INTERNATIONAL UNION OF ECONOMISTS (IUE)

APPROVED by the Constituent Conference on November 16, 1991

In This Revised Edition by the IUE Meeting on December 25, 1996

I. GENERAL

             1.1. The International Union of Economists, hereinafter referred to as the "Union", is an international independent non-governmental Union of public associations and organisations of economists and other specialists established for the purpose of promoting the economic and social progress of the world community.

            1.2. Name:

            - in the Russian language — нЕЦДХОБТПДОЩК уПАЪ ьЛПОПНЙУФПЧ (abbreviated —   нуь).

            - in the English language — International Union of Economists, Inc. (abbreviated —  IUE).

            1.3. The Union has been established  on the basis of voluntary participation, equality of its members, self-management, legality and openness.

            1.4. The working languages are Russian and English.

            1.5.The domiciles of the Union headquarters are Russia (Moscow) and the USA (New York).

II. LEGAL STATUS

             2.1.The Union shall carry out its activity within the framework of the international law, the legislation of the countries onto the territory of which its activity extends, as well as this Charter, being guided by the principles of electivity and collective leadership of all its governing bodies, their periodical accountabilty to the members of the Union, respect for the opinion of the minority.

            2.2. The Union shall be a legal entity as from the moment of its incorporation by the state registration bodies, it shall have its isolated property and self-sustained balance. It can on its own behalf acquire and exercise property and non-property personal rights, bear obligations, sue and be sued in the courts of justice and arbitration, make agreements, contracts and settlements, open current and other accounts with banking agencies, have its seal, stamp, letterhead, insignia and other requisite elements.

            2.3. For the purpose of fulfilling its Charter purposes the Union shall be entitled:

            - to join other public associations;

            - to establish academies, institutes, schools, colleges, lyceums, enterprises,  institutions and organisations in various countries;

            - to represent interests of its members in international organisations;

            - to establish its representations, branches and other structural agencies in different countries.

            2.4. The Union shall be answerable for its obligations with all its property recoverable under the existing law. The Union shall not be responsible for the obligations of its members, the latter bearing subsidiary responsibility for its debts and obligations. The states shall not be responsible for the obligations of the Union and the latter shall likewise be not responsible for those of the states.

III. OBJECTS AND PURPOSES

             The main objects of the International Union of Economists shall be as follows:

            3.1. Promotion of economic reforms as instruments of development of the international community, participation in the development and implementation of national and international projects and programmes aimed at accelerated economic growth and stabilisation of economic situation in the countries, and at development of the integration processes in different regions of the world.

            3.2. Ensuring of wide international exchange of information in different spheres of economy, science and technology and in other spheres of human activities; creation of conditions for all-round exchange of ideas, experience, knowledge in the organisation and management at macro- and microlevels. Search for and introduction of new forms of the international co-operation.

            3.3. Development of favourable conditions for creation-oriented communication of the members within the structure of the Union, that of other scientists, scholars and specialists based on their professional interests. Expansion of the co-operation with national and international organisations, unions and associations in the sphere of socio-economic and scientific-technical thought.

            3.4. Protection of professional, creative and social interests of the members of the Union.

            3.5. Rendering of legal, consultative, methodical and other assistance to the members of the Union in their international activities. Generalisation and propagation of the experience of their work.

            3.6. Organisation of practical training and apprenticeship of the members of the Union and the persons sent by the Union to various countries and regions of the world; development of scientific tourism, rendering of the visa support to the persons invited by the Union.

            3.7. To achieve its Charter objects and purposes the Union shall:

            - develop and implement the programme of its activities on its own and independently of any  state bodies;

            - propagate the information about its activities in a free manner;

            - analyse and choose most  topical and prospective proposals concerning the economic activity, support and, if necessary and possible, take part in financing and implementing  some of the projects;

            - establish various economic organisations enjoying the rights of corporations;

            - form provisional creative collectives to research, develop and introduce projects made to the orders of some enterprises, organisations, economic and other agencies and on its own initiative, the procedure and amount of remuneration of the researchers involved being determined by the Union;

            - carry out informative, advertising and publishing activities, set up organs of mass media, issue scientific works, journals, brochures, bulletins, posters and other items of informative, educational and other nature;

            - organise and hold contests, exhibitions, presentations, business tours, lotteries, conferences, seminars, workshops, congresses, discussions and other actions of scientific and practical nature;

            -  organise fairs and auction sales;

            -  hold public discussions of and submit works of the Union members for prizes and titles instituted by the state and social organisations;

            -  institute prizes for substantial scientific and scholar developments, grants to under- and post-graduate students of higher educational institutions and pupils of secondary schools;

            -  establish various funds for social protection of the members, including special insurance and pension funds and that for construction of housing and other objects;

            -  carry out any other activities not prohibited on the territories of the countries where the Union will act provided they contribute to the realisation of the objects and purposes of the IUE.

