Statute

On the basis of Articles 12 and 22 of the Law on Associations (Official herald of RS No. 51/09) and Article 13 of the Statute of Atlantic Council on the Assembly meeting held on 18.01.2016 in Belgrade, was adopted the following

 

STATUTE OF THE ATLANTIC COUNCIL

 

Article 1

Association ATLANTIC COUNCIL (hereinafter referred to as the Association) is a voluntary, non-governmental and non-profit association, founded for an indefinite period in order to accomplish the objectives determined in Article 2 of this Statute.

Article 2

The objectives of the Association are:

1) development of democracy in all spheres of life;

2) support for obtaining dignified place for the Republic of Serbia in the Euro-Atlantic political, economic and defense structures;

3) promotion of national values​​, interests and goals of the Republic of Serbia in the countries and nations of the Euro-Atlantic community;

4) protection of human rights;

5) cooperation with other associations having related program objectives.

 

Article 3

The tasks of the Association are:

1) to act in a economic, public and political life of the Republic of Serbia towards achieving consensus among all factors in society on the content and forms of further democratic development of the country,

2) to organize lectures, meetings, seminars and other congresses, for the free exchange of ideas,

3) to help, organize and participate in activities related to the activities of Euro-Atlantic institutions,

4) to establish links with other related organizations in the state and abroad,

5) to provide assistance to other related organizations in the state and abroad.

 

Article 4

The full name of the Association is as follows:

ATLANTIC COUNCIL

The short name of the Association is as follows: ATLANTIC COUNCIL.

A decision to change the name of the Association is rendered by the Assembly.

The registered seat of the Association is in Belgrade, in Bulevar Oslobodjenja 83, 11000 Belgrade Serbia.

The Association performs its activity on the territory of the Republic of Serbia.

The Association has a round seal in which is inscribed the following: “ATLANTIC COUNCIL Belgrade”.

 

Article 5

Member of the Association may be any person who accepts the objectives and Statute of Association.

The requirement for membership in the Association is that future member accepts and honors the ideas, objectives and Statute of Association.

Members of the Association may be domestic and foreign persons.

 

Article 6

Method of acquiring membership:

The procedure of acquiring membership of the Association is initiated by filing a written application in free form with all the relevant information of the future member with recommendations from at least two members of the Managing Board of the Association.

Membership may be acquired based on invitation from the Managing Board or the President of the Association.

The Managing Board decides on admission of a new member, based on previous activities of candidate in achieving the objectives of the Association.

In order to reach a decision on the admission of a new member, the Managing Board must have a quorum, i.e. the presence of more than half members of the Managing Board is mandatory.

The decision on admission of a new member is valid if the majority of the present members of the Managing Board of Association voted in favor of this decision. In case thatthe same number of members voted for or against the decision, the President of the Managing Board shall have the casting vote.

Article 7

Membership in the Association expires:

– By giving a written statement on the voluntary withdrawal from the Association to the Managing Board,
– Due to non-payment of membership fee after the first of April each year,
– By death or ceasing of the member,
– When the obligations of the member and the provisions of this Statute are severely violated,
– When a member breaches the law or demonstrates immoral behavior, and does not respect the principles and objectives of the Association,
– When a member undermines reputation of the Association or obstructs realization of projects of the Association.

The Managing Board decides on termination of membership in the Association.

In order to reach a decision on termination of membership in the Association, the Managing Board must have a quorum, i.e. the presence of more than half members of the Managing Board is mandatory.

The decision on termination of membership in the Association is valid if the majority of the present members of the Managing Board of Association voted in favor of this decision. In case thatthe same number of members voted for or against the decision, the President of the Managing Board shall have the casting vote.

A member, dissatisfied with the decision on termination of membership in the Association, may appeal to the Association’s Assembly within eight days from receipt of the decision on termination of the membership.

The Assembly’s decision is final.

Article 8

Member of the Association shall be entitled to:

– Participate equally with other members in achieving the objectives of the Association,
– Be directly involved in the work of the Association’s bodies in accordance with the regulations of the Statute,
– Be timely and fully informed about the work and activities of the Association.

