Name Name, Objectives, Region Headquarters, Applicable laws, Membership, Applications for membership, Termination (or suspension) of membership, General organisation, Dues and revenues, Languages back to table of contents Article 1 - Name A. The European Region of the Airports Council International (ACI), hereinafter referred to as "the Region", is hereby established in conformity with the provisions of the ACI Constitution as adopted by the General Assembly. B. The Region comprises all the States, territories and islands of geographical Europe as specified in Article 14 A(2) and Israel. C. A member may participate in the activities of additional geographical regions without voting rights in the additional regions provided that such regions agree. Members of other geographical regions may participate in the activities of the Region without voting rights. back to top Article 2 - Objectives A. According to Article 23 of the ACI Constitution, the objectives of the Region are to:   1. study matters affecting airports within the Region, with a view to establishing common positions and to furthering the progress of civil airports and air transport in the Region.   2. present and defend unified positions on behalf of the civil airports of the Region vis-à-vis authorities and organizations dealing with civil aviation matters in the Region.   3. assist members of the Region, where appropriate.   4. co-operate with the other Regions and participate in and support the world-wide aims and activities of the ACI. back to top Article 3 - Region Headquarters   The Region headquarters shall be Brussels, Belgium. The Regional Assembly may transfer it elsewhere. back to top Article 4 - Applicable Laws A. The Region is a non-profit-making organization governed by the laws and regulations of the country of incorporation. B. The Regional Assembly may make any amendments to these Internal Rules required in conformity with A. and with the ACI Constitution. C. The Regional Board may make such appropriate minor amendments to the Internal Rules without changing its substance, as may be necessary to bring them into conformity with the said laws and regulations, and shall inform all the members accordingly. back to top Article 5 - Membership A. The following are eligible to become members of the Region: 1. Regular Members   a. Owners or operators of one or more civil airports with a scheduled or permanent commercial air service, and which entity is primarily responsible for the management, operations and policy setting of the entire airside and/or terminal building operations.   b. Regular membership shall be divided into four categories according to the annual volume of Traffic Units (TUs) of all the airports operated by the Regular Member as follows:     • Category A - up to and including one million TUs     • Category B - over one million TUs up to and including 7.5 million TUs     • Category C - over 7.5 million TUs up to and including 20 million TUs     • Category D - over 20 million TUs.     A Traffic Unit is comprised of each of the following:     1. An enplaned passenger     2. A deplaned passenger     3. 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of enplaned cargo     4. 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of deplaned cargo     Through passengers in direct transit are not counted as Traffic Units   c. All Regular Members of the Region shall be Regular Members of ACI. 2. Associate Members   a. Owners or operators of one or more civil airports without a scheduled or permanent commercial air service.   b. Organisations, other than airlines, providing services in or for airports including national or regional civil airport associations. Only those members of such national or regional associations who are also Regular or Associate Members of the Region may participate in the Region's work.   c. All Associate Members that have chosen to belong to the Region may be Associate Members of ACI. 3. Honorary Members     Individuals appointed by the Regional Assembly in recognition of distinguished service to airports. back to top Article 6 - Applications for Membership A. All applications from candidates of geographical Europe for regular membership to ACI shall be submitted in writing to the Regional Board. They will be submitted then to the Governing Board of ACI for acceptance or rejection. The Regional Board may only accept regular membership in the Region under the provision that candidates are also accepted by the Governing Board of ACI. B. All applications for associate membership in the Region shall be submitted in writing to the Regional Board for acceptance or rejection. C. Applicants for regular membership shall prove that they are owners or operators of one or more civil airports with a scheduled or permanent commercial air service. Applicants for associate membership shall produce evidence of their permanent activities related to airports. D. All Regular Members of the Airport Operators Council International (AOCI) and the International Civil Airports Association (ICAA) as of 1 January 1991 have the right to become members of the ACI, in accordance with the provisions of Article 5, and each shall be assigned the appropriate membership classification, based on 1989 TUs. back to top Article 7 - Termination (or suspension) of Membership A. Any Regular Member of the Region ceasing to be a Regular Member of ACI thereupon ceases to be a Regular Member of the Region. Any Associate Member of the Region ceasing to be an Associate Member of ACI can remain an Associate Member of the Region. B. In the event of termination of membership there shall be no reimbursement of any regional dues paid, and any regional dues still unpaid shall remain payable to the Region. C. If a Regular or Associate Member has not, within twelve months of the expiry of a given year, paid the full dues for that year, membership shall automatically be suspended by the Regional Board. A suspended member may not participate in the activities of the Region until all arrears in dues are paid. The Regional Board may waive this rule in special circumstances for a period not exceeding twelve months. D. The Regional Assembly may, where obligations of the Internal Rules have not been observed, terminate the membership of a member. E. Any member may resign from the Region by sending written notification to that effect to the Director General of the Region. back to top Article 8 - General Organisation A. Regional Assembly The Regional Assembly shall be composed of all the Regular Members of the Region. Associate Members and Honorary Members may attend as observers. B. Regional Board The Region's policies shall be determined by a Regional Board consisting of representatives of Regular Members. The Regional Board shall report to the Regional Assembly, in accordance with Article 12 below. C. President The President of the Region shall preside over the Regional Assembly, the Regional Board, and the Executive Committee of the Region. D. Executive Committee The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, three Vice-Presidents and the Treasurer. It shall implement the policies of the Regional Board, make recommendations to the Board and decide on urgent matters between Board meetings. E. Regional Director General The Regional Director General, who shall be fluent in the official languages of the Region (English and French as stipulated in Article 10), is appointed by the Regional Board to conduct the administration and management of the Region. He/she shall report to the Executive Committee. F. Regional Committees The Regional Board shall set up permanent or ad hoc Regional Committees to study questions of interest for the Region. The Regional Committees shall report to the Regional Board through the Regional Director General. back to top Article 9 - Dues and Revenues A. According to Article 9 of the ACI Constitution, the Region shall pay the world dues of ACI for Regular Members. The Region shall collect the world dues accordingly from the Regular Members based upon Traffic Units B. According to Article 26 of the ACI Constitution, the Region may raise supplementary regional dues from its members, including regional dues from Associate Members of the Region only and it may receive other revenues such as the reimbursement of expenses, income derived from the management of its funds and property, gifts, legacies or subsidies, fees for seminars and other events organized by the Region. Such funding shall be at the discretion of the Regional Board that will be responsible for preparing the relevant budgets, keeping the relevant accounts and having them audited independently and in accordance with the Internal Rules. back to top Article 10 - Languages   The official languages of the Region shall be English and French.