Statutes

NAME

The name of the Association is 'The European Association for South-East Asian Studies', abbreviated as EuroSEAS. 

OBJECTIVES

EuroSEAS is a professional, non-profit organization for scholars engaged in the study of one or more South-East Asian countries, viz. Burma, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The objective of EuroSEAS is to support and promote South-East Asian studies in the humanities and social sciences in all countries in Europe. Its tasks include:

• to support existing institutions in the field
• to promote contacts and cooperation between scholars in different European countries
• to promote contacts with scholars in South-East Asia
• to initiate and coordinate fund-raising and research
• to disseminate information through a newsletter, a directory, other publications, and the mass media
• to coordinate library facilities and data bases
• to organize regular conferences at a European level.

MEMBERSHIP

EuroSEAS has ordinary members, corporate members, associate members and honorary members. Scholars resident in Europe who have minimally a Master of Arts or equivalent degree in the field covered by the Association qualify for ordinary membership at the discretion of the executive committee. Institutions and associations in Europe engaged in research in the field covered by the Association qualify for corporate membership. Students resident in Europe may become associate members on the recommendation of supervisors who are members of the Association. Scholars, institutions and associations based in countries outside Europe and other individuals may become associate members on the recommendation of two ordinary members. Persons who have made outstanding contributions to South-East Asian studies may be made honorary members at the discretion of the board. The annual membership fees are set by the board. They are payable in advance, at the latest on the first day of January of each year.

VOTING RIGHTS 

Each ordinary member and each corporate member has one vote in the Association. Associate and honorary members have no voting rights.

THE BOARD 

The board of EuroSEAS consists of 9 ordinary members, representing the different parts of Europe with one representative each for the following "constituencies": France; Germany; Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg; Nordic Countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden); The United Kingdom and Ireland; Central Europe, Austria and Switzerland; Italy and Greece; Spain and Portugal; Russia. Each representative on the board will have a deputy. The term of office is three years. No member can be a representative on the board for more than two consecutive terms. A chairman is elected by the General Assembly during the EuroSEAS conference. The Secretary is elected by the Board among the scholars of the organization hosting the Secretariat.

ELECTION TO THE BOARD 

The representatives on the board and their deputies for each of the constituencies listed in article 5 shall be elected by all members with voting rights residing in the relevant region. The procedure to be used in each case will be decided by the board.

THE SECRETARIAT 

The daily management of the affairs of EuroSEAS is the responsibility of a secretariat. The secretariat is located at a research centre in Europe which is capable of accommodating such a secretariat.

SOUTH-EAST ASIA ADVISERS 

The board of EuroSEAS may select a maximum of eight scholars from any of the countries of South-East Asia as advisers to the board. They should assist the Association primarily with improving contacts between scholars and institutions in Europe and South-East Asia.

THE GENERAL MEETING 

A general meeting of the Association shall be held at least once every four years at a date and place to be decided by the board, but normally coinciding with the Association's conference. At this meeting the agenda prepared by the board shall be discussed and any other business of which prior notice has been given in writing to the secretary shall be transacted. The date and place of the meeting and the agenda to be discussed at it must be announced to all members at least eight weeks in advance. A quorum will be formed by twenty members with voting rights.

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS 

A special general meeting may be called for by minimally one tenth of the members with voting rights by notifying the secretary in writing, stating the motion or motions to be put forward. The special general meeting shall be held at a time and place decided by the executive committee, and shall take place within four weeks of the receipt of such notification by the secretary. The special general meeting must be announced at least two weeks in advance. The announcement shall state the business to be transacted. No business other than that specified in the announcement shall be discussed. A quorum is formed by twenty members with voting rights.

ACCOUNTS

The accounts of the Association must be audited each year by an independent auditor.

CONTINGENT POWERS OF THE BOARD 

The board has full powers to deal with any matter affecting the interests of the Association that is not provided for in these statutes.

CHANGE OF STATUTES 

A change of statutes can only be effected by means of a postal ballot of all ordinary and corporate members to be held by the executive committee. The issue shall be decided by a two-thirds majority of the completed ballot papers returned.

A change of statutes has taken place in January 1998:
The Board was enlarged from 15 to 17 people. Fifteen of them will be elected nationally/regionally. The Chairman and Secretary will be elected at the General Assembly. The Vice-chairman, who will be elected from among the board members, will in principle be nominated as chairman after his/her three year term. The board nominates the candidates for chairman/vice-chairman.
Two consecutive terms are a maximum (2 x 3 years). In principle, the chairman steps down after a term of three years.

A new change of statutes was decided by the General Assembly during the 5th conference in Naples. The number of Board members was reduced to 9 (plus 9 deputies) in representation of 9 "constituencies". The Executive Committee was suppressed.