Members. The Board of Directors organises the General Assembly, and the Executive Director drafts its minutes. Affiliate Members can voice their opinion but do not have the right to vote. 

In accordance with the Internal Regulations and upon prior invitation, third parties, being individuals and/or legal entities, may be granted the right to take part in a meeting of the General Assembly. They may voice their opinion but do not have the right to vote.  

The decisions taken by the General Assembly shall be binding for all Full and Affiliate Members, including those absent or dissenting.  

The following powers are restrictively reserved to the General Assembly:  

a. election, dismissal and discharge of the members of the Board of Directors;  

b. appointment, dismissal and discharge of the statutory auditor, as the case may be; 

    c. approval of the common annual activity programme, upon proposal of the Board of Directors;  

    d. approval of the annual accounts, the annual report, the budget and any other form of financing;  

    e. admission, suspension and expulsion of Full and Affiliate Members;  

      f. amendments to the Articles of Association;  

        g. amendments to the Internal Regulations;  

          h. interpretation of the Articles of Association and the Internal Regulations;  

            i. dissolution and liquidation of the European Political Foundation;  

              j. upon proposal of the Board of Directors, the appointment of one or more independent experts as referred to in Article 22 of the Statutes; 

                k. as the case may be, the bringing of an action of the European Political Foundation against the members of the Board of Directors and the statutory auditor; 

                  l. making or accepting the free transfer of a universality; 

                    m. transformation of the European Political Foundation into an international not-for-profit association; 

                      n. any other power reserved to the General Assembly by law or by the Articles of Association. 

                      .

                      Article 11 – Notices and meetings
                      The Board of Directors convenes the General Assembly. The General Assembly shall meet twice per calendar year. The first General Assembly shall be held in spring; the second, in autumn.  

                      It shall inform all Full and Affiliate Members of this decision. Each Full Member shall be invited to the General Assembly six weeks before the set date. Items for the agenda must be submitted by Full Members not less than three weeks prior to the General Assembly. 

                      The Secretariat is responsible for ensuring all Member Organisations’ access and the integrity of the vote. Should at least one third of the total number of Full Members object, this decision shall be overruled. 

                      If applicable, a reminder from the President, stating that the membership is unpaid and therefore the right to vote has been suspended until the membership fee is received, shall be joined to the invitation of the member concerned. 

                      The Board of Directors or at least a fifth of the Full Members may convene extraordinary meetings of the General Assembly.  

                      Notices are sent by mail, email or any other written or electronic means. The rest of the rules related to the agenda, timetable and conduct of General Assembly meetings will be laid down within the Internal Regulations.  

                      Article 12 – Representation

                      The Full Members shall be represented at the General Assembly by their President or their delegate(s), designated in accordance with the Internal Regulations.  

                      Each Full Member may also be represented by another Full Member, by virtue of a written power-of-attorney. However, each Full Member shall represent no more than two other Full Members. Thus, it is possible for a delegate to represent multiple votes.  

                      The Full Members shall be entitled, in accordance with the Internal Regulations, to at least one delegate and a maximum of five delegates, depending on the contribution.  

                      Article 13 – Proceedings, quorums and votes

                      The delegates shall sign an attendance list of Full Members prior to the meeting, under the name of the Full Member they represent. All other participants will equally sign the attendance list. 

                      For all decisions to be taken by the General Assembly, when the necessary quorum is reached: 

                      The proportion of voting rights of EU and non-EU Full Members will be verified at the beginning of each General Assembly meeting, in order to determine if the rules foreseen in the previous paragraph must be applied or not during that General Assembly meeting. 

                      The General Assembly may validly proceed if at least one-third of the Full Members are present or represented and the number of non-EU Full Members does not exceed one-third of the total number of Full Members present and represented. Where this quorum is not reached, a new meeting of the General Assembly shall be called no earlier than 15 calendar days after the first meeting. This second meeting of the General Assembly shall be entitled to validly take decisions, irrespective of the number of Full Members present or represented, provided that the number of non-EU Full Members does not exceed one-third of the total number of Full Members present and represented 

                      The General Assembly may validly decide to change the Articles of Association if at least two-thirds of the Full Members are present or represented and the number of non-EU Full Members does not exceed one-third of the total number of Full Members present and represented. If this quorum is not met, another General Assembly shall be convened no earlier than 16 calendar days after the first meeting. At the second meeting, the General Assembly may validly take decisions regardless of the number of Full Members present or represented, provided that the number of non-EU Full Members does not exceed one-third of the total number of Full Members present and represented.  

