| Statutes of the UNION SPORTIVE DES POLICES D'EUROPE |
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CHAPTER I: NAME - HEADQUARTERS - DURATION
Article 1
Name - Designation - Aim
(1) The association named the European Police Sports Union (USPE) aims to encourage sport throughout the European police forces and co-ordinate the preparation, organisation and control of international competitions in all sports disciplines.
The association also aims to build up social, co-operative and professional relations between the European police forces.
(2) The USPE strictly forbids any discussion, demonstration or activity of a political, trade union or sectarian character.
(3) It was founded in Paris on November, 30th, 1950.
Article 2
Headquarters
The official residence of the USPE is the residence of the Secretary General's office.
Article 3
Duration
The duration of the association is unlimited.
CHAPTER II: MEMBERS - AFFILIATION
Article 4
Members
The USPE is made up of the national police sports associations (in the following called member unions) that recognize the Statutes and Rules and Regulations of the USPE and have been accepted as members by the Congress.
Article 5
Membership Conditions
(1) To become a member, it is necessary to be approved by the Congress. Each member undertakes to comply with the Statutes and the Rules and Regulations of the association.
(2) During the period between the Congresses and after examination of the validity of an application by the Secretary General, the Executive Committee is qualified to grant a provisional affiliation to the USPE. This has to be confirmed by a favourable simple majority vote at the following Congress in order to become definitely valid. The conditions required for the admission of a national sports organisation to the USPE are defined in the Rules and Regulations.
Article 6
Fees
(1) The annual fee each member union of the USPE is required to pay is fixed by the Congress. It has to be paid by the 31st January of each year at the latest.
(2) Member unions who have not paid their fees will not be granted a right to vote at the Congress.
(3) Failure to pay the fee will entail a ban on taking part in competitions.
(4) Failure to pay the fee may also lead to a provisional exclusion from the association by the Executive Committee.
Article 7
Loss of Membership as a Member Union
(1) Membership may be lost:
- by a declaration of leaving of the member union sent to the President in writing,
- after a provisional exclusion pronounced by the Executive Committee for contravening the Statutes or the Rules and Regulations or serious motives causing moral or material damage to the association as well as for failure to pay the fees.
(2) Before a possible provisional exclusion is pronounced, the member union in question is invited to supply written explanations to the Executive Committee.
(3) It is possible for the member union to appeal against the decision of the Executive Committee before the Congress. The Congress decides irrevocably.
CHAPTER III: ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION
Article 8
Executive Committee
(1) The USPE is managed by an Executive Committee which is given all the responsibilities that these statutes do not attribute to the Congress or to another body of the USPE.
(2) The Executive Committee is made up of ten members:
- one President
- two Vice-Presidents
- one Secretary General
- one General Treasurer
- five Assessors
from different member countries.
(3) The members of the Executive Committee are elected for a position for a period of four years by secret ballot on a simple majority basis by the Congress. A member can be reelected twice for the same position.
Every two years one half of the members of the Executive Committee are elected newly.
If a position will become vacant before the end of the term, the member will be elected for this position by the Congress for the rest of the term.
(4) The President chairs the Congress and the meetings of the Executive Committee.
He represents the USPE in all the deeds of civil life and before the courts, he authorizes expenses. He is responsible for the management of the USPE in compliance with the Statutes. In the event of a vacancy in the position of the President for any reason whatsoever, the office of the President is taken over by the Vice-President, who is longer in office. In the case of identical terms of office that Vice-President takes over the office who holds the highest number of votes.
(5) The Secretary General is charged with the implementation of the decisions and orientations taken by the President and by the Executive Committee.
(6) The General Treasurer is responsible for all the financial operations of the USPE.
(7) The responsibilities of the members of the Executive Committee are set out in the Rules and Regulations.
CHAPTER IV: CONGRESSES AND COMMISSIONS
Article 9
The Congress
(1) The Congress is made up of two delegates of each member union of the USPE and of the members of the Executive Committee.
(2) Each delegate has to be mandated in writing by his / her respective country to the Secretary General before the opening of the Congress.
(3) Each member union has two votes. The delegates have the possibility to be accom-panied by a guest delegate and/or experts, who have no right to vote.
(4) Delegates of a member union can only represent their own country.
