GENERAL PRINCIPLES
CHAPTER I
ARTICLE 1.
ABNA is a non-profit professional association of the news agencies of SE
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 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. 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’s activity shall in no way interfere with the bilateral and multilateral
collaboration of the news agencies.
CHAPTER III
MEMBERS
ARTICLE 8.
ABNA 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 G.A. 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. In case the two capacities
coincide in the same agency, the General Secretary should also sign it. 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 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 13. ABNA
members shall enjoy the following rights:
1) To have access to all of ABNA’s 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.
ARTICLE 14.
Observers do not have a voting right and cannot be elected to the association’s
administrative bodies.
ARTICLE 15. ABNA
members and observers have the following obligation:
1) To strictly adhere to these statutes.
2) To do their best for the attainment of ABNA’s goals.
3) To pay membership fees promptly
ARTICLE 16. Membership shall be terminated and observers deprived
of their status in the following cases:
1) The submission of a member’s resignation- in writing- to the president.
2) Failure to pay the membership fee for two years.
3) Failure of an ABNA member to fulfil its obligations.
4) 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 17. The
governing bodies of ABNA are:
1) The General Assembly.
2) The General Secretary
General Assembly
ARTICLE 18.
The supreme body of ABNA is the general assembly, comprising the lawful
representatives of all the agency members of the association.
1) The General Assembly meeting is convened by the President once a year while in
case of an extraordinary General Assembly, the invitation must also include the
reasons for it. Also, one more meeting
will take place during the same year. The meetings take place at any city
decided.
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.
3) The General Assembly meeting is considered to have a quorum if attended by a
2/3 majority of the members.
4) The General Assembly meetings shall be held in cooperation of the President
with the General Secretariat.
5) Members of ABNA, not attending a General Assembly meeting are nevertheless
bound by its decisions.
ARTICLE 19.
The General Assembly:
1) Elects the Secretary-General.
2) Defines the main directions of ABNA’s activities.
3) Decides about the city where the Secretariat is based.
4) Approves the financial report and determines the size of monthly fees for each calendar year.
5) ) Ratifies the new
members and observers and decides on the termination of ABNA memberships.
5) Adopts amendments to the Statutes by a 3/4 majority of attending ABNA
members.
6) An effort will be made for General Assembly decisions to be reached
unanimously. In a different case, decisions will be reached through roll-call
majority vote.
7) Makes decisions on all matters not foreseen in these Statutes.
President
ARTICLE 20.
The ABNA 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 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). He/she is the
official representative of ABNA-SE Europe.
The President:
1) Elaborates, in cooperation with the Secretary, the proposals concerning the
association’s activities and presents the said proposals for approval to the
member agencies.
2) 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 President.
General Secretary
ARTICLE 21.
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 because of its position but it could also be in any other city.
The technology allows the possibility to have the General Secretary from
one country and the Secretariat in another. 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 finances based on the approved way; monitors and presents
the annual budget in the General Assembly.
CHAPTER V
FUNDING
ARTICLE 23. ABNA
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 25.
ABNA 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 26.
The present statutes shall become effective immediately upon their adoption by
the General Assembly.