STATUTES

Of the
Board of European Students of Technology

Approved by GA2011 Belgrade

 29-G-BG-STT-000

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Article 1: TITLE

1.1 A non-political and non-profit making association, ruled by the French law of July 1st,
1901 and the decree of August 16th, 1901, having as title “Board of European
Students of Technology“, hereafter referred to as BEST, is founded between the
adherents to the present Statutes. As a complement to the Statutes this association
also has Internal Regulations.

Article 2: LOCATION OF LEGAL REGISTRATION

2.1 The association is registered at the following address:

BEST
46, Avenue Felix Viallet
38000 GRENOBLE
FRANCE

2.2 The address can be transferred by a simple decision of the Executive Board and the
ratification by the General Meeting.

Article 3: PURPOSE

3.1 BEST will develop activities in order to help European students of technology to
become more internationally minded, by reaching a better understanding of European
cultures and developing the capacity to work on an international basis.

Article 4: AIMS

4.1 BEST will be an information network among students of technology.

4.2 BEST will serve European students of technology in a non-representative way, in

matters concerning them and their education.

4.3 BEST will extend knowledge in fields significant to the future professions of the
students of technology.

4.4 BEST will develop cultural and social interactions.

Article 5: OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

5.1 The official language of BEST is English.

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Article 6: MEMBERS

6.1 Members of BEST are the so-called Local BEST Groups, hereafter referred to as
LBGs, which have to fulfil the following criteria:

6.1.1 An LBG is a group of students, studying technology, at a university, or

equivalent.

6.1.1.1 The university, or equivalent, is situated in Europe.

6.1.2 There can only be one LBG at each university, or equivalent, in BEST.

6.1.3 The only representative of a university, or equivalent, in BEST is its LBG.

6.1.4 LBGs may have one of two legal statutes in the country of origin, listed in
6.1.4.1 and 6.1.4.2 inclusively.

6.1.4.1 LBGs having their own legal statutes in compliance with the
statutes of BEST.

6.1.4.2 LBGs related to student organisations at their university, having

their own legal statutes in compliance with the statutes of BEST.

6.2 Local BEST Groups can be of four types, listed in 6.2.1 to 6.2.4 inclusively.

6.2.1 A Full Member is an LBG with the right to vote.

6.2.2 An Associated Member is an LBG with the same status as a Full Member but
without the right to vote.

6.2.3 A Baby Member is an LBG interested in becoming a Full Member or an

Associated Member. A Baby Member does not have the right to vote.

6.2.4 A Suspended Member is an LBG that has not fulfilled its obligations towards
the association. A Suspended Member does not have the right to vote.

6.3 Any Local BEST Group can state its own opinion not supporting a General Meeting
decision or a Virtual International Plenary decision, but they have to acknowledge it.

Article 7: OBSERVERS

7.1 Groups of students interested in applying for membership, which support the Aims
and Purpose of BEST and can fulfil the criteria listed in article 6.1, may be granted
the status Observer of BEST.

7.2 This status is given and withdrawn according to the rules specified in the Internal
Regulations.

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Article 8: ADMISSION

8.1 An Observer of BEST can become a Baby Member, following the rules and criteria in
the Internal Regulations.

8.2 A Baby Member can become a Full or Associated Member, following the rules and
criteria in the Internal Regulations.

8.3 The admission to BEST can only be decided by a General Meeting.

Article 9: SUSPENSION

9.1 A Full or an Associate Member can be suspended if it doesn’t fulfil its obligations
towards the association that are defined in the Internal Regulations.

9.2 Suspension of an LBG can only be decided by a General Meeting.

9.3 A General Meeting may decide to withdraw the suspension.

Article 10: TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP

10.1 Membership is terminated if a member: resigns, dissolves, or is excluded.

10.2 A Member may resign only after notifying the International Board and after fulfilling
all its previous obligations to BEST.

10.3 A Member that dissolves has to notify the International Board of this decision.

10.4 A member may be excluded from BEST for the following reasons:

10.4.1 It violated these Statutes.

10.4.2 It was not physically present at two consecutive General Meetings.

10.4.3 It has a policy not complying with the Aims and Purposes of BEST.

10.4.4 It was suspended for one year.

10.4.5 A General Meeting decides to exclude the member for other reasons.

10.5 There are following ways for a member to be excluded:

10.5.1 Direct exclusion by voting during the extraordinary voting session of a

General Assembly.

10.5.2 Automatic exclusion of a Suspended Member if its suspension was not lifted
within a certain time frame, as defined in the Internal Regulations.

10.5.2.1 This time frame can be shortened by the decision of the General
Meeting.

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 10.5.3 The exclusion of a Baby or a Suspended Member can also be decided by any
General Meeting during a normal voting session.

10.5.4 If a member is not physically present at 3 consecutive General Meetings, its

exclusion will be voted upon during a normal voting session of any General
Meeting.

10.5.5 If a member is not physically present at 4 consecutive General Meetings, it

will be automatically excluded on that fourth non-attended General
Meeting.