(5) Each member of the Executive Committee has one vote.
(6) The Congress meets every two years; however, before the end of the first third of the third year at the latest.
(7) The agenda of the Congress must especially contain the following items:
- Examination of mandates;
- Election of two scrutineers;
- Affiliation of member unions and poll;
- Examination and approval of the minutes of the previous Congress;
- Report of the work of the Executive Committee presented by the President for the previous two years;
- Report about the work of the Secretary General and about the international sports activities as well as about the work of the Technical Commission;
- Financial report by the General Treasurer and Auditors' report;
- Report of the work of the USPE Anti-Doping-Commissioner,
- Release of the Executive Committee by the delegates of the member unions;
- Election of members of the Executive Committee and of members of the Technical Commission as well as the Auditors;
- Discussion and vote on petitions;
- Budget proposal for the forthcoming two year — fixing of fees;
- Championship calendar;
- Determining of organisers for forthcoming Congresses;
- Various questions
(8) All decisions made by the Congress, with the exception of modifications of the Statutes, are voted on a simple majority basis. Decisions are put to the vote by a show of hands except the elections of the members of the Executive Committee, the Technical Commission and the auditors that have to be done by a secret ballot.
(9) The Statutes can only be modified by a two third majority of the present delegates and the members of the Executive Committee on condition that these two thirds amount to at least one third of the total number of all votes of the member unions.
Article 10
Extraordinary Congress
(1) An Extraordinary Congress will be convoked, if at least half of the member unions of the USPE apply to the Secretary General under statement of reasons in writing and declare their willingness to organize it. The President decides about the venue and convokes the Congress for a date within three months after receipt of the application. The member unions have to be informed about date and venue at least five weeks before the Congress.
In the case, that a decision on a special question is required before the next regular Congress, the President, the Secretary General and the General Treasurer together can convoke an Extraordinary Congress by immediate announcement to the member unions.
(2) The Extraordinary Congress rules on all questions submitted to it and which are scheduled on the agenda. It is the only body competent to decide about the disso-lution of the association.
(3) Decisions are valid, if at least half, in the case of dissolution at least three quarters, of the member unions with a right of vote are present. If this quorum is not achieved, the Extraordinary Congress will be convoked once more fourteen days later. Then there will be a quorum, irrespective of the number of member unions with a right of vote present.
(4) The decisions must be taken on a two-third majority basis, or a three-quarter majority basis in the case of dissolution.
(5) The votes are done on a show of hands basis, unless if at least a quarter of the present persons entitled to vote request a secret ballot.
Article 11
Special Provisions
(1) Applications and items of the agenda for the Congress can be introduced by the member unions and the Executive Committee. These documents and the reports submitted to the Congress have to be available in the office of the Secretary General of the USPE at least three months before the date of the Congress. They have to be sent to the member unions of the USPE at least one month before the meeting together with the agenda proposed by the Executive Committee.
(2) Candidatures with regard to the renewal of the Executive Committee or the Technical Commission can be submitted only by the member unions. These have to be avail¬able in the office of the Secretary General of the USPE at least three months before the date of the Congress. In case of vacant positions being only known in the three months preceding the Congress or during the Congress, candidatures may also be filed during the Congress itself.
(3) The nation organizing the Congress is entirely responsible for all expenses caused by the Congress. It provides board and lodgings free of charge to all the official Con-gress members of the USPE. Expenses arising for guest delegates and/or experts have to be paid by the corresponding member unions.
(4) All persons authorized by the President, may take part in all sessions of the Congress and may take the floor.
(5) The President chairs all the sessions of the Congress. In his absence, the Congress will be chaired by one of the Vice-Presidents. If the latter are prevented from attending, the Congress will elect someone out of its circle as chairman for the session.
(6) In order to proceed with the election of the President, and for the requirements of the discussion of his report, the member unions with a right to vote of the Congress have to elect an election chairman on a simple majority basis. The election of the other members of the Executive Committee will be managed by the new President.
(7) The Executive Commission may fix the duration of the Congress in accordance with the agenda.
(8) The official languages of the USPE are German, English and French. They have to be used at all the sessions of the Congress. In case of doubt the German version is valid.
