15th edition 2010
PREMISE
During ten glosses of life, work and experiment, the European Company of Culture had amply the occasion to put to the test the thought which inspires it and the goals which legitimate its existence.
Its history, in addition, shows that she lived, that she acted and that she developed in a fully coherent way with her inspiration first, starting from the high and strong concept of the culture like creation of values and the responsibility for the men of culture where which they are, for purposes of the bringing together, comprehension and peace, in the polishes as much as in the maximum civitas, especially during crisis periods and of transition.
Over the years the field of application of similar commitment widened gradually, that the Company defined as “food-growing policy”. This widening occurred while following the analysis of the dominant trends of the news which it never failed to undertake and to update.
The critical examination of the work of the Company brings the proof of its justification in the duration. To get busy to actively fill the space which the food-growing policy occupies in the political action will certainly not be less necessary vis-a-vis to the challenges close to the 21st century than it was not the case in second half of 20th. On the face of fragmentation, on the one hand, on the face of the globalisation, other, the internal dialogue and the transnational dialogue, as much as the food-growing policy, are of the same emergency nature as the EstOuest dialogue at the time of the cold war – this dialogue that the Company defended and maintained with tenacity. And in spite of the made progress, the construction of Europe remains to be achieved, in a world where the interdependence must become solidarity, in the spirit of opening and universality which the European Company of Culture supports.
If thus the specific objectives are not any more the same ones, the importance of the responsibility for the culture did not change since the remote days during which this conscience and this conviction materialized in the formal act constitutive of this Company, whereas founder members – scholars, professions and the orientations most various, writers, artists, philosophers, monk, scientists, such Julien Benda, Thomas Mann, Henri Matisse, Benedetto Croce, Hans Urs von Balthasar, Patrick M.S. Blackett… signed the first edition of the present – statutes (voted by the constitutive Parliament on May 31st, 1950), introduced by it
PREAMBLE
The crisis of Europe, already extremely old, today worsened at the point to clearly reveal the state of economic, social disintegration and policy of our continent. However, in spite of the prophets of doom, one must by no means conclude with the irremediable decline from our civilisation, so seriously compromised that it is : the violence even of the fight and the importance of the involved forces prove on the contrary which Europe makes only one growth disease. But disorder where we are risk to compromise the restoration of the European organization. It is from now on necessary to take a major conscience of this crisis and its significance, in order to cause the forces able to surmount it.
Such are the terms in which the European problem must be posed. We must work with the freedom of the spiritual exchanges between the men. Per hour when so many dialogues are likely to be stopped, this common will is by it even a commitment. Also let us not can accept irrevocable rupture due to reasons of ideology or policy, whatever the roughness of the conflict. It is to the men of culture that it belongs to express this refusal, because they are responsible for the values without which no true social life is conceivable.
The fruits of this culture can be indifferently used with the advantage or at the expense of the company. It is thus necessary to fight the bad use which the men can be induced to make some with the liking of the interests and passions, too often excited and aroused strong nowadays by the institutions and the doctrines. This task, no man of culture could from now on assume it separately. The European Company of Culture thus proposes like a free association of men who, conscious of their responsibility, wish to combine their efforts to confer on their action the maximum of authority and of effectiveness.
Persuaded that the culture could constitute a private property for nobody, the members of the European Company of Culture intend to put their action at the service of the man.
It is in this spirit that constituted itself, with the administrative support of the “Graft autonomo Biennial di Venezia”, the European Company of Culture (*)
(*) Considering that the world development of the European Company of Culture could question the legitimacy of the qualification of “European”, the 8th Standard general meeting considered it convenient to specify formally in this place that such a qualification was adopted, not to fix a limit at the geographical expansion of the Company, but to mean her membership of the civilisation of the universal one, which had its origin and its greater rise in Europe.
I. GOALS – TASKS OF THE COMPANY
ARTICLE FIRST. – The purpose of association called European Company of Culture is to link, by links of solidarity and friendship, men of culture. Ceuxci, conscious of having to them to act as full agreement to save and improve the requirements with the assertion of the culture as creation of values raison d’être of our civilisation intend to contribute in this manner to the solution of the crises in the world. Similar participation of the culture as a subject in the development of the history constitutes the “food-growing policy” which they are committed carrying out and to promote by any adapted and effective means.