                      Votes shall be cast by a show of hands, or, in case audioconference, videoconference or web-conference is used, by voice, unless one-third of the Full Members present or represented requests, before the vote begins, that a secret ballot vote be held. However, concerning elections and unless foreseen otherwise in these Articles of Association, votes shall be cast by secret ballot. 

                      The decisions of the General Assembly, including elections and dismissals of Members of the Board of Directors, shall be taken with a simple majority of the votes cast, except in cases where it has been decided otherwise by law or the Articles of Association.  

                      Specifically, a two-thirds majority of the votes shall be required for changes to the Articles of Association; for changes to the purpose of the European Political Foundation, a four-fifths vote shall be required. 

                      Abstentions and blank or invalid votes shall not be taken into account when counting the votes. In case of a tie vote, the decision will be rejected.  

                      The meetings of the General Assembly can be validly held (fully or partially) by conference call, videoconference, web-conference or any other way indicated in the convening notice. Decisions taken by conference call, videoconference and web-conference are deemed to take place at the registered office of the European Political Foundation. 

                      The Board of Directors (or any person designated by it to that end), under conditions which it determines, may authorize members to remotely vote (including in electronic form) before a General Assembly meeting. 

                      Decisions of the General Assembly may also be taken by written resolutions, provided that each Full Member has been informed at least fifteen calendar days in advance of the decisions to be taken. Decisions taken by written resolutions of the Full Members require unanimity and modifications to the Articles of Association cannot be decided by written resolutions. The decisions come into effect on the date mentioned on the written resolutions and are deemed to be taken at the registered office of the European Political Foundation. 

                      If a member has a conflict of interest, that member shall communicate this and will abstain from voting on the precise point in question. 

                      Article 14 – Minutes
                      The decisions of the General Assembly are recorded in minutes. The minutes are approved during the next meeting of the General Assembly and signed by the chair of the approving General Assembly. The minutes are kept in a register, at the Full and Affiliate Members’ disposal, at the registered office of the European Political Foundation. A copy of the minutes is also sent out to all Full and Affiliate Members.  

                      The minutes of the General Assembly may also be published in full or in part.  

                      CHAPTER V – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                      Article 15 – Composition and powers
                      The Board of Directors consists of nine members: the President, two Vice-Presidents (the First and Second Vice-Presidents) and a Treasurer, as well as five other Board members. It is desirable that the Board of Directors is balanced, both gender-wise and geographically; in line with Regulation No 1141/2014 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations, the members of the Board must be composed of persons who are nationals of at least one-quarter of the EU Member States. They are elected by the General Assembly for a two-year period.  

                      Candidate Board members must be nominated by a Full Member of the European Political Foundation. The members of the Board of Directors will be natural persons. 

                      The Board members are elected in accordance with the rules laid down in the Internal Regulations. 

                      The mandate of the Board members is renewable. A Board member cannot serve on the Board of Directors for more than two mandates in the same position nor more than eight years in total. In accordance with the rules laid down in the Internal Regulations, third parties may be invited to take part in a meeting of the Board of Directors as observers. Observers may voice their opinion but do not have the right to vote. The Executive Director of the European Political Foundation and the Secretary General of the ALDE Party, aisbl, are ex-officio members of the Board of Directors, without voting rights.  

                      Unless it is decided otherwise by the General Assembly, the term shall be effective immediately and shall end following the second “annual meeting” that is held after the one at which the election was held or the term was renewed.  

                      The function of members of the Board of Directors has no remuneration. Reasonable expenses supported by appropriate documentary evidence will be reimbursed.  

                      The Board of Directors shall be vested with the power to undertake any act necessary or useful to achieve the purpose and objectives of the European Political Foundation, except for those powers that the law or these Articles of Association reserve for the General Assembly.  

                      The Board of Directors shall appoint and dismiss the Executive Director. 

                      The Board of Directors may delegate, under its responsibility, part of its powers for particular or specific purposes to a proxyholder.  

                      The Board of Directors may set up advisory and working groups for any purpose it sees fit. The composition, terms of reference and the rules of procedure of such advisory and working groups will be laid down in the Internal Regulations.  

                      Article 16 – Vacancy before term
                      In the event that a vacancy occurs, a new member of the Board of Directors can be appointed by the Board of Directors, in accordance with the provisions laid down in Article 18.
                      The term of office of the replacing member of the Board of Directors shall expire simultaneously with the term of the replaced member of the Board of Directors. The appointment shall be ratified at the next meeting of the General Assembly.