IV. MEMBERSHIP

             4.1. The Union shall be open to all who share its objects and principles of activity. The membership in the Union shall be voluntary.

            4.2. The membership in the Union can be granted to legal entities  —  public associations, organisations, as well as to natural persons  —  individuals of any nationality and citizenship who contribute to the implementation of the objects and purposes set forth in this Charter.

            4.3. Legal entities and natural persons join the Union on the basis of their written applications.

            The acceptance of new members to the Union shall be made by a decision of the Presidium of the Union with further notification thereof of the regular Meeting. The decision on the acceptance shall be adopted by a simple majority in the open vote. The members

of the Union shall be issued membership cards.

            4.4. The members of the Union shall have equal rights and bear equal obligations.

            4.5. The members of the Union shall have the right:

            - to take part in the work of the Union;

            - to elect and be elected to its governing bodies;

            - to delegate their proxies to the Meeting of the Union and to the governing bodies, as well as to deliberate and implement its decisions, to table proposals, recommendations and drafts of documents for considering by the Union governing bodies;

            - to take part in free discussion of the issues pertaining to the work of the Union and its elective bodies at the meetings, sittings of the Presidium, to make proposals for improving their activities;

            - to establish branches of the International Union of Economists in various countries;

            - to receive information about the work of the Union bodies and to be published in the Union publications;

            - to take part in the actions held by the Union or organised with its participation;

            - to make use of the support of the Union for improving, expanding and enhancing the efficiency of their work;

            - to resort to the Union for assistance and to use its property according to the established procedure;

            - to set and develop through the Union bilateral and multilateral contacts with other members of the Union;

            - to receive necessary informative, methodical and other materials, to obtain practical assistance in establishing professional creative centres, workshops, laboratories, etc.;

            - to take part in the programmes and projects of the Union on the priority basis;

            - to leave the Union at their free will.

            4.6. The members of the Union shall be obliged:

            - to observe the Charter of the Union;

            - to take part in implementation of the objects and purposes of the Union; in implementation of the programmes common for all its members;

            - to develop co-operation of  public associations within the Union;

            - to fulfil resolutions of the meetings and Presidium of the Union;

            - to pay timely (before July 1 of the current year) the membership fee the amount and the procedure of payment of which is determined by the Presidium of the IUE.

            4.7. Relations between the members of the Union, as well as between the members of the Union with the Union can be built on the contractual basis.

            4.8. A member of the Union can be expelled from it for a breach  of provisions of the Charter by a decision of the Presidium. The decision about the expulsion shall be deemed adopted when it is voted by 2/3 of the members of the Presidium. The decision can be appealed  at the Meeting of the Union whose resolution shall be final.

            The membership in the Union can also be terminated:

            a) by voluntarily leaving the Union on the grounds of a written application or a resolution to this effect adopted by the authorised body of an incorporated public association;

            b) in case of liquidation of an incorporated member of the IUE;

            c) in case of death of a natural person;

            d) as a result of liquidation of  the International Union of Economists.

V. GOVERNING BODIES

            The governing bodies of the Union shall be as follows:

            -  Meeting  —  the supreme body of the Union;

            -  Presidium  —  the directive body of the Union;

            -  Auditing Committee  —  the supervisory body of the Union;

            -  Co-ordinating Board —  the advisory body of the Union.

                        Meeting

            5.1. The Meeting convened at least once a year shall be the supreme governing body of the Union.

            5.2. The decision to convene the regular Meeting and its agenda shall be determined by the Presidium of the IUE.

            5.3. The Meeting shall be deemed legitimate if it represents 2/3 of the members of the Union or their legal representatives.

