The present bye laws have as its purpose to implement the provisions of the statutes of the European Renewable Energies Federation asbl (EREF).
1. Name and Constitution
The name of the Association shall be European Renewable Energies Federation, hereinafter referred to as 'EREF'. It shall be a European non-profit association under Belgium law (a.s.b.l. – association européenne sans but lucratife). These Bye-Laws shall be read in conjunction with the Statutes of Association and in the event of any conflict the atter shall prevail. Words and expressions defined in the Statutes shall have the same meaning in these Bye-Laws.
2. Activities
The activities which the Association will initiate in order to achieve its objectives as laid down in Article 4 of the statutes, shall in particular include:
- To define and implement measures for developing and promoting the interests of its members.
- To define and implement measures for encouraging and simplifying the relation between its members as well as promoting and exchanging professional know-how and information.
- To actively support measures or activities of the public or private sector which are aimed at ensuring rapid and sustainable growth and further development of the renewable energies industry as well as an increased use of renewable energy in Europe.
- To promote and effectively support national and European policies that are aimed at fostering renewable energies and at enabling its access to the European energy market.
- To develop, implement and support measures aimed at ensuring fair market access for renewable energies.
- To advocate for priority grid access for renewable energy under standard rules based on objective, transparent and non-discriminatory criteria.
- To advocate that energy imported from outside the European Union is based on environmental and sustainable standards.
- To establish EREF as competent intermediary and contact between the renewable industry and the European Institutions in order to ensure that the voice of independent renewable energy producers is being heard at all levels.
- To establish EREF as advisor to all the European institutions, the different member states and all organisations involved in the promotion of a sustainable development, especially to obtain a consultative status before the European Commission, European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee of the European Union, the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Commission of the United Nations on Sustainable Development and the World Bank.
- To ensure constructive cooperation with European and international federations and associations that work in the field of renewable energy and in the protection of the environment
3. Proceedings in the General Assembly
3.1. All full members have one voting right each. Notwithstanding Article 16 of the statutes, a resolution or decision is considered to be voted favourably only if 51% of the members representing associations have given their positive vote.
3.2. The voting shall take place by show of hands unless a secret ballot is requested by 25% of the full Members present or represented by proxy. Electronic vote is possible.
3.3. Resolutions voted upon favourably will be binding on all Members of the Association.
4. Proxy
4.1. Members impeded to participate in the General Assembly for good reasons can be represented by proxy.
4.2. The impeded member has to inform the President in writing at the latest one day in advance that he or she will not be able to participate and by whom he or she will be represented. This authorisation for the proxy can be submitted by electronic means to the President and has to be kept as annex to the minutes of the meeting.
4.3. In matters of utmost urgency or on case of force majeure the impeded member can inform the President by telephone and appoint his or her proxy telephonically until the General Assembly has started.
4.4. A member cannot represent more than two other members in the same assembly.
5. Proceedings in the Executive Board
5.1. Each member present at a meeting of the Board shall be entitled to exercise one vote. Notwithstanding Article 18 of the statutes, a resolution or decision is considered to be voted favourably only if 51% of the members representing associations have given their positive vote.
5.2. In case of being prevented one Board member may delegate his voting right to another member of the Board or any other person designated by the absent member; in this case the rules of Article 4.2. and 4.4. of the present bye laws apply accordingly.
5.3. Elected Board members remain in office until their successors are duly appointed and take office. A re-election of the Board members for further mandates shall be possible.
5.4. The Board may decide to appoint the Treasurer and the Secretary at the same time to Vice President of EREF. Such a double function shall not be excluded.
6. President and Vice president
6.1. The President will normally act as Chairman of the Board. He shall also chair all meetings of EREF. The President may delegate these duties to one of his or her substitutes (Vice presidents)
6.2. It shall be the duty of each Vice President to perform such functions as may be delegated by the President and where requested to act in the place of the President in the event of his inability to act.
6.3. In case a decision has to be taken according to Article 18 (1) of the association’s statutes and the President is unable to act, he or she shall be substituted by the Vice president who carries the longest term in an official function of the association.
7. Membership fees
7.1. The fiscal year of EREF shall be the calendar year. The payment of the membership fee for a year shall be divided in two instalments. 50% of the annual membership fee becomes due on the 1st January the other 50% become due on 1st July in each year.
7.2. The standard annual membership fees are calculated following the decreasing scale given below:
| Up to 100 MW | 25€/MW/year |
| From 101 to 200 MW | 18€/MW/year |
| From 201 to 300 MW | 15€/MW/year |
| From 301 to 500 MW | 12€/MW/year |
| From 501 to 800 MW | 10€/MW/year |
| More than 800 MW | 8€/MW/year |
Without prejudice to article 22 (1) of the EREF statutes and without prejudice to the table above, the regular membership fee may not be below 1,000.00 € and shall not exceed 24,000.00 €.
The standard annual membership fee for organisations or associations that do not directly represent installed capacity is set at 1,000.00 €.
The standard annual membership fee for individual companies is set at 7,000.00 € per annum.
7.3. The General Assembly of EREF may agree upon a reduction of membership fees for members who are enrolled by the Association after the beginning year.
7.4. Membership fees are payable on demand. Any member who has not paid his membership fee within two months of the date on which it became due shall be notified of the fact by the Board or the Treasurer of the Association by letter. Should that member still have failed to pay its membership fee two months thereafter, the Board may decide unanimously about submitting an application for expulsion to the General Assembly.
7.5. Revenues and assets including all donations to EREF will be held by EREF for its own use in furtherance of the objectives for which EREF is established.
7.6. If exceptional circumstances do so require, release from the obligation to pay the regular annual membership fee can be granted by unanimous decision of the Board and provided that the General Assembly does not raise any objections. Release from the obligation to pay the annual membership fee shall only be granted if the member concerned commits itself to actively contribute to the objectives of the federation by other then financial means in the respective year, e.g. representing the federation as speaker in conferences, providing help in organising events etc.
7.7. Any modification to article 7.2. of the present Bye Laws shall be subject to the same procedure as referred to in Article 22 (1) of the Statues of the Federation.
8. Interpretation
Every member bind itself to abide by the Bye-Laws of EREF and also by any modification thereof made in conformity with such Bye-Laws and also to accept as final and binding the decision of the General Meeting in all cases of dispute or disagreements as to the interpretation of these Bye-Laws.
9. Amendments
The Bye-laws can be amended by decision of the General Assembly. A proposal for amendment can be brought forward by the Board or by 1/5 of the Association’s voting members.