Ratified by Council, Geneva, 25 September 2010
This organisation was founded in December 1991 in Vienna, Austria, following a decision of each and every national neurological society in Europe. From that date all national neurological associations and societies in the continent of Europe were affiliated as members of the Federation. It shall be known as the European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS).
The Federation is not organised for profit and no part of the net earnings of the Federation shall inure to the benefit of any private individual or member. The Federation shall remain independent.
The EFNS in all of its activities will support the aims and objectives of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) and will regularly consult and collaborate with the WFN in relation to the planning and organisation of its meetings and other activities.
The address of the EFNS is the address of its business office.
Section 1.
The activities of the Federation shall be open to all neuro-scientists irrespective of gender, race, religion, philosophical or political opinions or nationality. The Federation strives to maintain a balance of nationalities and gender in all its administrative structures.
Section 2.
Vision and Missions of the EFNS
Vision
Excellence in European Neurology
a common home for neurological patient care, research, education and partnership in Europe
Mission 1
A strong organization of European Neurology
to encourage collaboration between European national neurological societies
Mission 2
Taking care of neurological patients in Europe
to advance the development of neurology as the major medical specialty caring for patients with neurological disorders
Mission 3
High quality of neurological health care
to strengthen the standard, availability, and uniformity of neurological services in Europe
Mission 4
Multidisciplinary collaboration and partnership
to strengthen collaboration between the EFNS and related professional and lay organizations
Mission 5
Excellence in clinical neurological research - the cornerstone of progression
to improve the quality of European neurological research through supporting research activities, encouraging collaboration, and promoting dissemination of research results
Mission 6
Clinical and basic neuroscience - two interacting themes
to strengthen the integration between basic neuroscience and clinical neurology by promoting bidirectional translational research.
Mission 7
High standards in neurological education throughout Europe
to strengthen the standard, availability and equality of pre-graduate and post-graduate neurological education for neurologists and related professionals throughout Europe
Mission 8
A platform for teaching activities at European level
to provide a common platform for the integration of high quality, standardized neurological teaching activities at the European level
Mission 9
Raising public awareness about neurological disorders in Europe
to raise awareness in the European lay public and among health care providers and politicians about the importance and implications of neurological disorders
Mission 10
Contributing to neurological health care worldwide
to strengthen the collaboration between European neurology and related international health organisations
Section 3.
The primary means for achieving these shall be:
Section 4.
The Federation may engage in other activities which contribute to the advancement of clinical neurology and related neurosciences within Europe.
Section 1
There shall be five categories of membership:
Section 2
The Federation will be governed by a Council (see Article 7) constituted of one representative elected by each affiliated national neurological society in Europe. Individual, honorary, corresponding international and associate members shall have no voting powers.
Section 3
All members of the affiliated European national neurological societies shall be automatically ordinary members. Qualified individuals with a declared interest in basic or clinical neuroscience who are not members of an affiliated national society may apply for individual membership by submitting an application form together with their curriculum vitae. Acceptance will be decided by the Secretary General. The annual fee for individual members includes subscription to the European Journal of Neurology and is decided by the Council.
Section 4
Honorary members may be elected from among those who, in the opinion of the Federation, have made an exceptional contribution to the neurosciences or to the EFNS. Honorary members shall be proposed by at least two members of the Council to the Secretary General. They shall be elected by a majority vote of the Council.
Section 5
Corresponding international members will be nominated by the Management Committee from among non-European neurologists who are recognised for their distinguished contributions to the speciality.
Section 6
Associate members are the national neurological societies of Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Syria. Associate members do not pay a membership fee. One delegate per society is invited as an observer to the annual meeting of the EFNS Council. Members of associate member societies may attend the annual EFNS Congress at the reduced fee for students and residents. They may also benefit from and participate in certain other EFNS activities. The extent and details of participation and benefits are subject to revision by the management committee.
Section 7
Membership terminates at death, resignation or expulsion.
Section 1
The activities of the Federation shall be governed by a Council, to which one delegate is appointed by each affiliated European national neurological society. Officers and chairpersons of standing committees who are not national delegates are allowed to be present and have the right to speak but not to vote at the Council meetings. The national neurological society is entitled to appoint a substitute if the national delegate is unable to attend. The President of the WFN and theChief Editor(s) of the European Journal of Neurology shall be ex-officio members of the Council without voting rights. The President of the EFNS shall chair the Council.
Section 2
The Council shall normally meet once a year during a congress organised by the EFNS or the WFN.
