The EUROPEAN MOVEMENT (MALTA) meeting in General Council on the 1st day of August 1997, adopted the following statute providing for the structure and organisation of the Movement.

Chapter I - Objectives

Article 1 The European Movement (Malta), formerly known as the Malta Council of the European Movement founded in 1965 and set up in terms of the rules and objectives laid down by the EUROPEAN MOVEMENT [herein after referred to as The EUROPEAN MOVEMENT], an international organisation constituted in Brussels, Belgium. The European Movement Malta upholds the "Declaration of Principles" of the European Movement International and other declarations made from time to time by the said Movement. The European Movement (Malta) is an autonomous, non-profit-making organisation.

The European Movement is a European Non-Governmental, non-profit-making Organisation. Its main objective is to contribute towards the realisation of the democratic United States of Europe. Its aims are defined in part by the Appeal to all Europeans launched by the Congress of Europe of The Hague in 1948, by the appeals, declarations and resolutions of its congresses ratified by the Federal Council in conformity with its statute.

Article 2 The main objectives of the European Movement (Malta) are:-

1.       Affiliation and continued co-operation with the EUROPEAN MOVEMENT;

1.       The promotion of activities to diffuse the study and the need of a political, economic, social and cultural integration between the states of Europe;

2.       The promotion of Malta's full participation in the process of European integration;

3.       The attainment of active participation in the European Movement (Malta) by personalities capable of making a contribution towards the idea of a United Europe;

4.       The establishment of close relations with other organisations which uphold similar objectives as the European Movement (Malta);

5.       The dissemination of information on the process of European integration and the activities of the European Movement (Malta);

Article 3 The European Movement (Malta) shall publish from time to time a manifesto of its objectives after its approval by the Executive Committee and the General Council conforming to the objectives of the EUROPEAN MOVEMENT.

Article 4 On the basis of the Manifesto, the Executive Committee shall every two years or earlier as deemed necessary outline its policy and work programme.

Article 5 The headquarters of the European Movement (Malta) shall be those as shall be from time to time established by the Executive Committee.

Chapter II - Membership

Article 6 Membership is open to all individuals, bodies corporate, organisations and institutions that approve and concur with the objectives of the European Movement (Malta). The membership subscription is that as from time to time shall be established by the Executive Committee and as duly approved by the General Assembly.

Article 7 The Executive Committee shall have full powers to ensure the general observance of the provisions of this statute by the members

Chapter III - Decision-Making Bodies

Article 8 There shall be a General Council, an Executive Committee and a European Forum.

Article 9(1) The General Council shall be the supreme body of the organisation and shall consist of all full individual members accepted according to article 6 and having duly paid their annual subscription fee as well the Honorary Presidents. Affiliated organisations will send three delegates to the General Council with full voting rights. The General Council shall be convened at least once a year, possibly towards the end of the year and the Secretary General presents the annual report and the Treasurer presents the annual accounts. Every two years, the General Council will elect the Executive Committee as well as two auditors to audit the financial accounts of the Movement. Half the members of the European Movement (Malta) shall constitute a quorum. However, should a quorum not be achieved, the meeting will proceed after a delay of 15 minutes with the members present. The Executive Committee may call an extraordinary meeting of the General Council should the need arise. Half the members plus one of the Movement may call on the Executive Committee to convene a meeting of the General Council which will have to be called within a period of four weeks.

Article 9(2) The General Council shall elect fifteen persons to form the Executive Committee. It shall also elect the Honorary Life President on a motion by the Executive Committee. The elections shall be held every two years during a meeting held in terms of article 9(1) or at any other meeting of the General Council called for that purpose following the approval of a motion of censure duly motivated and approved by a two thirds majority of those present at a General Council. The working body of the organisation shall be the Executive Committee. The General Council shall elect the Executive Committee every two years.

Article 10(1) The Executive Committee shall deal with all matters involving the scope and policy of the organisation and shall have the authority to set up sub-committees and sections and to nominate representatives.

Article 10(2) The first meeting of the newly elected Executive Committee shall be presided by the outgoing Chairman or in his absence by any such person nominated for the purpose by the Committee members present at the meeting. The Committee shall elect the following officials from within its members by means of a vote were the majority shall consist of 50 per cent plus one of all the members present and voting: The Chairman, the Vice Chairman, the Secretary General, the Treasurer, the Information Secretary, the Secretary for Research and Education, the Assistant Secretary General, Assistant Treasurer. The Executive Committee shall draw up its internal rules of procedure and may choose to elect from among its members officials to fill posts designated by the said Committee besides those mentioned in this sub-article. The Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt additional members for a specified time period and who shall not enjoy the right to vote during proceedings. The Honorary Life President has the right to attend all meetings of the Executive Committee as well as the right to vote. The Executive Committee may also nominate Honorary Presidents who shall have no official function within the Executive Committee.

Article 10 (2.1) The Chairman, the Vice Chairman, the Secretary General, the Treasurer, the Information Secretary, the Secretary for Research and Education, the Assistant Secretary General and the Assistant Treasurer shall constitute the Administrative Committee of the European Movement and they shall meet regularly to discharge the day-to-day business and administration of the Movement, to prepare policy positions and other initiatives for discussion and approval by the Executive Committee and to take and implement urgent decisions as may be necessary.

