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UNI-Europa Youth Rules & Standing Orders

Published: 17 November 2008
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UNI-EUROPA YOUTH RULES & STANDING ORDERS



Adopted at the 2008 Youth Committee


1. UNI-Europa Youth



1.1. Members up to the age of 35 within UNI-Europa affiliates make up UNI-Europa Youth.



1.2. The role of UNI-Europa Youth is to promote the participation of young members in UNI-Europa work.



1.3. UNI-Europa Youth is a strong network witch wants to improve the life and working conditions of youth in all European countries. The fundamental objective will be to build a social, sustainable and democratic Europa.
2. UNI-Europa Youth Committee



2.1 Subject to the provisions of the UNI-Europa Statutes, the UNI-Europa Youth Committee shall be the highest body of authority of UNI-Europa Youth.



2.2 The Youth Committee shall be open to all UNI-Europa affiliates.



2.3 The Youth Committee shall meet every two years. A seminar will be held every other year when no committee takes place. At this seminar meeting the status quo of the progress and the Action Plan will be reported.



2.4 The Youth committee shall develop a Youth Action Plan to further the objective set out in 1.2 and 1.3.



2.5 Most of the Implementation of the youth action plan shall be done within UNI-Europa affiliates.



2.6 The Youth Committee shall report to and its decisions shall be referred to the UNI-Europa Executive Committee.



2.7 The elected officers of UNI-Europa Youth, that is the President and Vice-Presidents, as well as the UNI-Europa Youth Co-ordinator, shall function as the officers of the Youth Committee.

2.8 The UNI-Europa Youth Steering Group shall act as a Standing Orders Committee for the Youth Committee.



2.9 The travelling and subsistence expenses of delegates and observers attending the Youth Committee shall be borne by the affiliates concerned. (The same applies, taking into account a change in circumstance, to other meetings of UNI-Europa Youth.)
3 UNI-Europa Youth Steering Group



3.1 Voting for representation on the Steering Group will be according to the number of paid up UNI-Europa members.



3.2 Subject to the UNI and UNI-Europa Statutes, the Steering Group shall manage the affairs of UNI-Europa Youth in between the meetings of the Youth Committee.



3.3 The Steering Group as a whole in cooperation with the UNI-Europa Secretariat shall
    - Act as standing orders committee every two years.

    - Set the alignment of seminars every other year

    - Follow up and when required implement decisions and recommendations by UNI-Europa Youth. The Youth action plan will provide the basis for this work.

    - Develop efficient and regular communications with youth activists in affiliated organisations. Each member of the steering group is responsible for the area they represent.

3.4 The Youth Steering Group shall comprise:

      a. the President of the UNI-Europa Youth Committee;

      b. the three Vice-Presidents of the UNI-Europa Youth Committee;

      c. One titular member from each of the eight geographical Areas defined in Art. 9.3 of the UNI-Europa Statutes;

      d. One substitute member from each of these geographical Areas.

      e. The UNI-Europa Youth Coordinator

The geographical Areas are the following:

Area I. - UK and Ireland

Area II. - Nordic Countries (Denmark, Iceland, Faroes, Finland, Norway, Sweden)

Area III. - Southern Europe (Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Turkey)

Area IV. - Benelux, France, Monaco (Belgium, France, Monaco, Luxembourg, Netherlands)

Area V. - Austria, Germany, Switzerland

Area VI. - CSE Europe and the Baltic States (Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, FYR, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia)

Area VII. - Eastern Europe (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus Georgia, Russia & Ukraine)

Area VIII. - Near and Middle East (Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine)



3.5 The President and the three Vice-Presidents shall come from different areas.



3.6 The Youth Committee shall elect the President, the Vice-Presidents and the other members of the Steering Group for a two-year term on the basis of nominations from UNI-Europa affiliates. Office holders may stand for re-election either in the same or a new post for two further terms. The Presidium may stand for re-election either in the same or a new post for one further term.



3.7 Substitute members will be called upon to assist and support the Steering Group in its work and will be invited to participate in all meetings of the Steering Group in a non-voting capacity. The intention is to broaden discussions in the Steering Group, ensure continuity in the case of replacement of a titular member and provide additional support to titular members within the Area. If a titular member is absent from a meeting of the Steering Group, the substitute exercises the former’s voting rights.



3.8 Members of the Steering Group cannot be older than 35 years of age, with the aim being to reduce the age further. An acceptable gender balance should be achieved among Steering Group members. Members of the steering group who turns 35 during the elected term will have to leave the seat. The UNI-Europa Youth statutes 3.8 and 4.5 will then apply.