 

Member of the Association is obligated to:

– Respect the Statute of Association,
– Actively contribute to achieving the objectives of the Association,
–  Pay the membership fee on time,
– Strengthen the authority of the Association,
– Meet and implement decisions and tasks which the bodies of the Association delegate to him.

Article 9

Association bodies are:

• Assembly
• Managing Board
• President
• Executive Director

Article 10

Members of Association Assembly:

– All Regular members of the Association and
– All Honorable members who have an advisory role and who have no right to participate in decision making.

Article 11

Assembly of the Association is empowered to decide on the following issues:

1. Adopts the Statute, as well as modifications or amendments to the Statute;
2. Appoints and dismisses members of the Managing Board;
3. Decides on entering in associations;
4. Reviews and adopts the annual financial report;
5. Decides on the status changes of the Association;
6. Decides on the termination of the Association;
7. Performs other activities determined by this Statute and the law.

 

Article 12

The Assembly meetings are chaired and managed by the President of Managing Board.

Minutes of the meeting are kept, signed by the chairman and record keeper.

Article 13

In order to render decisions from Article 11 hereof Assembly must have a quorum, i.e. presence of 50% of members who are duly summoned in line with provision of Article 15 of this Statute.

If there is no quorum, the beginning of session with the same agenda is to be postponed for one hour. After the lapse of one hour session with the same agenda may be held and it can validly make decisions regardless of the lack of a quorum, provided that at least 40% of Association members are present.

In decision making process each regular member has one vote.

The Assembly shall decide by simple majority vote of present members.

Two-thirds of the present members has to vote in favor of change, modification or amendment to the Statute, the decision on dissolution of the Association and decision on any status change.

Article 14

Regular session of the Assembly of the Association is held at least once a year.
Extraordinary session of the Assembly must be convened if a written request for its convening, is submitted:

– Based on the decision of the Managing Board,
– At the request of at least ten regular members of the Association,
– At the request of the President of the Association.

Extraordinary session of the Assembly must be held within 30 days of the request for its convocation.

Article 15

Assembly of the Association is convoked by a written notification.

A written notification, indicating time and place of the session of the Assembly and proposed agenda, is submitted to each member not later than 7 days before the date of the meeting.

The date of submission of the notification, within the meaning of paragraph 2 of this Article, shall be deemed the date of dispatch of a registered mail, fax, courier or an email.

The Assembly may also render decisions by using conference calls or using other audio/visual communication equipment provided that all persons participated in the meeting may hear and talk to each other.

Article 16

Managing Board has 5 members, 4 of which are appointed and may be dismissed by the Assembly and the fifth is the President of the Youth Organization.

The term of the office of members of the Managing Board is three years.

Article 17

Managing Board:

1. Implements the decisions of the Assembly;
   2. Appoints and dismisses the President of the Managing Board whose term of the office lasts five years;
2. Appoints and dismisses the President of the Association whose term of the office lasts five years;
3. Appoints and dismisses the Executive Director whose term of the office lasts five years;
   5. Decides on the admission of new members and on the termination of membership in the Association, in line with the provisions of this Statute;
   6. Elects honorary members of the Association on the proposal of the President of the Association or President of the Managing Board, or on the proposal of two members of the Managing Board or three members of the Council of Association;
   7. Takes account of the financial situation of the Association;
   8. Decides on annual budget of the Association;
   9. Decides on establishment of branch offices – organizational units of the Association on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, which do not have a status of legal entity;
   10. Decides on the amount of membership fee for each category of Association members from Article 12 of the Statute;
   11.Verifies reports of the President of the Association and regulates the business relationship with him;
   12. Decides on participation in projects of research institutions, governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, relevant to the achieving objectives of the Association;
   13.Decides on internal organization and systematization of jobs in the Association;
   14.Performs other duties of importance for the Association and its bodies in accordance with the Statute.

Article 18

Managing Board works in meetings.

Meetings of the Managing Board are convoked and chaired by a chairman of the Managing Board, and in his absence the meeting is chaired by a person elected by members of the Managing Board among themselves.

The President of the Managing Board shall convoke the meeting of Managing Board if at least two members of the Managing Board submit the request for the session.
Meetings of the Managing Board are called when needed, and at least three times a year.

Article 19

The Managing Board may duly decide and work if the meeting is attended by more than half of the members of the Managing Board.