Article 10(3) When a seat in the Executive Committee is vacated it shall be filled by the runner-up following the order of the results of the election in the last General Assembly. In case there are no runner-ups, the Executive Committee shall be empowered to co-opt any other person from among the members of the Movement. The person thus co-opted shall have full voting rights .

Article 10(4) Members of the Executive Committee absenting themselves for three consecutive meetings without due justification and notification shall be deemed to have vacated their seat and the procedure described in 10(3) is put in motion automatically.

Article 10(5) Officials and members of the Executive Committee cannot concurrently be members of the national executive body of any political party or be Members of Parliament.

Article 10 (6) The Executive Committee may, from time to time, set up committees, sub-committees, sub-divisions or sections of the Movement, whether representing sectoral groups, categories of persons or territorial areas.

Article 10 (7) Membership of each such section shall, for all intents and purposes of this statute be deemed as membership of the European Movement (Malta).

Article 10 (8) Sections of the Movement shall be set up following an authorisation to this effect by the Executive Committee which shall constitute the section by approving a statute providing for the organisation and operation of the section and providing also, inter alia, for rules relating to the name of the section, its membership and its representation on and co-ordination with the Executive Committee.

Article 10 (9) Each such section shall, at all times, follow the direction of the Executive Committee and shall be answerable and accountable to the same.

Article 10 (10) The Executive Committee shall likewise have the power to dissolve any section set up in terms with this article.

Article 11 (1) There shall be a European Forum of the European Movement (Malta) which shall consist of all members in terms of article 6 and Honorary Presidents. Affiliated organisations shall nominate one representative and his substitute. On a proposal from the Executive Committee, political parties, unions and other movements or individuals not affiliated with or members of the European Movement in terms of article 6, shall be invited to nominate a delegate and substitute to attend such meetings of the European Forum. The European Forum shall deliberate on policy as well as issues related to European integration and the role of the Movement and submit recommendations to the Executive Committee.

Article 11(2) The European Forum shall strive to meet twice annually. One half of the total number of members of the Forum shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum, the meeting shall start after a delay of fifteen minutes with the members present. The Executive Committee shall propose the agenda for the meetings. The Chairman of the Executive Committee or in his absence the Vice Chairman shall chair meetings of the European Forum.

Chapter IV - Duties Of Officials

Article 12 The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Committee, the General Council and the European Forum. He shall be responsible for the proper conduct of business at all meetings. The Chairman shall have a vote and a casting vote and shall sign the minutes when approved. He shall have the power to summon the meetings of the Executive Committee. He shall also summon the General Council and the European Forum following a decision to that effect by the Executive Committee in accordance with the provisions of this statute.

Article 13 The Vice-Chairman shall substitute the Chairman in the latter's absence.

Article 14 The Secretary General shall conduct the business of the Organisation in accordance with the provisions of this statute and shall carry out the instructions of the General Council and Executive Committee. The Secretary General shall prepare the agenda of all the meetings in conjunction with the Chairman and shall record the minutes. The Secretary General shall co-ordinate the work of the other officials of the Executive Committee and shall also prepare a report to be presented to the annual General Council. Jointly with the Treasurer, the Secretary General shall sign all cheques issued in the name of the Movement. The Secretary General shall be responsible for all correspondence.

Article 15 The Treasurer shall be responsible for presenting the business plan for the approval of the Executive Committee, for the design and issue of subscription forms, for the collection of subscriptions and donations and for the issue of membership cards signed by the Secretary General. The Treasurer shall be responsible for all the financial dealings of the Movement. He shall prepare a financial statement whenever so requested by the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall deposit all the funds of the Movement according to the directives given from time to time by the Executive Committee. Any such funds cannot be withdrawn except with the joint authority of the Secretary General and the Treasurer.

Article 16 The Information Secretary shall be responsible for preparing a marketing plan, liaison with all the media, the issue of press statements which may be approved from time to time by the Executive Committee and for all information material disseminated by the Movement.

Article 17 The Research and Education Secretary has the task of setting up research committees dealing with specific issue areas related to European integration as well as Malta's role in the process. The Research and Education Secretary has also to draw up the plan and objectives of an education campaign aimed at the Maltese public. Such dissemination of information has to be done in conjunction with the Information Secretary.

Chapter V - General and Final Provisions

Article 18 This statute may only be amended by the General Council having a two-thirds majority of members present, provided that the agenda and a copy of all proposed amendments shall have been duly circulated to all members at least fifteen days prior to the meeting.

Article 19 In all cases entailing legal action in the interests of the organisation, the official representatives shall be the Chairman, the Secretary General and the Treasurer.

Article 20 The Movement may only be dissolved by the General Council at an extra-ordinary meeting called specifically for the purpose and approved by five-sixths of the members present and voting.

Article 21 The General Council shall have the power to interpret this statute and to give rulings on questions relating to it. On any matter not provided for in this statute, the provisions of the Statute of the EUROPEAN MOVEMENT shall guide the General Council.