The Terms of Reference of the European Regional Committee describe the structure of the committee and its operating procedures, as well as outlining its aims and objectives.

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EUROPEAN REGIONAL COMMITTEE – TERMS OF REFERENCE

1 Introduction

1.1 These terms of reference should be read and understood in conjunction with the Constitution and By-Laws of the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE), which takes precedence in all matters.

1.2 The IBE is governed by its members through a General Assembly and an International Executive Committee. These terms of reference for the European Regional Committee are set and approved by the International Executive Committee.

1.3 The European Regional Committee is a Committee of the IBE established under Article XVII of the Constitution and under Bye-Law IV.

1.4 The European Regional Committee will work within the general policy and strategic framework set by the IBE and within these terms of reference will report to and be accountable to the International Executive Committee.

1.5 Meetings of the European Regional Committee will be convened as specified within these terms of reference. The European Regional Committee and its Regional Executive Committee can otherwise conduct its business by email, telephone, etc… including balloting voting members by email and/or post.

1.6 The European Regional Committee cannot commit the IBE to any new programme expenditure or impose significant additional administrative costs without the prior approval of the International Executive Committee.

1.7 The European Regional Committee shall submit an annual budget and plan of activities each year for the approval of the International Executive Committee.

1.8 The European Regional Committee may establish sub-groups where this is set within an agreed plan of activities.

1.9 The European Regional Committee may raise funds from within its region for its activities, where this is specified within an agreed budget, in addition to those funds allocated by the IBE within its annual revenue budget.

2 Membership

2.1 The membership of the European Regional Committee shall be all those IBE members located within the IBE geographical definition of the region.

2.2 Where regional affinity might be considered to be ambiguous, an IBE member can opt in or out of the region as long as each IBE member might only be allowed to be a member of one Regional Committee at any one time.

2.3 The President of IBE, The Secretary-General of IBE and the Treasurer of IBE shall each be an ex-officio non-voting member of the European Regional Committee and its Regional Executive Committee.

2.4 Representatives of the members of the European Regional Committee shall meet in person at least once every two years at a Regional General Assembly.

2.5 The quorum of meetings of the European Regional Committee and the Regional Executive Committee and any other sub-groups shall be half the members, (excluding non-voting ex-officio members), present in person.

2.6 The voting rights of members of the European Regional Committee are as specified for IBE Regional Committees within the Constitution and Bye-Laws of IBE.

2.7 The voting members of the European Regional Committee shall elect a Vice-President (Europe) to serve on the International Executive Committee in accordance with the Constitution and Bye-Laws of IBE.

3 Regional Executive Committee

3.1 The voting members of the European Regional Committee shall elect a Regional Executive Committee in accordance with the Constitution and Bye-Laws of IBE.

3.2 The Regional Executive Committee shall facilitate and co-ordinate the activities and business of the European Regional Committee.

3.3 The Regional Executive Committee shall consist of an elected Chair, an elected Vice-Chair, an elected Secretary and two elected Members.

3.4 Additional elected positions on the Regional Executive Committee are possible with the prior approval of the International Executive Committee.

3.5 The term of office for any elected position on the Regional Executive Committee shall be four years. No one may serve more than two full or partial consecutive terms.

3.6 The Vice-President (Europe), elected to serve on the International Executive Committee, shall be an ex-officio member with full voting rights of the Regional Executive Committee.

3.7 The Regional Executive Committee shall meet in person at least once every year.

3.8 The Regional Executive Committee shall report to and be accountable to the Full Members of the European Regional Committee and to the IBE International Committee.

4 Aims of the European Regional Committee

4.1 To provide a forum for IBE members within a defined geographical region.

4.2 To pursue and co-ordinate at a regional level the implementation of the policies and plans of IBE.

4.3 To identify regional issues of relevance and significance to members and to develop plans and policies to address these.

4.4 To consider issues which fall within the scope of 4.1,4.2 and 4.3 above which are either referred to the European Regional Committee by the International Executive Committee or the which the European Regional Committee itself concludes are appropriate topics for its consideration and to report its deliberations and recommendations to the International Executive Committee.

5 Objectives of the European Regional Committee

The European Regional Committee will:-

5.1 Liaise with the Global Campaign Against Epilepsy, IBE’s other Regional Committees and other IBE and ILAE Commissions, Task Forces and special initiatives on issues of common interest.

5.2 Seek to encourage the development of new Full and Associate members in the region in countries where no Full or Associate members currently exist.

5.3 Support existing members within the region by providing a forum for the exchange of information, expertise and experience.
5.4 Organise meetings, seminars and workshops on a regional basis in line with 5.2 and 5.3 above.

5.5 Provide a regional representative voice for IBE members within IBE and externally to other regional bodies like regional governments.