European Forum of
National Laity Committes

Constitution

PURPOSE 

Article 1

The European Forum of National Laity Committees (hereafter referred to as the Forum) is an instrument of collaboration between the National Committees and Councils of the Catholic Laity in European countries which will be referred to hereafter as National Committees. The Forum considers itself as an association for the promotion of the Christian vocation in the world according to can. 215 CIC. It has no authority over National Committees, but it is an advocate for the European Laity.

Article 2

The Forum aims:

1. To facilitate the exchange of experiences and information between members on questions of European importance, especially in relation to problems concerning the Church’s mission in the world and pastoral work.

2. To promote studies on present day problems in the Church and in the world.

3. To maintain contacts and enhance co-operation with:

a) The Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE) and other Church instruments at European level;

b) The Pontifical Council for the Laity;

c) International Catholic organisations with structures at European level, or holding regular meetings at that level;

d) Churches and organisations of other Christian traditions, as  well as European or international ecumenical movements.

4. To maintain contact with, co-operate with, or address analyses or motions to the European, national or community authorities, civil and political organisations, and public opinion, for the promotion of Christian values.

MEMBERSHIP

Article 3

National Committees having the approval of their episcopate are eligible as members of the Forum.

Article 4

The Presidents’ Council of the Forum is entitled to decide that this condition is met and to admit those National Committees which request membership.

Article 5

A National Committee can lose membership of the Forum by dissolution, resignation or exclusion. Dissolution or resignation operates without delay. Exclusion can be decided only by the Statutory Assembly, ruling by a two-thirds majority in the case of

STRUCTURE

Article 6

The decision-taking bodies of the Forum are its Statutory Assembly and Presidents’ Council.

Other bodies are the Steering Committee and the President.

THE STATUTORY ASSEMBLY

Article 7 

The Statutory Assembly is the main decision-taking body of the Forum. It sets the general orientations, aims and missions of the Forum.

It votes and amends the Constitution and Standing Orders of the Forum and it elects its President.

The Statutory Assembly may delegate, by rule or ad hoc decisions, competencies and a general decision capacity to the Presidents’ Council. Other devolutions will be restricted to specific matters, and performed under the authority, control and responsibility of the delegating body.

Article 8 

The Statutory Assembly is composed of delegations of the National Committees who are members of the Forum.

Article 9

The voting rules are set by the Standing Orders.

Article 10

The following may be invited as observers:

Article 11

The Statutory Assembly shall meet at least once every two years.

THE PRESIDENTS’ COUNCIL

Article 12

The Presidents’ Council is composed of the President of the Forum and of the presidents of the National Committees, who are members of the Forum.

A National President can delegate his membership, permanently or occasionally, to another member of his/her National Committee. Whenever this occurs, the delegate enjoys all the rights and shares all the obligations of his/her constituency.

Article 13

The Presidents’ Council collegially rules the Forum between the meetings of the Statutory Assembly and along the lines drawn by it. It represents the Forum to the outside world.

THE PRESIDENT

Article 14

The President of the Forum is elected by the Statutory Assembly  from among the members of the Forum for a four year mandate, renewable once.

Article 15

The President has a general mission of animation and coordination of the Forum activities. He/she is responsible for the functioning of the Forum bodies. He/she takes or proposes initiatives in close connection with the decision-taking bodies. He/she represents the Forum, implementing its policies.

Article 16

The President chairs the assemblies, the Presidents’ Council and the Steering Committee. With the agreement of the body concerned, he/she can delegate the chair of meetings.

THE STEERING COMMITTEE

Article 17

The Steering Committee is the Executive body of the Statutory Assembly and Presidents’ Council, and is responsible to them.

It takes part in the President’s general mission of animation and coordination of the Forum.

It deals with current affairs, prepares Study and Statutory Assemblies, and Presidents’ Council meetings.

It submits draft programmes, agendas and procedures for those meetings, in accordance with the Standing Orders and with the corresponding body’s instructions.

Article 18

The Steering Committee can – for particular purposes – invite member(s) from among participants of the previous Statutory Assembly or among persons in charge of National Committees, members of the Forum.

THE FINANCES 

Article 19

National Committees pay dues, the amount of which is determined by the Statutory Assembly.

The Forum may also receive contributions from other sources.

Article 20

The Treasurer presents a financial report and budget for approval by the Statutory Assembly.

The Statutory Assembly appoints an Auditor in order to examine and report on the financial accounts.

AMENDMENTS 

Article 21

Proposed amendments to the Constitution must be presented in writing to the Steering Committee, which in turn informs the Presidents’ Council, along with its opinion on the proposals. The Presidents must have been informed at least three months before the date of the Statutory Assembly.

No amendment shall be deemed carried unless with the approval of at least two thirds of the valid votes cast in the Statutory Assembly.

Text adopted by the Statutory Assembly on July 16, 1984 in Dublin and completed on July 4, 1990 in Vienna, modified on May 27, 2006 in Saarbrücken, on July 5, 2008 in Bratislava and July 10, 2010 in Birmingham.