It rises from what precedes that the Company does not have a lucrative goal.
Article 2 – In accordance with the previous article, the Company :
a) discusses, according to the criteria and the priorities stopped with each session by the General Assembly (see articles 8 and 10), of the “conditions present of the culture”, highlighting the trends and the facts which have a cultural and social incidence. Such analyses are released, with the wire of the events, the most urgent objectives of the “food-growing policy” of which it is question with previous Article ;
b) ensures the publication re-examined “To understand”, according to the established program, which envisages research and investigations into phenomena characterizing the history in progress, the conceptual deepening and the actualization of the food-growing policy, information on the events concerning the Company and its members ; conduit an activity of formation, to realize for its own account, or in collaboration with other public institutions or private having compatible objectives ;
c) can show initiative and stage cultural and social events special aiming at the diffusion of its ideals, its reflection and its work.
Article 3 – the official languages of the Company are French and Italian. Other languages are allowed in the discussions and the publications.
II. SIEGE
Article 4 – the legal siege of the Company is in Venice, in a building placed at the disposal of the Commune and located in Giudecca, 54 P. All the bodies of the Company is attached there and domiciled there the international General secretary, the Drafting, the Administration, the Archives and the Library.
III. MEMBERS
Article 5 – Are members of the European Company of Culture :
a) people having been part of the committees promoters of his foundation ;
b) the men of culture whose candidature was presented by two members of the Executive council and allowed by this same Council, being established that they adhere to the objectives of the Company and intend to promote them by their own activity, while collaborating in the initiatives of this one and while reinforcing in all manners, near the public opinion, the authority which is necessary for him to exert the action that it proposes.
c) legal people, institutions, companies as well public as private presented by three members of the Executive council and allowed by this same Council, of unquestionable probity and able to give him a support in the spirit and according to the goals which characterize it. These institutions will be present in the person of their legal representative or a delegate of this one and will have a vote in the assemblies.
Article 6 – the membership is lost :
a) by duly justified resignation ;
b) by exclusion for serious errors pronounced by the Executive council.
Article 7 – the refusal of admission and exclusion are likely of call in front of the General Assembly, which cannot, in this case, to modify the decision of the Executive council that in the majority of two thirds of the voters present.
IV. BODIES
A) The General Assembly
Article 8 – the General Assembly is the sovereign body of the Company, which, under Article 2, determines the programs and the initiatives of them allowing him to achieve her social goals.
Article 9 – the General Assembly meets as an ordinary session every two years. The approval of the projected budget and the assessment is delegated to the members residing in Italy, which for this purpose are convened each year in assembly. The General Assembly can be convened in extraordinary session, either at the request of a third of the members of the Company, or on the initiative of the Office.
Article 10 – the General Assembly examines and approves the report of the President on the state of the Company, becomes acquainted with the reports presented under Article 2a), introduced by the international General secretary, and in debate.
Article 11 – the questions subjected to the vote of the Parliament must appear in the agenda (see art.18). The votes take place in the majority simple, except in the cases envisaged with the articles 7,14a, 14b of these statutes.
Article 12 – the General Assembly elects the President of the Company, the first Vice-president, six Vice-presidents, the international General secretary, the responsible Director re-examined To understand and between a minimum of forty and a maximum of fifty members who, together, train the Executive council. She has the ability to name by acclamation a Honorary president.
Article 12 (A) – Is also Vice-president, of right and for the duration of its load, Maire de Venise.
Article 12 B – the General Assembly elects four members forming, with the President of the Company which chairs it, the Board of directors.
Article 12 QUATER – the General Assembly elects three temporary Auditors and two Inspectors.
Article 13 – All the mandates last six year and are renewable. Stations become vacant within the Executive council, Board of directors and among the Auditors can be provided by co-optation, subject to confirmation by the following General Assembly.
Article 14 – In extraordinary session, the General Assembly deliberates :
a) possible amendments or modifications of the statutes which must be approved in the majority of two thirds of the members ;
b) winding-up of the Company which can be decided only with the vote of the majority of three quarters of the members ;
In both cases, the vote can be also expressed by procuration, with the care of the National centres.
