Article 11 Board of Governors
United Kingdom
The Board of Governors shall be the highest and ultimate governing body of EATRIS ERIC with full decision-making power. The Board of Governors shall meet at least once a year and shall be responsible in accordance with the provisions of these Statutes for the overall direction and supervision of EATRIS ERIC.
Member States shall jointly hold the majority of the votes.
The Board of Governors shall elect amongst its members a Chairperson and a deputy for a two-year term. The Chairperson and deputy may be re-elected. Unless decided otherwise, the Chairperson shall chair all meetings of the Board of Governors and shall be assisted by the deputy.
The Board of Governors shall use their best efforts to achieve consensus on all decisions. Failing consensus, a simple majority of the votes cast shall suffice to pass a decision, except for decisions referred to in paragraphs 5, 6 and 7.
The Board of Governors shall decide with a majority of at least two-thirds of the votes of the Members on decisions to:
adopt or change the strategies for the development of EATRIS ERIC;
appoint, suspend or dismiss the Finance Director and the Scientific Director after consultation with the Board of National Directors;
establish Subsidiary Bodies in addition to the Permanent Bodies;
adopt or change Standing Orders which describe the mandate and specify the activities of the Executive Board and of the Subsidiary Bodies;
adopt and amend the annual work programme and the annual budget.
Decisions of the Board of Governors to terminate a Membership or Observer status shall require a majority of at least three quarters of the votes of the Members.
A Member whose Membership termination is to be decided upon shall have no vote in that decision.
The Board of Governors shall decide with unanimity of the Members, not counting any abstentions, on decisions to:
amend the statutes, except for Appendix 1;
wind up EATRIS ERIC.
Unless otherwise agreed, Members shall be informed of the exact wording of amendments to the Statutes and to Appendix 2 at least three months before those amendments are put to vote.
The Board of Governors shall meet and decide validly only if a quorum of two thirds of all the Members of EATRIS ERIC are present or represented.
The Board of Governors shall adopt Rules of Procedure for implementing the provisions of the Statutes.