            5.4. The special Meeting can be convened by a demand of 2/3 of the members of the Union, as well as by a decision of the IUE Presidium or Auditing Committee of which the members of the Union are notified  at least  one month before.

            5.5. The exclusive competence of the Meeting shall include:

            - adoption of the Union Charter and making amendments and supplements to it;

            - determination of the objects and guidelines of the activities of the Union;

            - deliberation of the reports about the IUE activities, those of the Auditing Committee and adoption of resolutions on them;

            - election of the President of the Union, Vice-Presidents, Presidium, Chairman of the Co-ordinating Board, Chairman and members of the Auditing Committee for  a 5-year term;

            - approval of the General Director and directors of the IUE as proposed by the President of the Union for a 5-year term;

            - deliberation and approval of the annual budget (estimate) of the Union and the report on its implementation, determination of the minimum membership fee;

            - making of a decision on reorganisation or liquidation of the Union and approval of the composition of the liquidation committee.

            5.6. Each member of the Union shall have one vote.

            A resolution of the Meeting shall be deemed adopted when it is voted aye by 2/3 of the present members of the Union (or their legal representatives). The procedure of the voting (secret or open ballot) shall be determined by those present at the Meeting in each particular case.

            5.7. The Meeting shall be empowered to consider and resolve any matters transferred to its competence by the members of the Union.

                        Presidium

            5.8. The Presidium of the Union shall be a collegiate body whose main function is to organise the activity of the Union aimed at fulfilling its charter objects and resolutions of the Meeting.

            5.9. The Presidium shall incorporate the President, Vice-Presidents, General Director and directors of the IUE.

            5.10. The Presidium of the Union shall:

            - direct the activity of the Union and its bodies between the meetings, make a decision about holding the Meeting and its agenda. As regards its actions, it shall be responsible  to the Meeting;

            - organise implementation of the Guidelines and other resolutions adopted by the Meeting, co-ordinate activities of the members of the Union aimed at their implementation;

            - resolve the issue of adopting new members of the Union and expulsion from the membership of the Union;

            - determine the procedure of payment of the membership fee and the amount of the fee of each IUE member;

            - make decisions about entry of the Union into other public associations;

            - represent the Union in its relations with the public associations, including international ones;

            - ensure realisation of foreign economic relations in conformity with the existing law;

            - study, generalise and propagate positive experience of the work of the Union members;

            - inform regularly the members of the Union about its activities;

            - make decisions about establishment of academies, institutes, schools, colleges, lyceums, enterprises, organisations and institutions of the IUE set up in compliance with this Charter;

            - approve the Regulation of the Union Representation;

            - perform other functions except those which pertain to the exclusive competence of the Meeting.

            5.11. The sittings of the Presidium shall be held as necessary being legitimate when the majority of the Presidium members are present. Decisions of the Presidium shall be made by a simple majority, the form of the voting being determined by the Presidium. he resolutions of the Presidium shall be signed by the President and General Director of the Union.

                        President

            5.12. The President shall:

            - be elected by the Meeting of the Union for a five-year term;

            - carry out general direction, preside at the sittings of the Presidium, bear responsibility before the Meeting for fulfilment of the Charter objects and purposes;

            - represent the Union in its relations with the state administration bodies, legal entities and individuals;

            - report about his work to the Meeting;

            - exercise direct guidance of the IUE Presidium and take chair at its sittings;

            - outline functions and  powers of the vice-presidents and direct their activities;

            - resolve the matters of the Union proceeding from its objects and purposes which are beyond the exclusive competence of its other bodies;

            5.13. When the President is absent his duties shall be imposed by him upon one of the vice-presidents.

            5.14. The vice-presidents of the Union shall be:

            - elected at the Meeting of the Union for a five-year term;

            - responsible for the sphere of activity outlined by the IUE President.

            5.15. To support activities of the IUE, to settle day-to-day problems and to organise implementation of the resolutions adopted by the IUE Meeting and Presidium the IUE staff shall be formed.

        The work of the IUE staff shall be directed by the General Director and two directors of the IUE approved by the Meeting of the Union members for a five-year term.