                      Article 17 – Notices and meetings
                      The Board of Directors shall meet at least two times a year.
                      Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be called by the President or by two members of the Board of Directors.
                      Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be chaired by the President or, in his/her absence, by the First Vice-President, the Second Vice-President or the Treasurer. The notice calling the meeting shall contain the place, date, time, agenda and, as the case may be, any working documents. It must be sent to all members of the Board of Directors by letter, e-mail or any other written or electronic means at least eight calendar days prior to the date of the meeting. The notice period of eight calendar days may be shortened in the case of urgency duly justified. 

                      Article 18 – Proceedings, quorums and votes
                      Decisions shall be valid when at least half of the members of the Board of Directors participate and the number of non-EU members of the Board does not exceed one-third of the total number of members of the Board present. Where this quorum is not reached, a new meeting of the Board of Directors shall be called no earlier than eight calendar days after the first meeting. The second meeting of the Board of Directors shall be entitled to take valid decisions, irrespective of the number of members of the Board of Directors participating, provided that the number of non-EU members of the Board does not exceed one-third of the total number of members of the Board present.  

                      The Board of Directors may only deliberate on the matters set out in the agenda, unless all voting members of the Board of Directors agree and decide unanimously to discuss other matters.  

                      Each member of the Board of Directors will have one vote. A member of the Board of Directors may not grant a power-of-attorney to another member of the Board of Directors. 

                      Votes are held by a show of hands, or, in case audioconference, videoconference or web-conference is used, by voice, unless one-third of the members present or represented request, before the vote begins, that a secret ballot vote be held.  

                      The decisions of the Board of Directors shall be taken with a simple majority of the votes cast. Abstentions and blank or invalid votes shall not be counted in the votes cast. In case of a tie vote, the chair of the meeting shall have a deciding vote.  

                      The meetings of the Board of Directors can be validly held (fully or partially) by conference call, videoconference, web-conference or any other way indicated in the convening notice. Decisions taken by conference call, videoconference and web-conference are deemed to take place at the registered office of the European Political Foundation. 

                      The Board of Directors, under conditions which it determines, may authorize Board members to remotely vote (including in electronic form) before a Board of Directors meeting. 

                      Decisions of the Board of Directors may be taken by written resolutions, provided that each Board member has been informed at least eight calendar days in advance of the decisions to be taken. Decisions taken by written resolutions of the Board members require unanimity. The decisions come into effect on the date mentioned on the written resolutions and are deemed to be taken at the registered office of the European Political Foundation. 

                      If a Board member has a conflict of interest, he/she shall communicate this and will abstain from voting on this precise point.

                      Article 19 – Minutes
                      Decisions taken by the Board of Directors shall be recorded in minutes. The minutes are approved during the next meeting of the Board of Directors and signed by the chair of the next approving meeting.
                      The minutes are kept in a register, at the disposal of the members of the Board of Directors, at the registered office of the of the European Political Foundation. A copy of the minutes is also sent out to all members of the Board of Directors.

                      CHAPTER VI – MANAGEMENT OF THE ASSOCIATION
                      Article 20 – The Executive Director
                      The Board of Directors shall delegate the daily management of the European Political Foundation to the Executive Director. The Board of Directors defines the scope and financial limitations of the daily management powers of the Executive Director. The Treasurer will take a particular role alongside the Executive Director in the administration and personnel management of the Association.
                      The term of office of the Executive Director shall be for a maximum, renewable period of three years.
                      The Executive Director shall be remunerated according to the decision of the Board of Directors. Reasonable expenses supported by appropriate documentary evidence will also be reimbursed.
                      The Executive Director may delegate a part of his/her powers for particular or specific purposes to a third party, under his/her responsibility.

                      CHAPTER VII – REPRESENTATION OF THE ASSOCIATION
                      Article 21
                      The European Political Foundation shall be validly represented with respect to all acts, including court proceedings, by either the President or any two members of the Board of Directors acting jointly, who shall not be obliged to offer third parties proof of any prior decision of the Board of Directors.  

                      The Executive Director shall individually represent the European Political Foundation with respect to all acts of daily management, including court proceedings, and shall not be obliged to offer any proof of a prior Board decision to third parties.  

                      The European Political Foundation is also validly represented by a proxyholder, within the limits of his/her power-of-attorney.  

                      CHAPTER VIII – AUDIT
                      Article 22
                      The audit of the financial situation and annual accounts, as well as verification that the transactions set out in the annual accounts comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including the Articles of Association and the financial rules of the European Parliament, shall be entrusted to one or several independent experts appointed by the General Assembly. 