Section 3
All major decisions of the EFNS shall be made by simple majority in Council unless a two-thirds majority is required according to the Constitution.
Section 1
The officers of the Federation shall be a President, a Past President, three Vice Presidents, a Secretary General and a Treasurer. The officers shall be elected by Council.
Section 2
The officers shall each serve for two years and are re-electable once, the maximum being four years of service in the same office. Elections take place in the year preceding the end of term to allow the candidates in time to prepare plans of action. Exceptions in the duration of the term of office up to six years may be made for special reasons if approved by Council by a two-thirds majority.
Section 3
Any vacancy occurring among the officers during a term of office shall be filled by an individual appointed by the President following recommendation given by the Management Committee to complete the unexpired term. If the office of President becomes vacant, the immediate Past President will perform the duties and responsibilities of the President until the end of the relevant term.
The Council shall delegate the day-to-day management of the Federation to a Management Committee consisting of the officers, and chairs of the Standing Committees. The Management Committee will be chaired by the President and is empowered to decide on all matters of the Federation when such decisions, in the best interest of the EFNS, cannot be delayed until the next Council meeting. Important decisions made by the Management Committee must subsequently be ratified by Council.
The EFNS has the following standing committees:
Council may decide to add further standing committees and to discharge standing committees whenever appropriate. The chairpersons of standing committees are members of the Management Committee. They are appointed by the president after approval by the Management Committee.
The President or the Chairperson of the Scientific Committee may appoint Task Forces to accomplish certain tasks on behalf of the Federation.
Section 1
Collaborating societies are European organisations dedicated to any associated specialty related to clinical neurology (e.g. European Society of Neuroradiology), European subgroups of clinical neurology (e.g. European Headache Federation), and European lay organisations (e.g. European Parkinson's Disease Association). These organisations may join the EFNS as collaborating societies.
Section 2
Status as collaborating society is obtained by application to the Liaison Committee which makes recommendations to the Management Committee.
Section 3
Collaborating societies pay the fee of one individual member with the exception of patient organisations. Otherwise they have no financial obligations or rights in relation to the EFNS, and the EFNS cannot be made liable for any expenses or debts of a collaborating society.
Section 4
The Liaison Committee proposes rules for the optimal collaboration between the EFNS and collaborating societies.
Section 1
The Management Committee shall propose candidates for officers. The slate of candidates for officers proposed by the Management Committee shall be circulated to delegates of national neurological societies six months prior to the council meeting at which election takes place. Delegates of national neurological societies are also entitled to propose candidates for officers.
Section 2
Elections of officers shall take place at a meeting of the Council held approximately one year before the end of term of the officers. Terms of office shall be staggered so that no more than half of the officers have terms ending in the same year.
In order to ensure appropriate geographical representation, each of the three Vice Presidents should come from a different European region. Candidates for the office of Vice President should normally be nominated and elected for one of the three following regions of Europe:
Region 1: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom
Region 2: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, FYRO Macedonia, Montenegro, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Serbia
Region 3: Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Section 3
Election of Council members takes place in each membership country during the year before the end of their term.
Section 4
Council members are elected by their national neurological society for a two-year term and may be re-elected twice to serve for a maximum of six years.
Section 1
The EFNS shall hold European congresses of neurology every year.
Section 2
In years when the World Neurology Congress is being held in Europe the EFNS should not hold a meeting but should be a partner in the World Congress of Neurology. In years when World Congresses of Neurology are held outside of Europe, the EFNS will place its congress as far away in time as possible from the World Congress. Furthermore the site will be selected so as to conflict as little as possible with the World Congress.
Section 3
Applications from national neurological societies or associations to hold future European congresses should be sent to the Secretary General at least five years prior to such congresses, and should be formally endorsed by the national society.
Section 4
The selection of countries to host future congresses is normally made by Council. However, in situations of urgency the Management Committee may decide.
The Federation has established a secretariat in Vienna, headed by an Executive Director. Creation of branch offices in other parts of Europe and change of location of the central office requires a decision by Council.
At the opening event of each EFNS congress the President gives a speech on a topic of general interest to the membership.
