Our Statutes.
European Observatory for Transparency in Cooperatives (OETC)
TITLE I • CONSTITUTION, PURPOSE, REGISTERED OFFICE AND DURATION
Article 1 • Name
An association governed by the law of July 1, 1901, and the decree of August 16, 1901, is hereby established among the signatories to these statutes, under the name:"Observatoire Européen pour la Transparence des Coopératives".
It may use the acronym: OETC.
The association may also use its customary names in Italian,"Osservatorio Europeo per la Trasparenza nelle Cooperative", and in English,"European Observatory for Transparency in Cooperatives", in all its communication documents and official acts.
Article 2 • Purpose and Means of Action
The purpose of the association is:
to defend the rights of cooperative members in Europe;
to promote transparency in management, equality among members, and respect for cooperative principles;
to prevent abuses of power and opaque practices within the cooperative sector.
The association operates with complete political and religious independence throughout Europe.
To achieve its goals, the association uses the following means:
An information portal featuring articles, analyses, and case studies.
A periodic in-depth newsletter.
A confidential channel for reporting alleged irregularities.
An initial guidance and legal assessment service for members requiring assistance.
The organization of webinars, seminars, and training activities.
The creation of a community of members for mutual support and information exchange.
The use of artificial intelligence technologies to democratize access to information, overcome language barriers, and offer innovative tools for analyzing and understanding members' rights.
Article 3 • Registered office
The registered office is located at the following address: 200 rue de la Croix Nivert, 75015, Paris, France.
It may be transferred to any other location by a simple decision of the Executive Committee; ratification by the General Meeting will be required at its next meeting.
Article 4 • Duration
The duration of the association is unlimited.
TITLE II • MEMBERS
Article 5 • Composition of the Association
The association comprises several categories of members:
Founding Members : the individuals who participated in the act of incorporation and the drafting of these statutes.
Active (or Ordinary) Members : individuals or legal entities who adhere to the association's goals, participate actively in its life, and are current with their annual membership fees.
Honorary Members : individuals who, for their expertise or for services rendered to the association, are so appointed by the General Meeting upon the proposal of the Executive Committee. They are exempt from paying membership fees and have an advisory role.
Benefactor Members : individuals or legal entities who financially support the association through donations or contributions, without necessarily taking an active part in its activities.
Article 6 • Admission of Members
To become an active member, any candidate must submit a written application to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee decides on admission, assessing the candidate's alignment with the association's goals and values.
In accordance with the principles of transparency, in the event of a refusal, a summary of the reasons will be provided, which shall not constitute grounds for an appeal against the decision. Admission implies full and unreserved acceptance of these statutes and any internal regulations.
Article 7 • Rights and Duties of Members
All members who are current on their fees have the right to vote at the General Meeting. Each member has one vote.
All members have a duty to respect the statutes, the internal regulations, and the decisions of the association's governing bodies, and to contribute to the pursuit of the association's goals.
Article 8 • Loss of Membership
Membership is lost by:
Resignation: notified in writing to the Executive Committee.
Death.
Non-payment of the membership fee: after a formal notice has remained without effect within the time limit set by the Executive Committee.
Termination: decided by the Executive Committee for serious cause or for acts contrary to the association's purpose, guaranteeing the member the right to present a defense.
TITLE III • ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION
Article 9 • Governing Bodies of the Association
The governing bodies of the association are:
The Executive Committee.
The General Meeting of members.
Article 10 • The Executive Committee
The association is administered by an Executive Committee composed of at least 2 members, elected by the General Meeting from among the members. The term of office is 3 years, and members are eligible for re-election.
The Executive Committee is composed of at least:
A President.
A Secretary.
A Treasurer.
The same person may hold more than one office. In particular, the offices of President and Treasurer may be held by the same person. The Executive Committee shall meet, including by videoconference, whenever the President deems it necessary, or at the request of at least half of its members.
The Board meets, including by videoconference, whenever the Chairman deems it necessary, or at the request of at least half of its members.
Article 11 • Roles and Powers within the Executive Committee
The President legally represents the association in dealings with third parties and in court, chairs meetings, holds the corporate signature, and executes the decisions of the Executive Committee. He/she supervises the general running of the association.
The Secretary is responsible for drafting the minutes of meetings, maintaining official registers (register of members, minute book), and handling administrative correspondence.
The Treasurer is responsible for the financial and asset management of the association. He/she shall be responsible for bookkeeping, managing the bank account, and preparing the annual financial report and the provisional budget.
Article 12 • Ordinary General Meeting (OGM)
The OGM meets at least once a year. It is convened by the President with at least 15 days' notice, by written communication (including email), indicating the agenda.
The OGM may be held in person or by videoconference, provided that the participants can be identified.
Decisions shall be taken by a simple majority of the members present or represented. Each active member may be represented by another active member by means of a written proxy. No member may hold more than two proxies.
Article 13 • Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM)
The EGM is competent for decisions of particular importance, such as amending the statutes and dissolving the association. Its decisions must be taken by a qualified majority of two-thirds of the members present or represented.
TITLE IV • RESOURCES AND ACCOUNTING
Article 14 • Resources of the Association
The association's resources consist of:
Annual membership fees paid by members.
Donations, bequests, and gifts from individuals or legal entities.
Grants from the state, regions, local authorities, or public and private institutions, whether national or European.
Specific contributions requested for access to certain services offered by the association, such as guidance or legal assessment, while general information remains free and publicly accessible.
Income from ancillary activities that are in line with its social purpose (e.g., training, publications).
Article 15 • Accounting
A simplified cash accounting system is maintained, recording all income and expenditure. The financial year ends on December 31 of each year.
TITLE V • FINAL PROVISIONS
Article 16 • Dissolution
The dissolution of the association shall be decided by an Extraordinary General Meeting. In the event of dissolution, the Meeting shall appoint one or more liquidators.
Any net assets (liquidation surplus) may under no circumstances be shared among the members, but will be transferred to another non-profit association with a similar purpose, designated by the Extraordinary General Meeting at the time of dissolution.
Article 17 • Disputes and Applicable Law
Any dispute relating to the interpretation or execution of these statutes, the decisions of the association's governing bodies, or, more generally, to the life of the association, shall be governed by French law.
The courts of Paris, the location of the association's registered office, shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute.
Article 18 • Internal Regulations
Internal regulations may be drawn up and approved by the Executive Committee to specify the implementation details of these statutes and the practical aspects of the association's operations (e.g., reporting procedures, terms of service provision, etc.). Such regulations may not contain provisions contrary to these statutes.