                        General Director

            5.16. The General Director shall:

            - be approved by the Meeting by suggestion of the President of the Union for a 5-year term;

            - organise implementation of the resolutions adopted by the Meeting and Presidium;

            - issue directives concerning the matters of the IUE staff work;

            - make contracts and agreements, open accounts with the banks, realise property rights of the Union within the limits of his authority on behalf of the Presidium without any special power of attorney;

            - represent the Union without any special power of attorney in its relations with the state administration bodies, legal entities and individuals in the countries on the territories of which the Union acts;

            - approve the structure and personnel of the IUE staff, distribute the duties among the staff members, employ and dismiss them, determine the salary and incentives, impose penalties;

            - distribute duties among the IUE directors;

            - perform other functions by commission from the President and Presidium of the Union.

                        Auditing Committee

            5.17. The Auditing Committee shall:

            - supervise the financial and economic activities, observation of the existing laws and this Charter, financial and contractual discipline, accounting and expenditure of material values and money in the Union;

            - make annual audits. Be entitled to carry out separate target inspections at its own discretion. The governing bodies of the Union, its officers, employees on the staff are obliged to present financial, economic and other documents during the inspections and audits;

            - be responsible to the Meeting of the Union to which reports of the Committee's activities are presented.

            5.18. The chairman and the members of the Auditing Committee shall be elected by the Meeting for a five-year term. The number of the Committee members shall be determined by the Meeting, the members of the Committee being not electable to the governing and executive bodies of the Union.

                        Co-ordinating Board

            5.19. The Co-ordinating Board shall be an advisory body of the Union comprising authoritative scholars, representatives of state administration bodies and institutions  interested in and contributing to the Union activities.

            5.20. The chairman of the Board shall be elected by the Meeting of the Union for a five-year term.

            5.21. The Co-ordinating Board shall make its proposals to the Meeting concerning the basic programmes of research and practical activities of the Union. The sittings of the Board shall be held as necessary.

VI. STRUCTURE AND TERRITORY

             6.1. The Union shall structurally comprise:

            - public associations of economists of different countries which are the members of the Union;

            - branches of the Union and other structural divisions established on the initiative of the Union members;

            - representations of the Union established by a decision of the IUE Presidium.

            6.2. The branches of the Union may be guided in their activities by both this Charter and their own charters reflecting peculiarities, objects, purposes and forms of their work and not contrary to this Charter.

            6.3. Decisions on establishment of  a branch of the Union, on approval of its charter and formation of its governing and supervisory bodies shall be adopted at the general meeting of the branch and approved by the IUE Presidium. From the moment of adopting the said decisions the branch of the International Union of Economists shall be deemed established,  may start functioning in compliance with its charter and acquire rights except those of a legal entity.

            Competence of the Union branch as a legal entity shall arise from the moment of its state registration. By consent of the Union and in accordance with the established rules the branch may use the Union insignia.

            6.4. The branches of the Union which do not adopt their own charter and are guided by this Chapter shall have the following governing bodies:

            - general Meeting (conference);

            - chairman (director, president).

            6.5. The general meeting (conference) convened by the chairman (director, president) as necessary but at least once a year shall be supreme governing body of the branch. The general meeting (conference) shall be entitled to resolve any issues of the branch activities. The following points pertain to the exclusive competence of the general meeting (conference):

            - establishment, liquidation and re-organisation of the branch;

            - election of the chairman (director, president) of the branch;

            - election of delegates to the General Meeting of the Union;

            - approval of the report of the chairman (director, president) of the branch.

            The general meeting (conference) shall be deemed legitimate when more than half of its members take part in its work. The resolutions shall be adopted by a simple majority of vote. The form of the voting shall be determined by the general meeting (conference) of the branch.

            The chairman (director, president) of the branch directs the activities of the branch during the period between the general meetings (conferences) of the branch. The chairman (director, president) of the branch shall be elected by the general meeting (conference) of the branch by more than half of the votes of the branch members present at the general meeting (conference) for a five-year term. The chairman (director, president) may make decisions on all matters except those which form the exclusive competence of the general meeting (conference) of the branch.

            6.6. The branches and public associations having their charters shall be the owners of their property. Where the structural divisions carry out their activities being guided by this Charter, the property shall be owned by the Union as a whole while the branches have the right of operational control of the property allocated to them by the Union.

