Preamble
In accord with the conclusions of the international meeting concerning immigrants' right to family life in Europe,
held in Brussels on 4, 5, and 6 November 1993:

I - Appellation, headquarters, purpose

Article 1

A non-profit, international association, named the European Coordination for Foreigners' Right to Family Life has been founded. This association is governed in accordance with the provisions of Title III of the Belgian law of 27 June 1921 concerning not-for-profit associations, international associations, and foundations.

Article 2

The association headquarters is currently established in Brussels, at 89 Avenue du Parc – c/o CEFA-UO – 1060 Brussels. The headquarters may be transferred elsewhere in Belgium by simple decision of its Board, published within a month of the decision in the Appendices of the Moniteur belge.

Article 3

The primary goal of the association, which is a non-profit-making organisation, is to see that, on the level of the European Union, measures are taken to guarantee the right to family life for foreigners living in one of the states of the Union.
Its second objective is to take part in constructing a democratic and social Europe where members of immigrant families find their place as citizens without discrimination.

The activities that the association intends to carry out in order to foster the right to family life for third-country nationals residing in states within the European Union and to take part in constructing a democratic and social Europe where members of immigrant families find their place as citizens without discrimination include above all:
- Consciousness-raising campaigns among the associative movement and labour unions;
- Promotion, development, and execution of projects involving research, information, consciousness-raising, and action that contribute to reaching the goals described above;
- Lobbying decision-makers so that measures are taken, on the levels of the European Union and of the member states, to guarantee the right to family life for foreigners residing in one of states of the Union;
- Involvement in projects and campaigns conducted by other associations or organisations with similar goals. It acts in liaison with or through the channel of its member associations and, in particular, in the countries where they have been established, through national coordinations.

II - Members

Article 4

The European Coordination is composed of individuals and entities legally constituted according to the laws and customs of their country of origin that approve of its goals and uphold the present bylaws.

They are divided among:
- regular members: international or European associations, associations in countries of the European Union;
- associate members: individuals, not subject to yearly fees.

Article 5

The admission of new members is subject to the following conditions:
- International and European associations are admitted by decision of the Board.
- Associations within the various countries are also admitted by decision of the Board, after the approval of the national coordination of the country concerned, if it exists.
- Associate members (individuals) are admitted by decision of the Board and must be presented by at least two members of the Board.
- The Board rules at its meetings on the requests for admission that are presented.

Membership may be cancelled by resignation, death, or exclusion. Resignation must be confirmed by registered letter addressed to the President of the Board. Exclusion may be proposed by the Board for serious reasons, after the member concerned has been requested by registered letter to provide explanations to the Executive Committee; it is pronounced by the General Assembly by a two-thirds majority of the members present or represented by proxy.
Associations that do not pay their fees for two successive years automatically lose their membership.

III - General Assembly

Article 6

The General Assembly holds all the powers that make it possible to attain the Coordination's goals.
The General Assembly is composed of all the members of the Coordination.
Only regular members that have paid their membership fees have the right to vote, each member having one vote.
Associate members participate consultatively in the General Assembly without the right to vote.

It alone has the authority to:
- approve activity reports and discuss and approve the orientation report;
- approve budgets and accounts;
- elect and dismiss administrators
- elect and dismiss members of the committee of financial comptrollers, who may not be members of the Board.

The General Assembly must be convened every two years by the President or by a vice-president, at headquarters or at the location specified in the notification.
otification is sent 30 days before the General Assembly, and it includes the meeting agenda.

A special General Assembly may, in addition, be convened by the President or by a vice-president; a special General Assembly must be convened if requested by half of the Board members or two thirds of the Executive Committee, in the following cases:
- amendments to the Bylaws: in this case, the special assembly decides with a two-thirds majority of the members present or represented by proxy.
- Disbandment of the association: cf. Art. 14.