If ordinary members are expelled from their national neurological society, they also cease to be members of the EFNS. For other types of members and for officers, Council shall have the duty to consider disciplinary action for any professional misconduct on the part of any member of the EFNS for which similar disciplinary action has been taken by a national Board of Medical Examiners, Board of Professional Medical Responsibility or like body. Such disciplinary action shall be in the form of censure, suspension or expulsion from the Federation; and if the member be an officer of the Federation, that member shall be removed from office whether censured, suspended or expelled. The word “censured” means that the individual shall be advised in writing that his or her professional conduct is not consistent with the objectives of the Federation and that it should be changed; the word “suspended” means that the individual shall be advised in writing that his or her privileges as a member of the EFNS have been temporarily suspended until the professional misconduct has been corrected to the satisfaction of the EFNS; “expulsion” means that the member shall be advised that membership of the Federation is automatically terminated. No formal disciplinary action can be taken against a national neurological society. However, the EFNS insists on its right to communicate its views on matters of a general nature, such as lack of democracy in a national neurological society, discrimination against minorities and other similar matters.
Section 1
The fiscal year of the EFNS shall begin on 1 January and end on 31 December of each year.
Section 2
Each affiliated national society or association is asked to pay an annual subscription on a per capita basis for each of its members. The size of such a fee will be decided by the Council by simple majority vote. Individual members shall also be invited to pay annual dues, and the amount for individual members shall be determined by the Council. In countries where government regulations prevent payment of dues to the office of the Treasurer, they will be deposited in the country itself. This money will be available for use in that country to support activities sponsored by the EFNS with the approval of the Management Committee.
Section 3
The Federation shall as far as possible be financed from the surplus income derived from sponsors, European congresses, and donations from private persons and industry and from its publications.
Amendments to the Constitution and Byelaws may be proposed by any member of Council. They must be submitted to the Secretary General at least three months prior to the meeting of Council at which these shall be voted upon. The agenda for the meeting shall include the proposed amendments. Any amendment shall require a two-thirds majority affirmative vote of the members present in order to be adopted.
Voluntary dissolution or fusion with a related organisation can only be decided by a two-thirds majority vote of the Council at an extraordinary meeting called solely for this purpose. Any assets of the organisation shall, in the event of its dissolution, be donated to non-profit organisations supporting neurological research in Europe. These organisations will be decided by majority vote in Council.
The present revised Constitution has been ratified by Council, September 25, 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Section 1
Authority. Council shall have the final responsibility and authority for all actions and policies that are recommended or adopted by any and all standing committees, Task Forces, representatives to professional and governmental organisations, agents and employees; and no action or policy shall be the action or policy of the Federation unless and until it is adopted, ratified or approved by Council unless otherwise specified in the Constitution. Council shall employ an Executive Director who shall function in the usual capacity of such office when these functions are not contrary to the Constitution and Byelaws of the Federation. Council shall ordinarily determine the duties of such an Executive Director and policies pertaining to this office.
Section 2
Meetings. Council shall meet once a year during a congress organised by the EFNS or the WFN. Matters which require for Councillors to discuss with the Executive Committee of their national neurological society must be sent to the Councillors no less than three months before the next Council meeting. Council meetings are called with a notice of no less than one month. The matters to be discussed and voted upon at any duly called meeting of the Council shall normally be limited to those set forth in the notice of the meeting. However, urgent decisions may be taken without prior notice. Twelve voting members of Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Section 3
Extraordinary meetings. An extraordinary meeting of Council can be called by decision of the Management Committee or by written request from at least ten national delegates.
Section 4
Written action. Any action that Council could take by single majority at a duly called Meeting of Council may be taken by a written action signed by two thirds of the Council members. The same written action need not be signed by all Council members and each may sign a separate counterpart of the written action, but all Council members will be notified in writing before voting takes place.
Section 1
Authority. The Management Committee has full authority to decide on all matters of the Federation which cannot easily be postponed until the next Council meeting. The Management Committee may take independent initiatives on behalf of the Federation but also such actions must subsequently be reported to and ratified by Council. The Management Committee shall propose candidates for office to Council. The Management Committee is consulted about chairpersons and members of standing committees and task forces.
The Management Committee hires and discharges staff and decides on their tasks and salaries, whenever this responsibility has not been delegated to the Executive Director.
Section 2
Meetings. The Management Committee shall meet no less than two times per year with at least one of those meetings taking place during a congress organised by the EFNS or the WFN. Special meetings of the Management Committee may be called by the President or at the written request of three members of the Management Committee addressed to the Secretary General.
Notice of each meeting of the Management Committee shall be given by the Executive Director not less than fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be held. The matters to be discussed and voted upon at duly called meetings of the Management Committee shall not be limited to those set forth in the notice of the meeting. Four voting members of the Management Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
The Management Committee takes its decision by simple majority. In case of a tie, the vote of the President decides.
