INTRODUCTION

The aim of this proposal is to make the respective  regulations in the EL Statute fully functional  and to enable the interested citizens to take part in the EL activities. Although both the principal  decision and detailed rules for individual membership  have to be taken by individual member parties,  we agree that there are common questions and principles  to be discussed and unified. Therefore, we propose  the following regulations.

As we still have no finally adopted financial  statute (task of the 1 st congress) and therefore  different ways and aspects of the membership questions  exist (e.g. how the membership fees of member parties  will be calculated), this adopted proposal to all  member and interested observer parties includes  alternatives. It is understood, that the choice  in this respect will be dependent upon the accepted  model for the EL financing as such by each party  now and after 1 st Congress by the EL.

The legal basis of individual membership can  be found in the statute, which in Part 1, Article  6, par. 7 stipulates the following:

The EL introduces for a –year period  of experimentation the opportunity of individual  membership as a contribution to its future development.  A final decision on that issue will be taken  only after a thorough debate of the experience  and debates in all member parties. During that  period each member party or political organization  is free to adopt - for its own country - the  most convenient approach and practical methods. According to that approach women and men residents  of an EU member state or in a country associated  with the EU can become individual members of  the EL. In countries where full-right member  parties or political organizations exist they  shall decide about the concrete forma to be carried  out . They can form also friendship circles associated  to these parties of the European Left. Citizens  of EU member states or countries associated to  the EU where no member party exists can also  apply for individual membership. They can also  join or create a national group of individual  members applying for observer status in the EL.

Drafted on behalf of SDS, Czech Republic, by  J. Hude ček and M. Hornychová

Confirmed by the EL Executive Board 9 January  2005


REGULATIONS for EL individual membership

(valid till the 1 st ordinary Congress of EL)

Article 1. Decision on membership

(1) In states, where only ONE member party exists,  its executive body is entitled to decision on individual  membership, having an obligation to publish its  decision. This decision has to be finally approved  by the Congress (or similar organ) of the respective  party, till that moment the decision has to be  regarded as a provisional one.

(2) In states, where are MORE member parties  which are unable to agree on decision, the decision  has to be taken by EL EB and finally approved by  EL Congress.

(3) The residents of European states, where NO  member party exists (both EU and non-EU states)  may apply for membership in any state, where individual  membership is possible.

Article 2. Application for membership

Application for individual EL membership has  to be made in a written form, and signed by the  applicant. It should contain a declaration of the applicant about his/her explicit acceptance of  EL Statute and Manifest and about his/her commitment  to work in favor of EL and its principles. As the  EL itself does not represent a political party  inside of any EU member state, the national legislation  concerning the political parties does not apply  to the individual membership (e.g. entitlement  for participation in elections or requirement for  membership exclusivity).

Article 3. Associations of individual  members

Individual members may, in accordance with the  respective national legislation, form associations  and circles, either affiliated to the respective  national member parties, or fully independent.  When required or appropriate according to the national  legislation, this associations and circles may  apply for legal personality in the respective country  and submit their own statutes or procedural rules.  Such a legal personality is not considered to constitute  any part of the legal personality of the EL itself,  and the EL does not accept any legal liability  for it.

Article 4. Participation in EL activities  and decision-making process

Individual members and their associations/circles  have full right to participate in EL activities  to the same extent and in the same manner, as the  members of the EL member parties. They can make  proposal to all EL organs and/or to the organs  of the EL member parties.

When convening an EL Congress, the EL EB will  decide on the way and extent of representation  of individual members and their association in the Congress.

Article 5. Membership fees

ALTERNATIVE A (in case  there will be an individual part of the general membership fee)

The individual members are obliged to contribute  to the EL activities with a membership fee in the  amount, equal to the per capita part of the membership  fee adopted by the Congress for the EL member parties. The associations/circles of individual members  may introduce an additional fee to cover their  own expenses and made payment of this fee compulsory  for their members.

ALTERNATIVE B (if no  per capita part of the general membership fee will  be accepted)

The individual members are obliged to contribute  to the EL activities with a membership fee in the  amount, adopted by the Congress. The associations/circles  of individual members may introduce an additional fee to cover their own expenses and made payment  of this fee compulsory for their members.

 ..

Article 6 General remarks and transitory  provisions

(1) For detailed regulations on individual membership,  formation for associations and circles of individual  members, the respective national EL member party/parties  is/are responsible, which decided according to  the Article 1 of these Regulations. The individual  members and their associations/circles have a right  to appeal such decision, the final decision has  to be taken by the EL EB.

(2) Until the 1 st regular EL Congress, the EL  EB and Council of Chairpersons may decide upon  the questions and issues reserved for the Congress.  Such decision are provisional and have to be decided  finally by the Congress.