Regular and associate members will receive prior to the meeting the activity report and the treasurer's report, proposals submitted for their approval, and the list of candidates for the Board.
Members who cannot attend the Assembly are invited to delegate their proxy to a regular member of the association; members may not hold more than five proxies including their own.

Article 7

The General Assembly may legitimately act only if half of the members are either present or represented by proxy. Except for certain cases specified by these bylaws, decisions and resolutions require a simple majority of the members present or represented by proxy in order to pass. The General Assembly may not act on questions that are not included in its agenda. Decisions of the General Assembly are recorded in written minutes signed by two members of the Executive Committee. They are recorded in a register kept at the headquarters of the association.

Article 8

The Bylaws may be amended only by a special assembly, with approval of a two-thirds majority of the members present or represented by proxy.
Proposed amendments must be submitted to the Executive Committee at least two months before the date of the next regular General Assembly. The Executive Committee must submit them to the special assembly if they are presented by the Board or if they are supported by at least one third of the regular members.
If a two-thirds quorum is not reached, a second special General Assembly may legitimately act within one month, whatever number of members are present or represented by proxy.
Adopted amendments take effect after their approval by royal or ministerial decree and their publication in the Appendices of the Moniteur belge.

V - Administration and management

Article 9

The Coordination is directed by a Board of twelve to twenty-four titular members and alternates, elected by the General Assembly for a mandate of four years.
Half of the Board members must be renewed every other year. Retiring members are eligible for re-election. Administrators may be dismissed by a General Assembly with a two-thirds majority of the members present or represented by proxy.

Article 10

The Board will meet at least twice a year, convened by the President or at the request of at least half of its members.
Notification is sent 30 days prior to the meeting, and it includes the meeting agenda and the location where it will take place.
It determines the ways and means to reach objectives defined by the General Assembly.
It makes all decisions between two General Assemblies corresponding to the objectives of the association and reports them to the following General Assembly.
When required, it elects the Executive Committee, which is assigned to ensure that decisions are executed.
It validates the set of rules and regulations if required.
It temporarily approves the budget and accounts for the two years and it submits them to the next General Assembly for ratification.

The Board may legitimately act only if at least half of its members are present or represented by their alternates. Decisions are made by a majority of titular members present or represented by their alternates, with alternates voting only in the absence of regular members; in the case of a tie vote, the President's vote is decisive.
Decisions of the Board are recorded in written minutes signed by two members of the Executive Committee. They are recorded in the register mentioned in article 7.

Article 11

The Board elects an Executive Committee of four to seven people from among its members, including a President, one or several Vice-Presidents, a Secretary General, and a Treasurer.
The Executive Committee may request the assistance of any administrators or persons whose expertise it deems necessary, informing the Board in a timely manner.
All acts that engage the association must be signed, unless special proxy is given, by two administrators.
Legal actions, whether as plaintiff or as defendant, are the responsibility of the Board, represented by its president or an administrator designated to this effect.

V - Resources, budgets, and accounts

Article 12

The association's resources consist of the fees paid by its members, specific contributions, public or private subsidies, and earnings from the sale of its publications and events that it organises.
Membership fees are set by the General Assembly on proposition by the Board.

Article 13

The fiscal year ends on 31 December of the calendar year.
The Board must submit for ratification by the General Assembly the budget and the accounts for the year in which a General Assembly is not held; the General Assembly must approve the current year's accounts and the budget for the following fiscal period.

Article 14

The association can be disbanded by means of a special General Assembly. This assembly will be able to act legitimately only if at least half of the members are present or represented by proxy; decisions require a two-thirds majority to pass.
If disbanded, the association's assets will transferred to an association with similar objectives. The decision to disband must be published in the Appendices of the Moniteur belge.

Article 15

Anything that is not foreseen by these bylaws or postings published in the Appendices of the Moniteur belge will be administered in accordance with the law, in particular with the provisions of Title III of the Belgian law of 27 June 1921 concerning not-for-profit associations, international associations, and foundations.