Article 10 General Assembly
United Kingdom
The General Assembly shall be the governing body of DARIAH ERIC and shall be composed of representatives of the Members of DARIAH ERIC. Representatives of the Observers of DARIAH ERIC may be present and take the floor in all General Assembly meetings, but without voting rights.
Each entity representing a Member or an Observer shall nominate one official representative. Additionally, each Member or each Observer may bring their National Coordinator or other experts. Each delegation of Members or Observers may consist of up to three persons.
Each Member or each delegation of Members shall carry one single vote.
The votes of Members in default of paying their contribution on the day of the General Assembly meeting shall be suspended.
Member States and associated countries shall always have the majority of votes in the General Assembly. In case extra voting rights are necessary to implement this provision, the allocation of such extra voting rights shall be given effect with a decision of the General Assembly.
The General Assembly shall elect its Chair and its Vice-Chair by simple majority of the votes, among its Members, for a three year term, renewable. The Vice-Chair shall substitute the Chair in his/her absence and in case of conflict of interest. The Chair, or a person authorised by the Chair, shall be responsible for updating Annex I, so there shall be at all times an accurate list of the Members, Observers and their representing entities.
The General Assembly shall meet annually in an ordinary meeting or in a repeat meeting if the ordinary meeting has been adjourned, and may hold extra meetings.
The operational details of organising any kind of General Assembly meeting (such as ordinary meetings, repeat meetings, extra meetings, representation at meetings, invitation deadlines, agendas, minutes etc.) shall be stated in the Internal Rules of Procedure.
In an Ordinary Meeting, if at least two thirds of the Members, who are entitled to vote, are present or represented, the quorum requirement shall be met. In a repeat meeting of the General Assembly, the quorum shall be considered met, irrespective of the number of Members present or represented.
A simple majority shall be formed when the count of votes cast in favour of the decision is higher than the count of votes cast against. Decisions may be subject to additional majority conditions as set out in paragraphs 13 to 17.
The General Assembly shall validly:
hold a meeting only if the quorum requirements have been met;
make a decision only if the majority requirements have been met.
On all items, the General Assembly shall use their best efforts to achieve consensus. Failing consensus, the General Assembly shall decide the issues in accordance with the weighted voting system as defined in paragraphs 13 to 17.
The General Assembly, with simple majority, shall:
accept new Members, Observers, and Cooperating Partners;
approve the financial reports and the annual activity report;
appoint or dismiss members of the Scientific Board;
extend the duration of DARIAH ERIC;
appoint the auditors;
accept an exceptional withdrawal of a Member or an Observer.
The General Assembly, with simple majority including the positive vote of the Members representing at least fifty per cent of the annual DARIAH ERIC contributions as defined in Article 18(1) and in Annex II, shall:
have the right to amend the budget at any time and may amend all appropriations and calculations of contributions according to the principles described in Annex II;
approve the strategic orientation and the activity programme including each VCC programme and budget;
appoint or dismiss a director at any time, according to the rules that it has defined.
Without prejudice to Article 9(3) of Regulation (EC) No 723/2009, the General Assembly, with simple majority including the positive vote of the Members representing at least seventy five per cent of the annual DARIAH ERIC contributions as defined in Article 18(1) and in Annex II, shall:
approve any late addition of an item to the agenda regarding a proposal to amend the Statutes;
propose an amendment of the Statutes in accordance with the provisions laid down in Regulation (EC) No 723/2009;
adopt the Internal Rules of Procedure;
approve the annual budget, including the in-kind contributions, no later than November of the preceding fiscal year.
The General Assembly with a unanimous decision shall:
expel Members and Observers. The vote of the Member in question shall not be counted for the decision;
dissolve DARIAH ERIC;
approve an annual increase of the contributions of Members and Observers, which would exceed two percent;
approve the DARIAH Data Policy.
The General Assembly shall decide on any matter concerning DARIAH ERIC, which is not referred to in the previous paragraphs, in accordance with paragraph 16.
The members of the General Assembly shall be bound by the provisions of the Internal Rules of Procedure.