Article 11: TITLE OF HONORARY MEMBERS

11.1 The title of Honorary member may be granted by the association, in compliance with
the Internal Regulations, to persons having rendered important services to the
association.

Article 12: GENERAL MEETINGS

12.1 A General Meeting, hereafter referred to as a GM, represents members and is a

decision making body of BEST.

12.2 There are 2 types of General Meetings: the General Assembly and the Presidents’
Meeting, as defined in articles 13 and 14 respectively.

12.3 A GM decision can be overturned by a subsequent GM or subsequent Virtual

International Plenary decision.

12.4 GMs will take place at least twice a year.

Article 13: GENERAL ASSEMBLY

13.1 The General Assembly, hereafter referred to as the GA, is the highest decision-
making body of BEST.

13.2 The GA is the meeting of delegates from LBGs, members of the International Board
and other persons invited to attend the GA by the International Board, a GM or the
Virtual International Plenary.

13.2.1 At least one GA is held annually.

13.3 The GA is taking decisions through voting sessions and, if so specified, through
extraordinary voting sessions.

13.4 The main tasks of the GA are:

13.4.1 To discuss and decide about any questions or matters within the interest of
BEST.

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 13.4.2 To decide upon membership issues.

13.4.3 To approve the budget.

13.4.4 To elect the International Board.

13.4.5 To review the activities of the International Board and vote upon the approval
of its report.

13.5 A GA is called by the International Board or by at least 1/3 of all Full Members.

13.5.1 A GA is called at least two months before the opening session.

13.5.2 If a GA includes an extraordinary voting session, it has to be announced and a

list of the topics in the extraordinary voting session has to be given at least
one month before the opening session of GA.

13.6 The following have the right to make proposals to the GA: Full and Associated
Members, the International Board and any other person or body that has been given
this right by the GM, the Virtual International Plenary or by the International Board.

13.7 The written activity report of the International Board has to be presented by the
International Board at the beginning of the GA. The vote on approval of the
aforementioned activity report has to be included in the agenda of a voting session.

13.8 The GA minutes will be distributed to the LBGs by the International Board within
two months after the event.

Article 14: PRESIDENTS’ MEETING

14.1 The Presidents’ Meeting, hereafter referred to as the PM, is a decision-making body
of BEST.

14.2 The PM is a meeting of LBGs represented by one delegate each, members of the
International Board and other persons invited to attend the PM by the International
Board, a GM or the Virtual International Plenary.

14.3 The PM is taking decisions through voting sessions.

14.4 The main tasks of the PM are:

14.4.1 To discuss and decide about any questions or matters within the interest of
BEST.

14.4.2 To decide upon membership issues.

14.5 A PM is called by the International Board or by at least 1/3 of all Full Members.

14.5.1 A PM is called at least one month before the opening session.

14.6 The following have the right to make proposals to the PM: Full and Associated
Members, the International Board and any other person or body that has been given

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 this right by a GM, the Virtual International Plenary or by the International Board.

14.7 The PM minutes will be distributed to the LBGs by the International Board within
two months after the event.

Article 15: VIRTUAL INTERNATIONAL PLENARY

15.1 The Virtual International Plenary, hereafter referred to as VIP, represents members
and is a decision-making body of BEST.

15.2 The VIP is an on-line environment which gathers LBGs, represented by one delegate
each, members of the International Board and other persons invited to attend the VIP
by the International Board, a GM or the VIP itself.

15.3 The VIP is taking decisions through voting sessions.

15.3.1 A VIP decision can be overturned by a subsequent GM or subsequent VIP

decision.

15.4 The main task of the VIP is to discuss and decide about questions or matters within
the interest of BEST. Some issues can not be decided by VIP and these are listed in
the Internal Regulations.

15.5 The VIP is active during the whole year.

15.6 The following have the right to make proposals to the VIP: Full and Associated
Members, the International Board and any other person or body that has been given
this right by a GM, the VIP or by the International Board.

15.7 The VIP discussions and decisions are permanently available to the LBGs, through an
on-line archive of emails and voting results.

Article 16: VOTING PROCEDURES

16.1 Each Full Member has to register its presence at the GM at the beginning of each
voting session.

16.1.1 Registration of the Full Members for a voting session in the VIP is defined in
the Internal Regulations.

16.2 Each Full Member has one vote per voting round, both at voting sessions and
extraordinary voting sessions.

16.2.1 Each Full Member has the option to withdraw from each single voting round.

16.3 Delegation of votes is allowed as specified in the Internal Regulations.

16.4 At the beginning of each voting session or extraordinary voting session which takes
place during a GM, an agenda has to be approved.

16.4.1 In VIP each voting session consists of one single voting round.

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Article 17: VOTING SESSION

17.1 A voting session is valid if more than 1/2 of all the Full Members are registered.

17.2 At GMs, if only 1/2 or less of the Full Members are registered the Full Members not
registered are given voting right by postal vote, as specified in the Internal
Regulations.