3.9 If a titular member’s seat becomes vacant, the substitute for the member concerned automatically becomes the titular member. When the seat for the substitute falls vacant, the Area that he/she represented shall appoint a replacement.



3.10 If an area fails to be represented at 3 steering group meetings in a row the steering group will refer this to the area.

4 President and Vice-Presidents



4.1 The President and the three Vice-Presidents of the Youth Committee shall not be elected as representatives of any Area. They shall act in the interests of UNI-Europa Youth as a whole.



4.2 The role of the President is to
    - Coordinate and chair the committee meetings and seminars. She/he can delegate a moderator for certain sessions.

    - Lead the work of the steering group and chair their meetings.

    - Refer the decisions of UNI-Europa Youth to the executive board

4.3 The Vice-Presidents shall assist the President in the performance of her/his duties.



4.4 The President will serve as a full member of the UNI-Europa Executive Committee.



4.5 Should the office of President or Vice-President fall vacant between Youth Committee meetings, the Youth Steering Group shall fill the resulting vacancy from amongst its members. The following Youth Committee meeting shall elect a replacement for the remaining term of office, if no regular elections are held.
5 Work in the Areas



5.1 The members and substitute members of the Steering Group shall represent, in particular, the interests of affiliates in their Area.



5.2 Youth activists in the affiliated organisations in respective area together with the members and substitute members of the Steering Group have a mutual responsibility in developing an efficient and regular communication.



5.3 The UNI-Europa Secretariat and the Steering group shall establish, maintain and develop a communications network of union youth officials and activists among UNI-Europa affiliates and other like minded organisations in the region.



5.4 All countries shall appoint a country co-ordinator. His/Her main role is to facilitate cooperation and co-ordination between the affiliates in the country and UNI-Europa Youth, in particular with regard to the communications network in the Area.
6 Secretariat



6.1 The UNI-Europa Secretariat shall support the Youth Committee and the Steering Group in respect of the preparation and organisation of their meetings and seminars, their operation and the contents of their work as well as ensure follow-up activities.
7 UNI-Europa Statutes



7.1 In all matters not covered by these Rules, the provisions of the UNI-Europa Statutes and Conference Standing Orders apply taking into account a change in circumstance.



7.2 These Rules and UNI-Europa Youth work shall be subject to the UNI-Europa Statutes.



UNI Europa Youth Committee Standing Orders


1. Preamble



1.1. These Standing Orders are designed to promote the smooth-running of UNI-Europa Youth committee meetings but shall be subject at all times to the UNI-Europa Youth Rules. The standing orders shall be submitted for approval at the beginning of the first working session of the youth committee meeting.
2. Youth Committee



2.1. Subject to the provisions of the UNI Statutes, the supreme authority of UNI-Europa Youth shall be vested in the UNI-Europa Youth Committee.



2.2. The UNI-Europa Youth committee meeting shall be held every second year at a time and place to be determined by the UNI-Europa Youth Steering group, with affiliates being advised of the date and agenda not less than six months prior to the opening day of the committee.



2.3. The elected officers of UNI-Europa Youth, that is the President, Vice-Presidents and the UNI Europa Youth Coordinator, shall function as the officers of the youth committee. The steering group will act as its Standing Orders Committee.



2.4. The agenda of the UNI-Europa Youth Committee meeting shall include the following items:



a. election of a minute taker

b. election of the Credentials Committee,

c. election of the Resolutions Committee,

d. approval of the committee agenda and standing orders,

e. written report of the steering group on activities for the period since the previous committee meeting,

f. Steering group policy proposals, motions and amendments,

g. election of the President and Vice-Presidents,

h. election of the Steering group,



2.5. Motions for inclusion in the committee agenda must be received in writing by the UNI-Europa Youth Coordinator no later than three months prior to the first day of the Youth Committee meeting.



2.6. Copies of valid motions received shall be sent to affiliates no later than two months prior to the first day of the youth committee meeting.



2.7. Amendments to motions must be received in writing by the UNI-Europa Youth Coordinator no later than 5 weeks prior to the first day of the Youth Committee. Amendments should be written in English.



2.8. Meeting Agenda, valid motions and amendments, together with all other reports, shall be sent to affiliates no later than one month prior to the first day of the committee meeting.



2.9. Proposals of an emergency nature shall be admitted only with the authority of the meeting in accordance with the Standing Orders for the committee meeting.