            6.7. The representations of the Union may enjoy the rights of legal entities under the law existing on the territory of the country where they are established and possess their isolated property, separate balance, current and other accounts with banks of various countries, own seals, letterheads and other requisite elements of a legal entity. The shall have the right to enter into contractual and other relations on their own or on the Union commission, to transact in terms of the civil law, to acquire property and personal non-property rights and  bear obligations, to sue and be sued in courts. By consent of the Union and in accordance with the established rules its representations may use the Union insignia.

            6.8. The representations of the Union shall act on the basis of the Regulation approved by the IUE Presidium.

            6.9. The International Union of Economists shall act on the territory of the countries housing the activity of its members, i.e. public associations, organisations, and structural divisions.

VII. FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

             7.1. The Union may own movable and real property, viz.: buildings, installations, dwelling houses, equipment, implements, property of cultural, educational and health-care designation, money, shares, bonds and other securities, publishing facilities, printing houses and other property  that may be deemed necessary to provide materially for the activities of the Union envisaged by this Charter.

            The Union may own enterprises established by it in compliance with its charter objects and purposes, movable and real property, money transferred to it voluntarily by other organisations and institutions and by individuals.

            7.2. Monetary funds of the Union and its structural divisions shall be formed by:

            - membership fees;

            - voluntary monetary contributions and donations of organisations, enterprises, institutions, co-operatives, public associations and individuals interested in the activities of the Union;

            - income from entrepreneurial and other activities, returns and allocations from the enterprises established by the Union;

            - allocations of the organisations set up the Union;

            - returns from extrarealisable operations, including income from securities;

            - bank and other credits;

            - returns from deposits and  amounts invested in securities (shares, bonds) bearing interest;

            - returns from lecturing and lotteries;

            - other lawful allocations.

            7.3. The monetary funds of the Union shall be spent on

            - financing of programmes, projects, researches, etc. implemented in compliance with this Charter;

            - preparation and conduct  of academic and practical actions (contests, congresses, seminars, conferences, etc.);

            - conduct of training, advanced training, propaganda and dissemination of advanced experience;

            - strengthening of the material and technical base of the Union;

            - development of international ties;

            - maintenance and financial incentives of the executive staff of the Union, remuneration to part-time experts and advisers;

            - establishment of incorporated enterprises (legal entities) to solve the problems set forth in the Union Charter;

            - holding of annual Meetings of the Union and other expenses caused by reaching the objects and proposes of the Union;

            - maintenance of representations in the host country.

            The monetary funds of the Union shall be spent on the objects and purposes of the Union set forth in this Charter in compliance with the budget (estimate) approved by the Meeting.

            7.4. Disposal of the assets of the Union shall be its exclusive competence. The members of the Union shall have no isolated rights as regards the objects of the Union property, including those transferred to it  in terms of paying the fees.

            7.5. The income of the Union cannot be re-distributed among the members of the Union and shall only be used for  the charter objects.

            7.6. The management of the monetary funds and property of the Union shall be performed by the IUE Presidium.

            7.7. As regards the property belonging to it on the right of ownership or any other property right, the Union shall be entitled to any transactions not contrary to the law of the countries on the territory of which the Union acts, and provisions of this Charter.

            7.8. The Union shall be answerable for its obligations with all its assets recoverable by the law.

            7.9. The Union shall keep accounting and reporting in compliance with respective requirements applicable in the countries.

            7.10. The property of the Union is protected by the state and can only be recovered by the ruling of the court according to law in force at the place of its registration.

VIII. AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS

             8.1. Any amendments and supplements to the Union Charter shall be an exclusive competence of the Meeting of the Union members and shall be subject to the state registration according to the procedure provided in different countries by the law.

            8.2. The amendments and supplements shall be deemed adopted provided they are voted for by 2/3 of the IUE members present at the meeting.

IX. LIQUIDATION OR REORGANISATION

             9.1. The activity of the Union as a whole shall be terminated by liquidating it by a resolution of a Meeting adopted by 2/3 of the votes of the members present at such Meeting.

            9.2. The activity of the Union on the territory of separate countries can only be terminated by a ruling of the court of these countries.

            9.3. The reorganisation of the Union can be made by a resolution of a Meeting adopted by 2/3 of the votes of the members present at such Meeting.

            9.4. The funds and property of the Union remaining after its liquidation shall be used for the purposes specified by the Charter.

            9.5. The Union shall ensure registration and safekeeping of the staff employees and in case of the liquidation shall timely transfer them for keeping in the Archives according to the established procedure.