(9) The Statutes, the Rules and Regulations, the Competition Rules, the Anti-Doping Regulations, the agenda and the minutes of the sessions of the Congress have to be drafted in these three languages. Other documents may be drawn up in one of the three official languages at will.
Article 12
Technical Commission
(1) The Technical Commission (TC) is a permanent institution of the USPE. It is charged with establishing and updating of the Competition Rules of the sports disciplines practised in the USPE.
(2) Modifications of the Competition Rules proposed by the Technical Commission are provisionally valid until resolution of the next Congress.
(3) The Technical Commission is made up of the Secretary General and eight additional members. These members are elected for a four years term by the Congress. They can be re-elected twice.
If a position will become vacant before the end of the term, the member will be elected for this position by the Congress for the rest of the term.
(4) The tasks and method of operation of the Technical Commission are set out in the Rules and Regulations.
Article 13
Commissions
The Executive Committee may set up commissions whose method of operation is set out in the Rules and Regulations. At least one member of the Executive Committee must have a seat in each of these commissions.
CHAPTER V: RESOURCES OF THE UNION AND ACCOUNTANCY
Article 14
Resources / Book Keeping
(1) The annual resources of the USPE include:
1. the annual fees of the member unions,
2. the registration fees for the European championships paid by the member unions,
3. the appeal fees,
4. state and international organisation subsidies,
5. the product of payment for services rendered,
6. donations by benefactors and honorary members,
7. the liabilities of contracts to be made with economy.
(2) The used accountancy is done in compliance with the laws of the country of the General Treasurer. The currency in question is the EURO.
(3) The financial year of the USPE corresponds to the calendar year. Financial reports and the balance sheet drawn up by the General Treasurer are examined by the Executive Committee at the end of the fiscal year. The books of the USPE are checked by two auditors under the conditions defined in the Rules and Regulations, before being presented to the Congress.
(4) The book keeping of the Secretary General of the USPE are held in compliance with the laws and regulations of the state in which the General Secretariat is located.
CHAPTER VI: MODIFICATION OF THE STATUTES - DISSOLUTION
Article 15
Modification of the Statutes
The Statutes can only be modified on the conditions stipulated in Articles 9 and10.
Article 16
Dissolution
(1) The Extraordinary Congress, that decides about the dissolution, is convoked and ruled on the conditions stipulated in Article 10.
(2) In case of dissolution the Congress appoints one or several commissioners, that are charged with the liquidation of the property of the USPE. It attributes the net assets to the International Olympic Committee. Under no circumstances the member unions may claim any share of the property, besides the possible repayment of their fees.
Article 17
Liability of the Union
(1) The USPE declines any liability.
Article 17a
Safety and Security
(1) The organiser is responsible for a safety and security analysis of the risks during an USPE Event to determine the necessary precautions and measures.
(2) During an USPE Event the organiser has to make sure to meet the safety requirements according to the rules of the respective sport discipline.
(3) The organiser has to ensure that a medical first aid will be present at the competition.
Article 17b
Insurance
(1) Everyone involved in an USPE Event is responsible for his/her own insurance cover. The participating Member Countries are responsible for and undertake to conclude all necessary and adequate insurance cover (e.g. accident and health insurance) for their whole delegation members at their own expense for the whole duration of the USPE EPC.
(2) The host member federation has to ensure that all facilities in question (e.g. hotel, sports venues, transportation) provide a fully comprehensive insurance cover, including third-party liability and property damage.
(3) All insurances must cover the full period of the respective USPE Event. Claims for damages against the USPE are expressly excluded.
Article 18
Legal Domicile
Jurisdiction for all proceedings concerning the USPE is given to the court where the headquarters are located, regardless of the venue of the cause.
CHAPTER VII: RULES AND REGULATIONS - PUBLICATION
Article 19
Rules and Regulations
The Rules and Regulations of the USPE are prepared by the Executive Committee and adopted by the regular Congress. It specifies the management of the USPE.
Article 20
Publication
The President of the USPE carries out the declaration and publication formalities as stipulated by the law.
CHAPTER VIII: EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS
Article 21
Championships
(1) The Union Sportive des Polices d’Europe organises the European Police Champion¬ships.
(2) The Congress decides which disciplines shall be featured in these championships. The Executive Committee and the Technical Commission are responsible for the organisation of these championships.
