European Federation of Catholic Medical Associations (FEAMC)

Constitution and Articles of Association

bullet

Article 1.
In accordance with the article 10 of the statutes and with article 12 of the bylaws of the International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations (FIAMC), the Catholic medical associations, having adopted the present statutes, have grouped themselves into a European Federation of Catholic Medical Associations (FEAMC) that constitutes the European section of the FIAMC.

bullet

Article 2.
The registered office of the FEAMC is determined by the General Assembly. It must be situated in Europe.

bullet

Article 3.
The aims of the FEAMC are the general aims of the FIAMC, adapted to the needs of the members of the FEAMC, especially:

  1. To coordinate the efforts of its Catholic medical associations in the study and spread of Christian principles throughout the medical profession;

  2. To encourage the development of Catholic medical associations in European countries so that they can assist catholic physicians in their moral and spiritual development and professional advancement;

  3. To assist the Church in its pastoral work among healthcare workers;

  4. To promote the development of health care in underdeveloped countries and deprived areas;

  5. To establish an information and counselling service for the study of bioethics, both theoretical and practical;

  6. To deepen a culture of solidarity and welcome for every moment of life, notably towards the weakest;

  7. To increase public awareness of the importance of the protection of the physical, social, and psychological environment for the complete development of man;

  8. To follow vigilantly the debates of supra-national European organizations in bioethics, professional ethics, healthcare, and to promote the Christian viewpoint when appropriate.

bullet

Article 4: The FEAMC will act by:

  1. The organization of periodic European conferences,

  2. The exchange of information notably in the form of a bulletin,

  3. Any other means the General Assembly, the Executive Committee, or the President may decide.

bullet

Article 5

  1. The FEAMC is open to all the European national associations of Catholic physicians accepting the constitution. Their request for membership, addressed to the Secretary-general and to the President, will be submitted for approval to the next Executive Committee which will give a decision by the majority of the delegates, present or represented.

  2. Catholic medical associations that are not national associations will be admitted on the same conditions but by a majority of the two-thirds of the delegates, present or represented.

  3. Non-European associations of Catholic physicians, having accepted the present constitution may ask for admission to the FEAMC. Their request, having been submitted for approval to the executive committee of the FIAMC, will be submitted to the next General Assembly that will give a decision with the majority of the two-thirds of the delegates, present or represented.

  4. Medical associations asking for admission to the FEAMC will have to include with their request:

  1. a copy of the statutes of their association

  2. written acceptance of the aims of the FEAMC

  3. the number of members of their association

  4. the approval of the ecclesiastical authority of the country (episcopal conference, if it exists).

bullet

Article 6.
The General Assembly is composed of the delegates of the member associations. Each member association has as many delegates as it has votes. The number of votes is determined as follows:

10 to 100 members: 1 vote

101 to 500 members: 2 votes

501 to 2000 members: 3 votes

more than 2000 members: 4 votes.

If several associations belong to the same country, the number of votes each of them is entitled to will be determined by the General Assembly. The total number of votes attributed to a country must not exceed 4.

bullet

Article 7.

  1. The Executive Committee is composed of:
    - a President,
    - two or more Vice-presidents,
    - a Secretary-general,
    - a Treasurer,
    - three or more members.

  2. The members are appointed to the Executive Committee by their member association. There can only be one representative for each association.  However each association may nominate a substitute/deputy. The substitute may accompany the representative, but may  may only speak and/or vote in the representative's absence.

  3. The President is elected for a four years term by the General Assembly among the members having applied at least three months before the General Assembly. There cannot be among them more than one representative of the same country,

  4. The Secretary-General and the Treasurer are appointed by the General Assembly on proposal of the Executive Committee.

  5. The Vice-presidents are appointed by the Executive Committee.

bullet

Article 8.
Member associations pay a contribution, the amount of which is fixed by the General Assembly.

bullet

Article 9.
The original text of the statutes is in French, and translated into English. Official translations in others languages may be done according to need.

bullet

Article 10.
All amendments to the present statutes must be approved by a General Assembly by a majority of two-thirds of the delegates present or represented, on the condition that the text of amendments has been submitted by the Secretary-general to the member associations at least three months before the meeting of the General Assembly.

bullet

Article 11.
An Ecclesiastical Assistant is appointed by the ecclesiastical assistant of the FIAMC from three names proposed by the Executive Committee. He is an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee. His task is to coordinate the ethical and doctrinal reflections of the FEAMC and its members.

bullet

Article 12.
The General Assembly will elect two representatives to the executive committee of the FIAMC, from among the national association delegates.

bullet

Article 13.
If an association having several votes is represented in the General Assembly by a fewer number of delegates than its number of votes, the delegates present use the total number of votes to which their association is entitled.

bullet

Article 14.
An association can be represented with the totality of its votes by another association. An association present cannot represent more than one absent association.

bullet

Article 15.
The General Assembly is presided over by the President. It meets at least every 4 years. It also meets if half of the member associations request it to do so. It conducts all votes by secret ballot.

bullet

Article 16.
The Executive Committee is presided over by the President. It meets at least twice a year. Its decisions are taken by the majority of votes. In case of equal division, the president has a casting vote. Each member can represent an absent member.

bullet

Article 17.
The President represents the FEAMC. He directs the FEAMC according to the directives of the General Assembly. In case of absence, he is replaced by a Vice-president. In case of death or resignation he is replaced by the longest serving vice-president until the appointment of a temporary President by the Executive Committee, selected from the Vice-presidents.

bullet

Article 18.
The Secretary-general directs the secretariat of the FEAMC. He ensures relationships with member associations and with the FIAMC. He presents an annual report to the Executive Committee of which he is the secretary. His duties include the writing and the administration of the Bulletin.

bullet

Article 19.
The Treasurer will ensure payment of the annual subscription by member associations. He will administer the funds of the FEAMC and report each year to the Executive Committee.

Translated in Prague (8 June 1996) by F. Blin and K. Roche.
Further corrections to the English (Dec 2004) M. Jarmulowicz