Section 3
Written action. Any action the Management Committee could take at a duly called meeting may be taken by a written action signed by two thirds of the committee members. The same written action need not be signed by all Management Committee members and each may sign a separate counterpart of the written action but all members will be notified in writing before voting takes place.
Section 4
Telephone conference. Any action that the Management Committee could take at a duly called meeting of the committee may be taken during a telephone conference of committee members. A quorum must participate in the telephone conference in order to transact business. A notice of two business days is required to all Management Committee members in order to schedule a telephone conference for the purpose of transacting EFNS business.
Section 1
President. The President shall serve as the chief executive of the Federation and shall make decisions within the existing policy as approved by the Council. The President shall plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the activities of the Federation, delegating as he or she thinks fit to ensure that the objectives of the Federation are attained. He or she will make a report to Council at each European congress, outlining the past and future operations of the Federation. He or she shall be chairperson and shall preside at meetings of the Management Committee, the Council and at general meetings of members. He or she shall, with the Secretary General and/or Treasurer, sign all written obligations of the Federation. The President shall act as chief spokesman of the EFNS to the public, the press, legislative bodies, the medical community at large and governments of individual states of Europe; shall work with the Executive Director to ensure that basic EFNS policies and programmes are formulated and executed; is responsible for making appointments of members of standing committees and other committees; may appoint EFNS representatives to civic, professional and governmental organisations as may be required to execute the business and affairs of the EFNS.
Section 2
Vice Presidents. The Vice Presidents shall have duties and responsibilities for acting as ambassadors for the EFNS at international and national meetings and regional teaching courses and for undertaking other duties as agreed by the President.
Section 3
Secretary General. The Secretary General shall be responsible for keeping the minutes of the meetings of the Council and the Management Committee and for conducting correspondence of the Federation and keeping its records. He or she will also receive written applications for membership of the Federation and proposals for amendments to the Constitution and Byelaws and is responsible for the development of the practical organisation of the Federation in collaboration with the Executive Director.
Section 4
Treasurer. The Treasurer ensures that the EFNS maintains accurate financial records; reviews EFNS expenditures and financial status on a regular basis to ensure overall financial integrity; submits the financial accounts of the EFNS to an annual independent audit; develops and presents financial recommendations to the Management Committee and Council; supervises investments of the assets of the EFNS and performs other duties assigned by the President or Management Committee.
Section 5
Immediate Past President. The Immediate Past President shall have all the duties and responsibilities that the President or the Management Committee may determine. In the event that the President is unable to complete his or her term of office, the immediate Past President will perform the duties and responsibilities of the President until the end of the relevant term. The term of office of the Immediate Past President follows the term of office of the President and may thus be either two or four years, depending on whether or not the President is re-elected.
Section 6
Vacancies. In the event of incapacitation, withdrawal, demise, resignation or removal of any officer or member of the Management Committee, the President with the approval of the Management Committee shall appoint a successor who will hold the office until the next election.
Section 7
Removal from office. Any member of the Management Committee may be removed from office by an affirmative written ballot of two thirds of the Council members if, in their judgement, this will serve the best interests of the EFNS.
Standing committees perform the ongoing functions vital to the EFNS on a long-term basis. The scope and responsibility of each standing committee shall be established by the President on the advice of the Management Committee in the form of a written mandate and a running action list specifying actions to be taken and time to their expected completion.
Section 1. Creation and discharge of standing committees.
Creation of a standing committee is proposed by the Management Committee or by at least five Councillors and the decision is made by Council.
The chairpersons of standing committees shall be appointed by each new President after approval by the Management Committee. It is the task of each chairperson to select the committee members and to present the membership list for final approval by the President. Members of standing committees are appointed for a two-year term and may be re-appointed to serve for a maximum period of four years. Terms of membership shall be staggered so that normally no more than half of the committee members have terms ending in the same year.
When, in the judgement of the Management Committee or of five or more Council members, a standing committee is no longer necessary, it may be discharged by Council.
Section 2. Description of the standing committees
Congress Programme. Is responsible for the scientific programme at EFNS organised meetings. It has nine members: its chairperson, the chairpersons of the Teaching Course and Scientific Committees, three other members appointed by the chairperson and three members appointed by the national society of the hosting country, one of them serving as vice chairperson of the Congress Programme Committee. In the event of an agreement with a neighbouring society (eg Movement Disorders Society – European Section) the relevant officially appointed representative of such an organisation will also be a member of the Congress Programme Committee. (see article 10, constitution) The Past chairperson of the Congress Programme Committee will be an ex-officio member of the Congress Programme Committee.