                      Alternatively, the General Assembly may, subject to the mandatory provisions of Belgian law, decide that the external audit imposed by the European Parliament, in accordance with the EU Regulations governing political parties at European level and the rules regarding their funding, will be adequate and therefore remove the need for appointing such independent experts in accordance with the first paragraph of this article. 

                      CHAPTER IX – INTERNAL REGULATIONS
                      Article 23
                      The General Assembly shall adopt and may amend the Internal Regulations of the European Political Foundation. The Internal Regulations regulate the functioning of the European Political Foundation and its bodies in general and may not conflict with the Articles of Association. The Articles of Association take precedence over the Internal Regulations.

                      CHAPTER X – FINANCIAL YEAR, BUDGET AND ACCOUNTS
                      Article 24
                      The financial year shall coincide with the calendar year.

                      Article 25
                      The Board of Directors shall prepare the annual accounts at the end of each financial year. The Treasurer, on behalf of the Board of Directors, shall also issue an annual report justifying the management of the European Political Foundation. This annual report shall include comments on the annual accounts for the purpose of presenting the evolution of the European Political Foundation and the European Political Foundation’s activities.  

                      The annual report and the auditor’s report shall be presented to the General Assembly for approval, together with the draft annual accounts.  

                      CHAPTER XI – FINANCING
                      Article 26
                      The European Political Foundation shall secure its financing through:  

                      i. resources granted by any authority, more particularly the European authorities;  

                      ii. membership fees;  

                      iii. remuneration for any service rendered by the European Political Foundation to its Full and Affiliate Members or third parties;  

                      iv. the payment of royalties for the use of intellectual property rights owned by the European Political Foundation;  

                      v. fundraising and/or voluntary contributions;  

                      vi. any other form of authorized financial resource.  

                      The Full and Affiliate membership fees must be paid before 1 April each year. If a new Member has been accepted during the spring General Assembly, then the fee will be calculated pro rata until the end of the year. It is due at the latest 2 months after acceptance.  

                      CHAPTER XII – LIMITED LIABILITY
                      Article 27
                      The Full and Affiliate Members of the European Political Foundation, the members of the Board of Directors and those persons entrusted with the daily management of the European Political Foundation will not be personally liable for the obligations of the European Political Foundation.  
                      The liability of members of the Board of Directors or persons entrusted with daily management is limited to the proper performance of their mandate.  

                      CHAPTER XIII – AMENDMENTS TO THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION, DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION OF THE EUROPEAN POLITICAL FOUNDATION
                      Article 28
                      Any proposal to amend these Articles of Association or to dissolve the European Political Foundation shall only be valid if proposed by the Board of Directors or one fifth of the Full Members.  

                      The proposed amendments to the Articles of Association must be attached to the notice calling the meeting of the General Assembly.  

                      An attendance quorum of at least two-thirds of the Full Members, whether they are present or represented, is required for decisions regarding amendments to the Articles of Association or the dissolution of the European Political Foundation and the number of non-EU Full Members must not exceed one-third of the total number of Full Members present and represented. Where this quorum is not reached, a new meeting of the General Assembly shall be called no earlier than 16 calendar days after the first meeting. The second meeting of the General Assembly shall be entitled to take valid decisions irrespective of the number of Full Members present or represented, provided that the number of non-EU Full Members does not exceed one-third of the total number of Full Members present and represented.  

                      Decisions regarding amendments to the Articles of Association shall be taken with a majority of two-thirds of the votes of the Full Members present or represented.  

                      Any decision relating to the amendments to the Articles of Association shall be published in the Annexes to the Belgian Official Gazette.  

                      Decisions pertaining to the purpose of the European Political Foundation or to its dissolution shall be taken with a majority of four-fifths of the votes of the Full Members present or represented.  

                      In the event that the European Political Foundation is dissolved, the General Assembly shall decide by a simple majority of the votes cast on (i) the appointment, powers and remuneration of the liquidators, (ii) the methods and procedures for the liquidation of the European Political Foundation and (iii) the designated destination for the net assets of the European Political Foundation. The net assets of the European Political Foundation will have to be allocated to a non-profit purpose.  

                      CHAPTER XIV – FINAL PROVISIONS
                      Article 29
                      These Articles of Association shall be written in French and English. The French version is the official version of the Articles of Association and shall take precedence.
                      English shall be the working language of the European Political Foundation.

                      Article 30
                      Anything not provided for under these Articles of Association will be regulated by the Regulation № 1141/2014 of the European Parliament, the Council of 22 October 2014 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations and by the applicable provisions of the Belgian Companies and Associations Code.  

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