Statutes of the ECPRD

The Statutes of the ECPRD were adopted by the ECPRD Secretaries-General meeting at the Conference of Speakers in Budapest on 7 June 1996.

PREAMBLE

The European Centre for Parliamentary Research and Documentation (ECPRD) was created in 1977 at the request of the Conference of Speakers of European Parliamentary Assemblies.

I. AIMS

Article 1

The objectives of the ECPRD are to promote the exchange of information, of ideas and of experience on subjects of common interest which fall within its competence; to strengthen close cooperation between the member services in all fields of parliamentary information, research and documentation; to collect, exchange and publicise the studies of parliamentary services.

II. COMPOSITION OF THE ECPRD

Article 2

The European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the WEU Assembly and chambers where the President is a member of the Conference of Speakers of European Parliamentary Assemblies, are members of the ECPRD.

Article 3

1. A parliament possessing special guest or observer status at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe may participate in the different activities of the ECPRD but without the right to vote on its bodies.

2. The ECPRD may cooperate with non-European parliamentary chambers.

III. GOVERNING BODIES OF THE ECPRD

i. THE CONFERENCE OF CORRESPONDENTS

Article 4

1. The Secretary-General of each parliamentary chamber appoints a senior official (Correspondent) to represent the chamber within the Conference of Correspondents of the ECPRD.

2. The Correspondent is selected from amongst those officials whose activities bring him into close contact with the ECPRD and has direct access to the Secretary-General of the chamber. He can thereby coordinate the activities of those officials of his chamber who are asked to play an active role in the ECPRD.

Article 5

1. The Conference of Correspondents is responsible, in cooperation with the Co-Directors, for the organisation of the activities of the ECPRD. It examines the draft report on the activities of the ECPRD, drafted and presented by the Co-Directors, which contains the action programme of the ECPRD for the following two years. The report is then submitted to the Secretaries-General and to the Conference of Speakers of the European Parliamentary Assemblies.

2. Meetings of the Conference of Correspondents, chaired by the Co-Directors, take place at least every twelve months.

3. Decisions of the Conference of Correspondents are reached, in principle, by consensus. If a consensus cannot be reached, issues will be decided by a vote with a necessary majority of at least two-thirds of the votes cast, representing a majority of members of the ECPRD, as indicated in Article 2.

ii. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Article 6

1. The Executive Committee is composed of the two Co-Directors and three Correspondents appointed by the Conference. The Committee will meet as often as necessary, at the request of the Co-Directors or of at least five Correspondents.

2. The members of the Executive Committee, other than the Co-Directors, are to be renewed with one member being replaced each year, so as to ensure continuity. Elections to this end will take place at the Correspondents' annual meeting.

iii. THE CO-DIRECTORS

Article 7

1. The Secretaries-General of the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe each nominate a senior official as a Co-Director of the ECPRD.

2. The two Co-Directors are responsible for the management of all activities of the ECPRD and are assisted by the two Secretaries of the ECPRD and by other officials of their respective institutions.

3. The Co-Directors are the Correspondents for their assemblies.

IV. WORKING METHODS

Article 8

1. Cooperation between the ECPRD and member chambers takes place by the exchange of information and by the compilation of documentation and studies.

2. For special topics, seminars may be organised. The ECPRD my also participate in other activities organised within its fields of interest.

3. If necessary, the Conference of Correspondents or the Executive Committee may create Working Groups intended to promote close cooperation between member chambers in areas that require a continuity of activity.

V. FINANCING OF THE ECPRD

Article 9

1. Member chambers of the ECPRD meet the travelling expenses of their officials and the costs of communication with the ECPRD.

2. Member chambers may organise activities of the ECPRD, such as meetings, seminars etc., and bear the costs of such events. They may also make voluntary financial contributions to the ECPRD.

3. The operating costs of the ECPRD are covered by the budgets of the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in conformity with current practice.

4. The ECPRD may accept outside donations following a favourable opinion from the Conference of Correspondents.

V1. REVISION OF THE STATUTES

Article 10

The revision of these Statutes is the responsibility of the Secretaries-General of the member assemblies.