Training and Education. Develops recommendations and monitors activities related to educational issues of importance to the EFNS; works actively with the Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes (UEMS) in pursuit of common European educational standards; analyses and helps harmonise medical school curricula and teaching methods in neurology. Helps to increase co-operation between different parts of Europe. Organises special educational activities for young neurologists from the European countries in transition (regional teaching courses). Works to establish department-to-department co-operation between Eastern and Western European neurological departments. Compiles and distributes information about fellowship programmes and travel grants for young neurologists from the countries in transition, about the availability of research grants and literature. The Training and Education Committee shall have one representative from the EFNS Liaison Committee.
The Training and Education Committee has a Sub-Committee on Continuing Medical Education (CME), which has the task to define and assess CME and to provide standards ensuring a high quality of CME. The sub-committee is responsible for consideration and approval of applications for EFNS approval of meetings.
The Training and Education Committee has a Sub-Committee on e-learning, which designs and provides an e-learning programme.
The Training and Education Committee includes the Teaching Course Sub-Committee, which develops and maintains rules and procedures for the organisation of teaching courses at EFNS congresses. The Teaching Course Sub-Committee is in charge of the organisation of teaching courses at EFNS congresses. In carrying out this task it closely co-operates with the Congress Programme Committee and the Local Organising Committee. For each EFNS Congress, the committee co-opts one member of the Local Organising Committee. In all matters concerning approval for CME credits the Teaching Course Sub-Committee consults with the CME Sub-Committee. The Teaching Course Sub-Committee makes proposals for fund raising for teaching course purposes. It has no authority to enter into financial obligations on behalf of the EFNS or the Local Organisers.
Liaison. Is responsible for advising the Management Committee about the communication strategy of the EFNS and assists the Management Committee in liaising with other professional and lay organizations in Europe and internationally, as well as with relations of EFNS to the European Union and other European institutions.
The organizations with which the EFNS wishes to liaise include the European Brain Council (EBC) and its member societies representing related specialties such as psychiatry, basic neurosciences, neurosurgery etc., the European Federation of Neurological Associations (EFNA) and its member societies of lay organisations within neurology, organizations of allied health professionals, subspecialty organizations within neurology such as European Movement Disorder Society etc., international neurological societies such as AAN, ANA, WFN, ENS, African and Mediterranean Neurological Societies, Danube Society, Baltic Neurological Society, PAUNS, the European Board of Neurology/UEMS, the European Association of Young Neurologists (EAYNT) and WHO. The Liaison committee has one representative in the Scientific Committee and in the Education committee.
Scientific. Develops recommendations for policies and activities related to all issues of a scientific nature which involve the EFNS and its membership; is responsible for the activities and maintenance of Scientist Panels covering all major areas of clinical neurology. The Scientific Committee shall have one representative from the EFNS Liaison Committee.
The Scientific Committee includes:
Scientist Panels
The aims of the scientist panels are:
In order to achieve these aims scientist panels have the following terms of reference:
Financial support to Scientist Panels will only be given in accordance with the rules for financial support established by the EFNS Management Committee.
Section 3. General rules for standing committees.
(a) The chairperson of each committee is responsible for the submission of an annual written report to the Management Committee. (b) In appointing members for a committee geographical and gender distribution is desirable. The number of members of each committee shall be between five and nine, unless otherwise decided by the Management Committee. (c) Each committee should prepare and submit an annual budget to the treasurer. (d) Each committee has a written mandate and a running action list which are updated as necessary in consultation with the Management Committee.
The European Journal of Neurology is the official publication of the EFNS. The editors in-chief are appointed by and report to the Management Committee.
Section 1
The EFNS shall organise annual European congresses of neurology as specified in the constitution.
Section 2
The EFNS may organise smaller regional meetings or meetings with a more narrow scope than traditional congresses of neurology. These meetings may be organised at any time.
Section 3
The EFNS may approve scientific meetings organised by related organisations. Granting of approval depends on fulfilling EFNS criteria for quality of meetings and is granted by the EFNS Sub-Committee on Continuing Medical Education.
Section 4
EFNS meetings must follow the "Rules for the organisation of EFNS congresses" given by the Management Committee and forming an integral part of the agreement with the EFNS core Professional Congress Organiser (PCO).The scientific programme of EFNS congresses is the responsibility of the EFNS Congress Programme Committee.
Section 5
It is the goal of the EFNS to build up its own Congress Secretariat to handle the core organisation of future congresses.