17.2.1 Postal votes not received within seven weeks after the voting session are
considered to be abstentions.

17.3 For a decision to be valid, more than 1/2 of all Full Members must participate in the
single voting round.

17.4 Decisions are made with an approval of more than 1/2 of the votes cast, unless
specified differently in the Statutes or Internal Regulations. Abstentions shall not be
included in the number of votes cast, unless specified differently in the Statutes or
Internal Regulations.

Article 18: EXTRAORDINARY VOTING SESSION

18.1 An extraordinary voting session only takes place during a General Assembly.

18.2 An extraordinary voting session is valid if more than 3/4 of all the Full Members are
registered.

18.3 If only 3/4 or less of the Full Members are registered the Full Members not present
are given voting right by postal vote, as specified in the Internal Regulations.

18.3.1 Postal votes not received within seven weeks after the voting session are
considered to be abstentions.

18.4 For a decision to be valid, more than 3/4 of Full Members must participate in the
single voting round.

18.5 Decisions are made with an approval of more than 2/3 of the votes cast, unless
specified differently in the Statutes. Abstentions shall not be included in the number
of votes cast, unless specified differently in the Statutes.

Article 19: EXECUTIVE BOARD

19.1 The Executive Board is the representative body of BEST. The Executive Board co-
ordinates the work of the International Board.

19.2 The members of the Executive Board are legal representatives of the association and
are responsible for their actions to GMs.

19.3 The Executive Board consists of at least three members out of whom three are: the
President, the Treasurer and the Secretary.

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19.4 The Executive Board members are elected by the GA.

19.5 The rules for the nomination, election and possible re-election of the Executive Board
members are defined in the Internal Regulations.

19.6 The financial report of the Treasurer has to be presented at the beginning of the first
GM after the end of the Treasurer’s mandate. The vote on approval of the financial
report has to be included in the agenda of a voting session.

Article 20: INTERNATIONAL BOARD

20.1 The International Board is the managing and co-ordinating body of BEST. It is
responsible for its actions and decisions to GMs.

20.2 The main tasks of the International Board are global co-ordination of BEST and its
bodies and programmes, execution of GM decisions, promotion of aims and purpose
of BEST and support for quality assurance of all BEST activities.

20.3 The International Board consists of the members of the Executive Board and the Vice
Presidents, whose responsibilities are specified in the Internal Regulations.

20.4 The President of the Executive Board is also the President of the International Board
and bears the title The President of BEST.

20.5 The mandate of the International Board is one year and starts on 1st of July of the year
it is elected, unless the GA decides differently.

20.6 The International Board is elected as specified in the Internal Regulations.

20.7 If an International Board member resigns or its membership in board in other ways
terminates before the end of the mandate, the International Board will appoint an
interim replacement for the position in question. The aforementioned interim
replacement will stay in position until the next General Meeting when an election
must be held.

20.7.1 In case of the President, the International Board will choose one of the
Executive Board members to take over the duties of the President.

20.7.2 In case of any other position the interim replacement will be a person who is
not a member of the International Board.

20.7.3 If an International Board member resigns or its membership in the board in

other ways terminates during a General Meeting, an election must be held.

20.8 An International Board member may be dismissed by the General Meeting with a
majority of 2/3 of the votes cast if:

20.8.1 The International Board member does not satisfactorily perform his/her tasks.

20.8.2 The International Board member violates these Statutes, the Internal
Regulations or the interests of BEST.

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Article 21: RESOURCES AND EXPENSES

21.1 The activities of BEST are to be funded by activity fees, fundraising from
corporations and organisations, public subsidies and donations.

21.2 Funds can not be accepted if tied to conditions contrary to the interests of BEST.

21.3 A GM may decide a financial contribution from the LBGs to the common fund.

21.3.1 This must be done respecting the principle of solidarity: the same financial
effort shall be required from all LBGs, even if the amount asked from each
LBG is not the same.

21.3.2 This may only be done as a last resource.

21.4 A fiscal year in BEST corresponds to the mandate of the International Board.

21.5 Two financial auditors will be elected at the GM to which the financial report is being
presented, as specified in the Internal Regulations.

Article 22: MODIFICATION OF THE STATUTES

22.1 Modification of the Statutes may only be decided by a GA, during an extraordinary
voting session. Abstentions shall be included in the number of votes cast.

22.2 Any proposals for changes of the Statutes have to be notified to the International
Board before the GA is called; and have to be submitted and made public together
with the announcement of the extraordinary voting session.

22.2.1 During the GA amendments to these proposals can be proposed.

Article 23: INTERNAL REGULATIONS

23.1 Besides these Statutes, BEST has the Internal Regulations that further regulate
internal affairs of BEST.

Article 24: POWER OF STATUTES

24.1 In case of conflict the Statutes prevail over the Internal Regulations, or any other GM,
VIP or International Board decision.

Article 25: END OF THE ASSOCIATION

25.1 The end of the association may only be decided by a GA, during an extraordinary
voting session.

25.2 The Full Members not present at the GA are given voting right by postal vote.

25.3 The decision to end the association must be unanimous.

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25.4 When the association ends, the funds from BEST are to be given to UNICEF,
corresponding to the article 9 of the French law of July 1, 1901 and to the decree of
August 16, 1901.

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