(3) The conditions of organisation are stipulated in the Rules and Regulations and in the Competition Rules.
Article 22
Other Sports Events
(1) This covers all competitions organised on the national or international level on the initiative of the national organisation.
(2) The “USPE Cup” label can be granted to European events which comply with the Regulations governing the USPE Cup.
(3) The USPE Cup Regulations are prepared by the Executive Committee and approved by the Congress.
Article 23
The Competitors
(1) Participation in championships is restricted to athletes, who:
1. meet the starting requirements of their international union,
2. belong to a national sports organisation that is a member of the USPE,
3. actually is a member of police organisation/force at the time of the championship or
4. are police students at a public police academy,
5. have reached the age of 18 at the time of the championships (including preliminary rounds),
6. have signed the Anti-Doping Declaration,
(2) The Rules and Regulations of the USPE specify the conditions for participation in competitions.
CHAPTER IX: HONORING, RULES, DEFENSE, COMING INTO FORCE
Article 24
Awards honouring the best police athletes/Fair Play Award/USPE medal of honour
(1) The Congress will honour the best police athletes for the intervals between the Congresses.
(2) The best female athlete, the best male athlete and the best team will be honoured for their performances during a European Police Championship. Furthermore, a male and a female athlete who has achieved outstanding results during other international competitions will be honoured.
(3) The decision on the athletes to be honoured shall be taken by the Executive Committee on the proposal of the Technical Commission. The proposals for the individuals to be honoured may be submitted by the member unions as well as the members of the Technical Commission.
(4) The Congress will honour a team/ an individual athlete who have shown outstanding fair play during a European Police Championship by presenting them with the "USPE Neil Braithwaite Fair Play Award“ for the Inter-Congress periods. The Executive Committee will take the final decision on the person/team to be honoured by referring to the proposal tabled by the Technical Commission.
(5) A USPE award of honour will be presented. The Executive Committee will decide on the award of the medal in accordance with the terms stipulated in the Rules and Regulations.
Article 25
Anti-Doping
(1) In accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and for the purpose of protecting the health of the athletes, the USPE joins in the fight against doping.
(2) The conditions are stipulated in the Rules and Regulations and in the Anti-Doping Regulations.
(3) The Anti-Doping Regulations of the USPE are prepared by the Executive Committee and adopted by the regular Congress.
Article 26
European Police Performance Badge (EPLA)
(1) Police work puts high demands on officers' physical fitness which, in turn, is an important prerequisite for professional policing.
USPE awards a joint European Police Performance Badge (EPLA) for promoting the physical fitness of all police officers serving in the USPE member countries, furthering the European idea and developing a common "corporate identity" amongst European police forces.
(2) The conditions are stipulated in the Rules and Regulations governing the European Police Performance Badge.
(3) The Rules of the EPLA are prepared by the Executive Committee and adopted by the regular Congress.
Article 27
Data Protection
(1) Compliance with the principles and regulations for protection of natural persons while processing their personal data has to ensure that the fundamental rights and freedoms, and, in particular, the right to protection of personal data, are protected regardless of people’s nationality, whereabouts and place of residence. High standards associated with the delivery of top athletic performance are for USPE at the same time a guideline for handling the data associated with it. The highest priority is to create and maintain a foundation for trustful cooperation between the USPE and all involved. Confidentiality and integrity of personal data is therefore of particular concern for the USPE. The data involved is therefore processed and used carefully for the intended purpose or in accordance with an existing consent and in accordance with the statutory provisions on data protection only.
(2) USPE bodies provide uniform framework conditions for all involved by creating a Data Protection Regulation. In accordance with the USPE Rules and Regulations they are also legally responsible for the data protection law.
(3) Member countries associations and especially host associations of sports events of the USPE are responsible for the compliance with data protection regulations within the framework of their obligations, and in turn ensure legal compliance and transparent processing of personal data in their areas of responsibility.
Article 28
Right of Defence
The member unions of the USPE have a right of appeal against sanctions imposed on one or several of their members before the Executive Committee or before the Congress.
In addition, the Anti-Doping Regulations of the USPE shall apply.
Article 29
Coming into force of the Statutes
The statutes where approved by the USPE Congress 2020 and will enter into force on 1st January 2021.
