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Constitution of the FERS

Article I. Objectives

    The objectives of the Forum of European Respiratory Societies (FERS) are to coordinate the common activities of the ERS and National Respiratory Societies, and to improve the standards of care of lung health in Europe by:

  • Increasing awareness of respiratory health and disease
  • Raising awareness of patients' needs
  • Raising awareness of research needs
  • Increasing funding for patient care, patient service and research
  • Coordinating approaches to the European Union (EU) and National Governments
  • Improving medical education and accreditation

Article II. Powers and means of action

    In order to attain its objectives, and for no other purpose, FERS will:

  1. Support national activities at the EU level
  2. Support EU activities at the national level
  3. Seek to influence the EU public health, research, environmental and other relevant agendas
  4. Provide information and advice on EU initiatives through the ERS Brussels Office
  5. Promote and facilitate interaction among National Societies and between National Societies and ERS
  6. Facilitate the establishment of European standards and activities in postgraduate education and continuing medical education (CME) accreditation
  7. Support the implementation of Task Force recommendations and guidelines
  8. Promote and/or facilitate joint membership activities between the ERS and National Societies

Article III. Status and Domicile

FERS is a not-for-profit international organisation constituted in accordance with Articles 60 and following of the Swiss Civil Code. The domicile of the Forum is Lausanne, Switzerland.

Article V. Organisation

  1. FERS will be composed of one member delegate per country represented, and representatives of the ERS. If there are two or more National Societies in a country, the leaders of the societies should agree among themselves on who their delegate should be. Delegates should be part of the leadership of the national societies.
  2. The mandate of delegates should be a minimum of two years and flexible thereafter with a maximum of six years. Delegates should be represented by a named deputy if unable to attend meetings of FERS.
  3. FERS is answerable to the ERS and the member societies, with the authority to act rapidly, in a semi-independent capacity, where the need arises.
  4. FERS should meet at least once a year but information should be exchanged frequently and continuously.
  5. Working groups will be established, as the need arises, to achieve specific objectives.
  6. FERS will be chaired by the ERS President.
  7. The ERS Secretary General, the Chair of the ERS School and the ERS EU Relations Officer will, together with the FERS Chair, be part of the Steering Committee. There will be a further five members of the Steering Committee selected from delegates of National Societies leading to a total membership of nine. To ensure continuity. the ERS Past President and President-Elect will be observers in the Steering Committee.
  8. The function of the Steering Committee is to guide the FERS. The Steering Committee is advisory and answerable to the FERS, which in turn is answerable to the National Societies of its members and the ERS.
  9. Decisions of the Steering Committee are by majority vote with five as a quorum. Decisions of FERS are by majority vote with 10 as a quorum.
  10. National Society members of the Steering Committee are selected from five regional groups (Appendix 1) in alphabetical order with a mandate of two years.

Article VI. Modus operandi

  1. Decisions will be reached by consensus, where possible. Where a vote is necessary, it will be on the basis of one vote per country.
  2. All activities must be linked to specific projects based on identified priorities. New initiatives and strategies should be approved by the member societies and the ERS.

Article VII. Secretariat

The secretariat will be provided initially by ERS.

Article VIII. Resources

  1. The overall costs of FERS are shared on a pro rata basis. The basis of the calculation is contained in an appendix to this document.
  2. The financial year will be the calendar year.
  3. The budget, following approval by the FERS, will be forwarded to each society, in advance of the commencement of the financial year, for approval by the board or appropriate authority.
  4. Each member society will cover the cost of attendance at meetings of its own representatives. When necessary, financial assistance may be provided to a representative of certain societies. Attendance at additional meetings by members of the steering committee will be covered by the FERS.

Article IX. Authorised Actions

  1. FERS will have the authority to take legal actions in pursuance of its objectives and in defence of its members' interests.
  2. In legal actions, FERS will be represented by the Chair and one other, non-ERS, member of the Steering Committee
  3. The Chair and the designated member may delegate their authority for specific purposes to facilitate the running of the FERS.
  4. Members of FERS, the Secretariat and such committees and task forces as FERS may set up, shall incur no personal liability in respect of the commitments of the Forum

Article X. Dissolution of FERS

  1. The dissolution of FERS shall be decided on by an affirmative vote of 50% plus one of the member organisations, either in a meeting of FERS or by ballot.
  2. Any assets remaining after the settlement of all liabilities shall be distributed to the member organisations, in proportion to their contributions to the costs (Article VIII).