Statutes
CHAPTER I
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
ARTICLE 1.
ABNA-SE is a non-profit professional association of the news agencies of South
East European countries.
The seat of the association is the city where the Association's Secretariat is
based.
CHAPTER II
BASIC OBJECTIVES
ARTICLE 2. The basic objectives of ABNA-SE are the following:
2.1. To assist the organization, co-ordination and informing of its members and
to support their common interests.
2.2. To facilitate the exchange of information (e.g. social, political,
economic, cultural, sports etc.), reference data, photo and television material
among the agencies.
ARTICLE 3.
To carry out research in the information sector, to organize meetings on the
various problems encountered in the profession, to share experience and promote
collaboration among the association members.
ARTICLE 4.
To establish
collaboration with regional and international organizations to the benefit of
the associated agencies. All such collaboration must be approved by the General
Assembly.
ARTICLE 5.
To organize
special tours, research trips, holidays, research, etc, for journalists and
information specialists in collaboration with the agencies members of ABNA-SE.
Institute prizes for journalists, photojournalists and others, who promote
cooperation between the Agencies of SE European countries and serve the goals of
the Association through their activities.
ARTICLE 6.
To support the
creative development of journalists, specialists and students by providing
public opportunities, organizing lectures, consultations, scholarship and
special training.
ARTICLE 7.
ABNA-SE's activity
shall in no way interfere with the bilateral and multilateral collaboration of
the news agencies.
CHAPTER III
MEMBERS
ARTICLE 8.
ABNA-SE shall be
comprised of permanent members and shall also grant observer status.
ARTICLE 9.
Membership shall be conferred upon the major national professional news agencies
of SE Europe. The term national describes connection of the agency with
institutions of the respective state. The application for membership must be
submitted to the General Secretariat two months before the General Assembly. The
General Secretary informs the President and the member agencies before the G.A.
and it incorporates the application in the agenda of the next G.A. If in ABNA-SE
Europe there is another agency which is already a member then the application
must be signed (accepted) by this member agency from the same country. In case
they refuse, the issue is introduced to the General Assembly for approval. For
the approval of the application 2/3 majority of the total number of ABNA-SE’s
members is needed.
ARTICLE 10.
The observer must
apply in writing to the General Secretariat two months before the G.A. The
General Secretary incorporates the application in the Agenda. Simple majority is
required.
ARTICLE 11.
Each agency member
of the ABNA-SE shall be represented by its general director or by a duly
authorized representative. All members shall have one vote at the General
Assembly meeting.
ARTICLE 12.
ABNA-SE members shall enjoy the following rights:
1) To have access to all of ABNA'-SEs information, its archive and other aspects
of its activity.
2) To nominate representatives for election to the association's administrative
bodies.
3) To participate, through their representatives, in the general meeting and
other events organized by the ABNA-SE
ARTICLE 13.
Observers do not have a voting right and cannot be elected to the association's
administrative bodies
ARTICLE 14.
ABNA-SE members and observers have the following obligation:
1) To strictly adhere to these statutes.
2) To do their best for the attainment of ABNA-SE's goals.
3) To pay membership fees promptly
ARTICLE 15. Membership shall be terminated and
observers deprived of their status in the following cases:
1) The member or observer resigned in writing with a letter sent to the
President or the General Secretariat. .
2) Failure to pay the membership fee for two years.
3) Failure of an ABNA-SE member to fulfil its obligations.
The President consults with the General Secretary and presents in writing the
reasons for the decision. The G.A. decides with 2/3 majority of the members.
CHAPTER IV
GOVERNING BODIES
ARTICLE 16.
The governing bodies of ABNA-SE are:
1) The General Assembly.
2) The President.
3) The General Secretary.
General Assembly
ARTICLE 17.
The General Assembly:
The supreme body of ABNA-SE is the General Assembly, comprising the lawful
representative of all the members of the association.
1) The General Assembly meeting is convened by the President once a year while
extraordinary sessions will be held in case of urgent issues.
2) The General Assembly meeting is convened by written notification to the
members, containing the agenda, sent at least 30 days before the date of the
meeting. In the case of extra Ordinary G.A. the invitation must also include the
reasons for calling the meeting.
3) The General
Assembly is considered to have a quorum if attended by 2/3 majority of the
members.
ARTICLE 18.
The General Assembly : |
1) Elects the Secretary-General.
2) Defines the main directions of ABNA-SE's activities.
3) Approves the financial report and determines the size of monthly fees for
each calendar year.
4) Ratifies the new members and observers and decides on the termination of ABNA-SE
memberships.
5) Adopts amendments to the Statutes by a 3/4 majority of ABNA-SE members.
6) An effort will be made for General Assembly decisions to be reached
unanimously. In a different case, decisions will be reached through vote.
7) Makes decisions on all matters not foreseen in these Statutes.
President
ARTICLE 19.
The ABNA-SE president is elected on a rotating basis for a one-year term based
on the initial letters (Latin alphabet) of the cities where the ABNA-SE news
agencies' headquarters are located.
However, in special cases, the General Assembly can decide a different order for
the election of the President (simple majority is needed).
The President:
1) He/she is the official representative of ABNA-SE Europe.
2) Elaborates, in cooperation with the Secretary, the proposals concerning the
association's activities and presents the said proposals for approval to the
member agencies.
3) Monitors the
activities of the General Secretariat. If the seat of the President becomes
vacant the next in turn President becomes automatically the new ABNA-SE
General Secretary
ARTICLE 20.
The General Secretary is elected by 2/3 majority of members attending the
General Assembly for a two-year term. The General Secretariat is a technical
support to the President and General Secretary. The basis could be in
Thessaloniki but it could also be in any other city. The person in the
Secretariat is a part-time worker.
The General Secretary:
1) Communicates the proposals and decisions of the president to the member
agencies; conveys the demands, proposals and texts prepared by the member
agencies to the president.
2) Ensures the continuity of administration between General Assembly meetings.
3) Coordinates the activities of member agencies and prepares the necessary
documents on the decisions reached in ordinary and extraordinary General
Assembly meetings.
4) Manages the ABNA-SE finances based on the approved way; monitors and presents
the annual budget in the General Assembly.
CHAPTER V
FUNDING
ARTICLE 21.
ABNA-SE shall
raise funds from:
1) Membership fees.
2) Revenues from the publication of information bulletins and other information
products.
3) Donations, grants and property passed by will
CHAPTER VI
FINAL PROVISIONS
ARTICLE 22.
ABNA-SE may
terminate its activities by a decision of the General Assembly taken with the
consensus of the ¾ of its members. In such case, all money collected (as
mentioned in the previous Article) will be donated to UNICEF.
ARTICLE 23.
The present Statutes shall become effective immediately upon their adoption by
the General Assembly.
(Please note that the above is the Statutes of ABNA-SE as it was revised in the
Association’s General Assembly meeting in Belgrade, 28-31/10/2010)
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