Statutes of the European Mathematical Society
as approved by EMS Council on 12th July 2008, Utrecht, The Netherlands
ARTICLE 1: Name and location
ARTICLE 2: Purpose and nature of activities
ARTICLE 3: Membership
ARTICLE 4: Organs
ARTICLE 5: The Council
ARTICLE 6: Duties of the Council
ARTICLE 7: The Executive Committee
ARTICLE 8: Duties of the Executive Committee
ARTICLE 9: Signing for the Society
ARTICLE 10: Finance
ARTICLE 11: Amendments
ARTICLE 1: Name and location
- The European Mathematical Society, informally EMS, is an association established in accordance with the laws of Finland.
- Its seat is in Helsinki, Finland.
ARTICLE 2: Purpose and nature of activities
- The purpose of the Society is to promote the development of all aspects of mathematics in the countries of Europe, with particular emphasis on those which are best handled on an international level. The Society will concentrate on those activities which transcend national frontiers and it will in no way seek to interfere with the national activities of the member societes. In particular, the Society will, in the European context, aim to promote mathematical research (pure and applied), assist and advise on problems of mathematical education, concern itself with the broader relations of mathematics to society, foster the interaction between mathematicians of different countries, establish a sense of identity amongst European mathematicians, and represent the mathematical community in supra-national institutions.
- To achieve its aims the Society may prepare proposals and motions, make statements, organize courses and seminars, arrange negotiations and meetings, operate as a publisher, award grants and represent its membership.
- The society may, as occasion arises, (a) act directly, (b) act through national societies, (c) cooperate with other bodies having similar aims, (d) set up subordinate bodies for special tasks.
ARTICLE 3: Membership
- Members of the Society may be either (a) corporate bodies with legal status, or (b) individuals. The number of non-Finnish members may exceed one third of the total.
- Corporate bodies with legal status may join the Society in one of the following categories: (a) Full members, (b) Associate members, (c) Institutional members. Full membership is restricted to societies, or similar bodies, primarily devoted to promoting research in pure or applied mathematics within Europe. Associate membership is open to all societies in Europe having a significant interest in any aspect of mathematics. Institutional membership is open to commercial organizations, industrial laboratories or academic institutes.
- Individuals may join the Society in one of the following categories: (a) Individuals belonging to a corporate member of the EMS, (b) Individuals belonging to a Society with which the EMS has a reciprocity agreement, (c) Individuals not belonging to a corporate member of the EMS or to a Society with which the EMS has a reciprocity agreement.
- Full corporate members are elected by the Council and other corporate and individual members by the Executive Committee. Reciprocity agreements are approved by the Council. A reciprocity agreement is an agreement between EMS and another society concerning benefits to joint members. The expulsion of a member shall be by a decision of the Council. The procedure shall be regulated by the By-laws.
- Members may terminate their membership by giving one year's notice in writing to the Executive Committee or to the President, or by notifying the Council at its meeting to be recorded in the minutes.
- Members pay registration and membership dues as determined by the Council. The dues may be different for different categories of member.
- Members who fall behind in payment of fees shall, until such fees are paid, forfeit their right to vote.
- Members take decisions by ballot when this is authorized by the Statutes. The procedure shall be regulated by the By-laws.
ARTICLE 4: Organs
- The organ of the Society with decision-making powers is the Council. The executive organ is the Executive Committee of the Society.
ARTICLE 5: The Council
- Council elections are held every second year by vote according to the Statutes and By-laws.
- Delegates shall be elected for a period of four years. A delegate may be re-elected provided that consecutive service in the same capacity does not exceed 8 years. A delegate who resigns or is unable to attend a Council meeting can be replaced by a deputy delegate according to the By-laws
- Each of the following groups shall elect the delegates representing the group: Each full member, the associate members, the institutional members, the individual members. The candidates for the election are nominated by the group.
- Full members will, as decided by the Council, be divided according to size and resources into four classes having 1, 2, 3, or 4 delegates. This division may be revised when appropriate.