B) The Executive council
Article 15 – the Executive council ensures the connection between the National centres or buildings and the International office of the Company which it supports so much as regards preparation of the programs than in the execution of the decisions of the General Assembly. He takes care of the recruitment and the reception of the members, anxious to convey, of the countries represented in his centre, new intellectual energies towards the Company and his objectives.
Article 16 – the Executive council makes up his minds in the majority of two thirds of the attending members.
C) the Office
Article 17 – President, first VicePrésident, VicePrésidents, the international General secretary, the Director “To understand” constitute the Office of the Company.
Article 18 – first VicePrésident, VicePrésidents, the international General secretary, the Director “To understand” help the President to carry out the program of the Company and to carry out, in complement of its statutory tasks, the decisions of the General Assembly.
Article 19 – the Office examines the walk of the Company periodically and fixes, on the proposal of the President of agreement with the international General secretary, the agenda of the assemblies. Y will be registered any question suggested in writing by a fifth at least of the members of the Company.
Article 20 – the President has the legal representation of the Company, which it can delegate, if necessary, with the international General secretary. He chairs the meetings of the various bodies and presents to the General Assembly the situation report on the Company (see Article 10).
Article 21 – In the event of vacancy of the presidency, the new President is elected by the following General Assembly.
Article 22 – first VicePrésident replaces the President in the event of absence or of prevention. It ensures a possible interim.
Article 23 – the international General secretary governs the operation of the seat (see Article 4), center of reference of all the reports members ; he prepares the statutory meetings, initially the Standard general meeting on “the conditions present of the culture” (see articles 2 and 19) ; he directs the special initiatives ; he is the Editor-in-chief re-examined “To understand” and other publications of the Company.
Article 24 – the Director re-examined “To understand” is also responsible for the other publications of the Company. He has the ability to associate an advisory committee whose, in agreement with the President and the international General secretary, he chooses the members within the Company.
D) the Board of directors
Article 25 – the Company is managed by a Board of directors (see Article 12 B). It meets regularly to prepare the projected budget and to establish the assessment to be submitted to the assembly of the members residing in Italy, under article 9.
E) Auditors
Article 26 – the control of the administration is ensured by the Auditors (see Article 12 quater), which check the regularity of the financial management of the Company and write a report accompanying the projected budget and the assessment.
F) local and national Centers, Associations of Friends of the S.E.C.
Article 27 – the Executive council can decide creation of local or national Centers of the Company. The office of each Center will be made up in agreement with the international General secretary and will have as a task to help the Company in its promotion effort and of organization, by resorting to the collaboration of the members who are in his spring.
Article 28 – In connection with the Centers and under their impulse, of Associations of Friends of the European Company of Culture will be able to be constituted. The purpose of they will be to get moral supports and average equipment to him. They will carry on their activity within the same geographical limits as the corresponding Centers. They will formally be recognized by the Company after approval of their statutes by the Executive council.
V. HERITAGE AND RESOURCES
Article 29 – the heritage of the Company is consisted :
a) the capital of two hundred million Italian liras (103,291 euros) ;
b) the movable goods is real which are and/or will become property of the Company ; its declared archives “of remarkable historical interest”, under Article 36 of the Presidential decree of the Italian Republic, of the 30.9.1963, No 1409 ; its library ;
c) contributions, donations, legacy, subsidies on behalf of natural people or of institutions, specifically intended to increase the fortune of the Company ;
d) possible surpluses of the assessment intended to increase fortune.
Article 30 – the resources of the Company are consisted :
a) contributions of the members, whose amount is fixed by the General Assembly, on the proposal of the President or the international General secretary ;
b) subsidies obtained at the time of manifestations of the Company ;
c) public finances ;
d) any other receipt which contributes to increase the means available for the activities of the Company.
VI. FINAL PROVISIONS
Article 31 – In the event of winding-up of the Company, under article 14b, the liquidation and the devolution of fortune will be ensured by the Office.
Article 32 – For possible provisions not contained in these statutes, one will refer to the Italian laws into force.
