Article 12 Powers and voting majorities of the General Assembly

United Kingdom

The General Assembly shall be the highest governing body of CERIC-ERIC and shall decide CERIC-ERIC policy in scientific, technical and administrative matters. The General Assembly shall issue appropriate instructions to the Executive Director.

The General Assembly shall decide by consensus any proposal for an amendment to the Statutes in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Regulation.

The following matters shall require the approval by the General Assembly by a qualified majority of two thirds of Members having voting rights:

(a)

accession of new Members and the status of Observers;

(b)

proposals for cash contribution by Members subject to limits and conditions indicated by each Member;

(c)

organisational and functional structure of CERIC-ERIC;

(d)

General Assembly's rules of procedure;

(e)

financial rules as well as any other rules and procedures for the implementation of provisions of the Statutes;

(f)

appointment of the Chair and members of the International Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee;

(g)

taking out of loans;

(h)

approval or refusal of a specific Facility indicated by a Member as a Partner Facility, based on the evaluation by the ISTAC or by an ad hoc International Evaluation Committee;

(i)

appointment or termination of the appointment of the Executive Director and attributions of powers;

(j)

termination of the participation to CERIC-ERIC of a Member not fulfilling its obligations;

(k)

winding-up of CERIC-ERIC and the settlement of assets;

(l)

approval of external contracts and contributions.

The following matters shall require the approval by the General Assembly by a qualified majority of two thirds of the Members present and having voting rights:

(a)

election of the Chair and Vice-Chair of the General Assembly;

(b)

adoption of the scientific and the technical program of CERIC-ERIC;

(c)

adoption of the annual ordinary activities program and budget of CERIC-ERIC;

(d)

adoption of specific projects and related budgets;

(e)

agreement of credited values for in-kind contributions;

(f)

adoption of the Annual Activity Report;

(g)

closure of annual accounts;

(h)

establishment of advisory Committees or other Bodies.

Except where otherwise provided in the Statutes, all other decisions of the General Assembly shall be taken by a majority of the Members present and voting.

Each Member shall have one vote in the General Assembly, under condition that Member States of the European Union or associated countries shall hold jointly at all times the majority of the voting rights. Abstentions shall not be taken into account for achieving the majority of votes. In case of a tie, the vote of the Chair of the General Assembly shall prevail.

The General Assembly shall also have such other powers and perform such other functions as may be necessary for the achievement of the objectives of CERIC-ERIC.