2.10. Decisions of the Committee meeting shall be referred to the UNI-Europa Executive Board.
3. Standing Orders Committee



3.1. The UNI-Europa Youth Steering group shall act as the Standing Orders’ Committee and subject to Article 2.4 in these Standing Orders, shall issue a report dealing with the arrangements for the committee meeting including proposals for the order of business and debates, and any other matter requiring a decision for the proper conduct of business.
3 Conference President and Vice-Presidents

    3.1 The President and Vice Presidents for Youth Committee shall be the President and Vice-Presidents of UNI-Europa Youth.

      3.2 The President shall declare the opening and close of the Youth Committee and direct its proceedings in accordance with the Statutes and the Standing Orders of Committee.



      3.3 In the absence of the President, Youth Committee shall be presided over by one of the Vice-Presidents as directed by the Standing Orders’ Committee.



      3.4 A Vice-President whilst acting as President shall assume the same rights and responsibilities as the President.
      4 Election of Conference Committees

        4.1 At its first working session youth committee shall elect a Credentials’ Committee consisting of five members, and a Resolutions’ Committee, the membership of which shall not exceed twelve. The UNI-Europa Youth Coordinator shall appoint a Secretary for each Committee and a minute taker.
        5 Credentials Committee

          5.1 The Credentials’ Committee shall examine the credentials of all delegates to Youth Committee.



          5.2 There shall be no substantive vote taken until the report of the Credentials’ Committee has been approved by Youth Committee.

            5.3 No delegate whose credentials are under question by the Credentials’ Committee shall participate in the vote upon the Credentials’ Committee report.



            5.4 The decisions of Youth Committee in regard to delegates’ credentials shall be final.
            6 Resolutions Committee

              6.1 The Resolutions’ Committee meets before the UNI-Europa Youth Committee meeting, It shall be responsible for examining motions and amendments submitted in accordance with the provisions of Article 2 of these Standing Orders and give recommendations to the Committee.



              6.2 The Resolutions’ Committee shall, where necessary, composite, re-draft and/or delete part or all of motions and amendments (but shall not introduce any new subject matter which was not originally present) with the aim of expediting the business of Youth Committee.

                6.3 Subject to any advice received from the Standing Orders’ Committee, it shall be the responsibility of the Resolutions’ Committee to present to Youth Committee a written report in respect of all motions and amendments and the Resolutions Committee may also recommend that certain motions/amendments be remitted to the UNI-Europa Youth Steering Group. Where practicable, a brief indication of the reasons for each decision will be given.

                6.4 The report shall be put before Youth Committee for approval.
                7 Voting Procedures

                  7.1 Only accredited delegates shall have the right to vote. Voting shall normally be by showing a voting card. A full card vote, in which each delegation shall cast its vote as a unit on the basis of its affiliated membership as at 31 December of the preceding year, may be called for by three or more delegations (representing a collective total of not less than 25 delegates) providing that a vote on the issue by show of voting card has not commenced.



                  7.2 Decisions on votes shall be on the basis of a simple majority of those voting, except in the case of proposals to delete, add to or amend Statutes, proposals to suspend one or more of the Standing Orders or in respect of challenges to the President’s rulings, when there shall be not less than a two-thirds majority of those present and voting, for the proposal/challenge to be carried.
                  8 Motions concerning Procedure or Order

                    8.1 Motions concerning procedure or order of business may be moved by any delegate without notice and at any time other than when a speech is in progress. Such motions shall have precedence over other business. The President may allow one delegate to speak for and one to speak against the motion and then put the motion to the vote. Motions falling under this category include proposals to adjourn the discussion or the session, motions to take the vote and challenges to the President’s ruling.

                      8.2 A point of order, other than a procedural motion, shall be taken immediately. The President shall then give a ruling on the point of order, which, unless successfully challenged, shall be final.
                      9 Speakers and Time Limits



                      9.1 Guests may be allowed to address the Committee by arrangement with the Standing Orders’ Committee and the invitation of the President.



                      9.2 Applications by delegates wishing to speak shall be made to the President on the appropriate form of notice. The President shall normally call upon the speakers in the order in which applications have been handed in. A delegate may not speak twice on a question without the prior permission of the President.

                        9.3 Speaking time for rapporteurs shall be at the discretion of the President. All other speakers shall be limited to five minutes except in the case of speakers addressing the report of the Resolutions’ Committee who shall be limited to two minutes. With the approval of the committee the President may fix a shorter speaking time than five minutes.
                        10 Alteration of Standing Orders



                        10.1 These Standing Orders may be altered only by means of a motion submitted in accordance with the provisions of Article 6.5 to 6.8 of the UNI-Europa Statutes.