Statutes

Statutes of World Ecological Parties (WEP)

Preamble

Our world“s resources are limited and we have only one planet. The World Ecological Parties are an international alliance of ecological and democratic parties who are critical of globalization. Our goals are to protect and restore the world-wide ecological balance and to reorganize the society based on ecological, social and participatory democratic values with respect for all forms of life and the diversity of all human cultures, including the collective and individual human rights of persons and peoples. In order to realize our common goals on an international level, we need a globally coordinated political effort of individuals and communities working together through our alliance of World Ecological Parties.

§1 Name, field of activity and seat

The name of our alliance is: World Ecological Parties. The abbreviation is WEP. The WEP acts according to its manifesto. The seat is at the office of the General Secretary.

§2 Purposes and goals

The WEP is an alliance of political parties. Our common goals are:

• an ecological, social, democratic and peaceful society respecting the diverse cultures throughout the world and the principles described in the manifesto.

Our activities include:

• working in cooperation with member parties – support of eco-political initiatives throughout the world – common preparation of regional or world elections and referenda – further development of the manifesto in the spirit of the preamble.

§3 Languages

All official translations of these statutes are equally valid. If in doubt, the English version is the official version.

§4 Membership

A political party can become a member of the WEP, provided:

• the party accepts the manifesto and the statutes. – that ecological policy is a priority among the various political aspects of it’s program.

Any party with an extremist or criminal background or association is excluded from membership in the WEP.

Parties should publish their membership in the WEP.

The application for membership should be sent to the General Secretary or a member of the board. The application will be examined by the board members of the WEP and the General Secretary may eventually consult other members for background screening. All member parties will be consulted for new applicant members. The resulting reports will be sent to all of the member parties of the WEP within three months. The decision will be reached via internet according to the general decision procedure described in §6.

Membership in the WEP ends by resignation or exclusion. Resignation is to be declared to the executive board of the WEP and is effective after 6 months. A member can be excluded if the member intentionally acts against the statutes or the manifesto of the WEP. This decision must be taken by at least a 2/3 majority of member parties and the accused party has a 3 month period to defend itself. In exceptional circumstances (such as war or natural catastrophies) where the accused party is not able to respond in time, it is possible to revise the decision.

§5 Network partners

Network partners are political parties or other organizations which support the principles of the manifesto and the statutes of the WEP and cooperate with the WEP. Network partners have the same rights as full members, but are not entiteled to vote. The procedure for acceptance is the same as the procedure described in §4.

§6 The decision making process

Decisions within the WEP are taken either through an assembly vote or through writing by letter or electronic methods. Each member party will be contacted at their most recent address registered with the General Secretary. Decisions should be made within 4 weeks after the information has been sent out.

All decisions are taken by a simple majority of all members, unless otherwise stated in the statutes.

Each member party has one vote. The vote for each party is done by the designated WEP-representative of the party. The representatives and their postal and e-mail addresses are to be registered with the General Secretary.

§7 Organs of the WEP alliance

The organs of the WEP alliance are the General Assembly of member parties and the Executive Board.

§8 The General Assembly and its functions

(1) The General Assembly is the highest organ of the WEP.

(2) The General Assembly takes place at least once a year.

(3) The functions of the General Assembly include the election of the Executive Board and the decisions concerning the manifesto and the statutes of the WEP.

(4) If a financial order has been concluded, the assembly elects two accountants for a period of two years.

(5) Network partners may speak during the General Assembly but can not vote.

(6) Elections are decided with a majority of more than 50% of all votes handed in. If an absolute majority is not reached in the first vote, a second vote will be held. If an absolute majority is still not reached, the third vote will demand only a relative majority.

(7) Other decisions can be reached by a simple majority of the votes of the participating delegates. Delegates who can not be present physically may vote electronically, unless otherwise stated in the statutes.

(8) The General Assembly designates the member party who organizes the next General Assembly and chooses the location.

§9 The Executive Board

(1) The Executive Board is elected by the General Assembly for a period of two years. The number of members is determined by the General Assembly. The board consists of a minimum of three people: the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson and the General Secretary.

(2) The board promotes the cooperation of the member parties and network partners among each other. It coordinates the common political positions of the member parties and represents the WEP in its relations with other entities.

(3) The General Assembly can, if there are grave reasons, dismiss the members of the board, individually or as a whole, and immediately elect new members of the board.

§10 President of the board

• The President leads the different meetings of the WEPY. – He/she represents the WEPY in public according to the recommendations of the Executive Board. – He/she analyses reports.

§11 Vice-President

• The Vice-President supports the President. – He/she stands in for the President when needed.

§12 The General Secretary

• He/she has the task of supporting the respective hosting party for the organization of the General Assembly. – He/she coordinates the publication of press-releases on the level of the WEP. – He/she coordinates the written decisions. – He/she keeps close contact to the board of the WEPY.

§13 Modifications to the Preamble, Statutes and Manifesto

The preamble may be modified by a vote of at least ¾ of all of the member parties of the WEP. To modify the statutes or the manifesto, with the exception of the preamble, a majority of 2/3 of all given votes is needed.

§14 Enactment

The present statutes are approved as soon as the final version is ratified by all of the member parties of the WEP.