The forthcoming General Assembly of Europa Nostra which will take place on
3 June 2009, as part of our Annual Congress in Taormina (Sicily, Italy).
As you will see from the enclosed agenda, this year our General Assembly will meet in two sessions. At the first session, in addition to the usual items (e.g. approval of the Annual Report 2008 and the Annual accounts), Europa Nostra members will be invited to approve the Draft Revised Statute, upon proposal of our Council. The text of the Draft Revised Statute, together with an Explanatory Note and additional papers related to our General Assembly, can be found on Europa Nostra's website:
www.europanostra.org. Upon request, paper copies of the meeting documents can also be obtained from our International Secretariat. Please also note that the new Operating Rules - which were provisionally approved by the Council at its last meeting on 22-23 January 2009 in The Hague and will be definitely approved by the Council in Taormina if and after the General Assembly approves the Draft Revised Statute - can be obtained, for information, upon request from our Secretariat.
The agenda of the second session of the General Assembly will depend upon the outcome of the vote on the proposed revision of our Statute.
(a) If the General Assembly approves the proposal put forward by the Council, the second session will be held on the basis of Agenda "A". Please note that Member Organisations or Individual Members who cannot come to Taormina, will have the right to appoint their proxy for this second session of the General Assembly, in compliance with articles 7.2 and 8.2 of the Draft Revised Statute (the related forms can be downloaded via our website or obtained in paper form upon request from the Secretariat).
(b) If the General Assembly does not approve the proposal made by the Council, the second session will be held on the basis of Agenda "B".
During its second session, the General Assembly will be asked to appoint/elect new members of the Europa Nostra Council, in accordance with the enclosed document.
(a) In case of "Agenda A", the General Assembly will be asked to appoint all candidates (those proposed by the Member Organisations and those proposed by Individual Members) who figure in the enclosed list prepared on the basis of the results of the recently organised advisory vote.
(b) In case of "Agenda B", the General Assembly will be asked to elect all persons who figure on the list of candidates proposed by Member Organisations, and it will be up to the Council whether or not to co-opt any individual members to Council.
In Taormina, my 3-year term as Executive President comes to an end. While having thoroughly enjoyed this enriching and demanding experience, I have decided not to stand for re-election. I am therefore pleased to enclose the statement of motivation and the curriculum vitae of our Vice-President Count Denis de Kergorlay who has put forward his candidature for becoming the new Executive President of our organisation. Please notice that if the Draft Revised Statute is approved by the General Assembly, the new Executive President of Europa Nostra will be appointed by the Council at its meeting which will take place on 3 June, immediately after the second session of the General Assembly. If the Draft Revised Statute is not approved, however, the new Executive President will be elected during the second session of the General Assembly (cf. Agenda B).
Furthermore, I regret having to tell you that HRH the Infanta Doña Pilar de Borbón, by letter dated 21 April 2009, gave notice of her wish to step down, for important personal reasons, from the Presidency of Europa Nostra, with effect as per the end of the forthcoming Annual Congress. Given the very short period of time between now and our Annual Congress, it will not be possible to present a candidate for the new President of Europa Nostra already at the General Assembly in Taormina. After the necessary consultations, proposals will be prepared in time for our Annual Congress 2010 which will take place in Istanbul, the Cultural Capital of Europe 2010.
In case you have any queries with regard to the agenda of the forthcoming General Assembly and/or with regard to the related meeting documents, please contact our International Secretariat (Ms Louise van Rijckevorsel, email:
lvr@europanostra.org; tel: +31.70.302.40.53.).
Enclosures:
a)
Agenda of the General Assemblyb)
Statement of motivation and
Curriculum Vitae of Denis de Kergorlay, candidate for the new Executive President of Europa Nostra
c)
List(s) of candidates for appointment/election as Members of Councild)
List of candidates for Council membership