- When the number of associate members is $n$, the number of their delegates shall be given by the formula $$ \min \Big\{ \Big[ {{n-1} \over 5} \Big] + 1,\ 4 \Big\}.$$ The number of delegates representing institutional members shall be determined by the same formula. When the number of individual members is $n$, the number of their delegates shall be given by the formula $$ \min \Big\{ \Big[ {{n-1} \over {100}} \Big] + 1,\ \Big[ {2 \over 3}C \Big] \Big\} $$ where $C$ is the total number of other Council delegates.
- The Council shall meet at least once every two years not earlier than May and not later than October.
- Each council delegate shall have one vote. Decisions will be by simple majority of votes cast, except where larger majorities are required by the Statutes or By-laws.
- An extraordinary meeting of the Council may be convened at the request of the Executive Committee, or whenever this is requested in writing by not less than 10% of the Delegates.
- The Executive Committee shall convene the Council by a letter to each Council delegate not later than two months before the meeting date.
- The quorum of the Council shall be two-fifths of its total number.
- Regional subgroups of the Council may be constituted for the purpose of dealing with political or economic European organizations.
ARTICLE 6: Duties of the Council
- The Council is the supreme authority of the organization.
- A Council meeting will specifically (a) decide on the admission of corporate members; (b) determine the registration and membership dues; (c) receive the auditors' reports; (d) confirm the financial statements and discharge those concerned from liability; (e) elect the President, the Vice-Presidents and the other members of the Executive Committee; (f) elect the auditors and their deputies; (g) decide on the By-laws issued by the Council; (h) deal with any other matters prepared by the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE 7: The Executive Committee
- The Executive Committee of the Society shall consist of (a) the President of the Society, (b) two Vice-presidents, (c) a Secretary, (d) a Treasurer, (e) $n$ other Committee members, $2 \le n \le 5$.
- Members of the Executive Committee shall be elected for a period of 4 years. Committee members may be re-elected provided that consecutive service shall not exceed 8 years. However, any Committee member who is elected President may continue in that position provided that his/her consecutive service shall not exceed 12 years. The President shall not serve as President for more than one period.
- The Executive Committee is convened by the President or, in his absence, by a Vice-president.
- The quorum of the Executive Committee shall be four and must include the President or a Vice-President.
ARTICLE 8: Duties of the Executive Committee
- The Executive Committee represents the Society and shall have general charge of all matters concerning the Society. In particular it shall: (a) administer the assets and property of the Society; (b) appoint subordinate committees entrusted with special tasks within the general framework of the Society; (c) prepare the matters to be discussed by the Council meeting and convene the meeting; (d) implement the resolutions adopted by the Council meeting. (e) appoint representatives of the Society to scientific conferences or meetings.
- The Executive Committee shall appoint and dismiss the staff of the Society, define their duties and confirm their remuneration.
ARTICLE 9: Signing for the Society
- The Society is signed for by its President, or a Vice-president together with another member of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE 10: Finance
- The resources of the Society shall consist of (a) the registration and membership dues paid by the members; (b) possible gifts, bequests and legacies; (c) subsidies or grants which may be awarded to it by public or private bodies; (d) any other resources which may derive from its own activities mentioned in Article 2.
- The registration and membership dues depend on the different categories and classes of members as defined in Articles 3 and 5.
- The fiscal year shall be the calendar year. The accounts shall be submitted to the auditors by the end of March. The auditors' report shall be submitted to the Executive Committee by the end of April.
- The Council shall appoint, for each financial year, two of its own members and a certified public accountant, together with a deputy for the latter, to audit the accounts of the Society. These auditors may at all times require that the books and all relevant documents be presented to them, and they may examine the cash and financial situation.
- The auditors may be re-appointed.
ARTICLE 11: Amendments
- Any proposal to amend the statutes or to dissolve or merge the Society shall be sent in writing to all members of the Society at least two months before the meeting of the council which shall decide upon such a proposal.
- To be approved any such proposal must be passed by two-thirds of the votes cast in the Council.
- In the event of the Society being dissolved or abolished, any assets remaining after discharge of all debts shall be transferred to a legal body having aims similar to those of the Society.