In the case of a split vote, the prevailing vote is the one of the President of the Managing Board, or his replacement.

The Managing Board renders their decisions by simple majority vote of the members present.

At the explicit request of the President of the Managing Board, decision on special issues Managing Board shall render by consensus.

 

Article 20

The Managing Board may render decisions without convoking the meeting, by using conference calls and using other audio/visual communication equipment provided that all persons participated in the meeting may hear and talk to each other.

Article 21

The Association has a President who is legal representative of the association (hereinafter: the President).

The President shall be elected and dismissed by the Managing Board on the proposal of two members of the Managing Board or ten members of the Association.

The President is elected for a period of five years.

The President is the person authorized to represent the Association, and he may authorize the other person for undertaking certain tasks and actions from his competence by issuing  the special written authorization.

The President is responsible for his work to the Assembly and the Managing Board of the Association, particularly regarding the legality of activities and the disposal of assets of the Association.

Article 22

The President shall have the following competencies:

1. Proposes work plans
2. Proposes internal organization and systematization of the jobs/positions to the Managing Board
3. Decides on the status of the employees of the Association
4. Provides assistance to the President of the Managing Board in organizing Managing Board meetings
5. Performs other tasks given to him by the Assembly or the Managing Board
6. Chairs the Assembly

Article 23

The Association has an Executive Director.

Executive Director is appointed and dismissed by the Managing Board. He is, in general, appointed for the term of five years.

Executive Director is managing the operational part of the Associations’ activities, preparation and implementation of the Associations’ projects, public relations, provides suggestions to the President of the Association on the methods of resolving status of the employees and performs other tasks founded in special authorities given by the President of the Association.

Executive Director answers to the Managing Board and the President of the Association.

Article 24

The Association acquires assets through:

– Membership fees,
– Voluntary contributions, donations and gifts (in cash or in kind),
– Financial subventions,
– Legacies,
– Interest on deposits,
– Rent,
– Dividends,
– Other legally foreseen manner.

The Association keeps business records, drafts financial statements and is subject to audit, in accordance with the regulations on accounting and auditing.

Article 25

The Association shall be liable for its obligations with its entire property.
The Members of the Association and the bodies of the Association may personally be liable for obligations of the Association, if they treat the assets of the Association as if it is their personal property or misuse the Association as a platform for illegal or fraudulent purposes.

Article 26

The assets of the Association may only be used to achieve the objectives of the Association determined under this Statute.
The assets of the Association may not be shared to its members, founders, members of the Association’s bodies, the President, employees or persons associated with them.

Article 27

The work of the Association is public.
The President of the Association takes care of the regular informing of members and the public about the activities of the Association, either directly or through internal publications, and through press releases, or other suitable manner.
Annual accounts and reports on the activities of the Association shall be submitted to the members on the session of the Assembly.

Article 28

In order to achieve its objectives, the Association makes contacts and cooperaties with other associations and organizations, in state and abroad.

The Association may join international associations of the same or similar objectives, based on a decision of the Assembly.

Article 29

The Association shall terminate its work in cases prescribed by law.

In addition to events set by law, the Association cease the operation on the basis of a decision of the Assembly if it is determined that the conditions for realizing goals of the Association no longer exist.

The Association shall lose the status of legal entity once it is erased from the Registry of associations kept before the Serbian Business Registers Agency.

Article 30

Pursuant to the provision of Article 42 of the Law on Associations, in case the Association terminates its work, all its assets shall be transferred to the Center for the Protection of Infants, Children and Youth in Belgrade, Zvečanska Street no.7.

Article 31

The Statute of the Association can be amended.

Changes and amendments to Statute of the Association may be initiated by:

–   Managing Board,

–  President, or

–  One third of members of the Assembly.

The decision on changes and amendments to the Statute shall be rendered by the Assembly of the Association on manner determined in Article 17 paragraph 6 of this Statute.

Article 32

The Association shall carry out its activities in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, its laws and other relevant positive regulations.

Article 33

 

By the date of adoption of this Statute the version of the Statute dated April 11th, 2011 cases to be effective with all its changes and amendments.

This Statute shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.

 

Chairman of the Assembly:
Vladan Živulović