Home GOVERNANCE By-Laws
Adopted 24 June 2016
Download the pdf version
A. DEFINITIONS
In these By‐laws:
a) the 'League' and 'EBL' mean the European Bridge League;
b) 'WBF' means the World Bridge Federation;
c) 'Zone 1' means the geographical area (principally but not exclusively the Continent of Europe) designated by the WBF to that effect;
d) 'IOC' means the International Olympic Committee;
e) 'NBO' means any National Bridge Federation or Organisation within Zone 1 which is a member of the League;
f) 'Bridge' means the sport of Duplicate Contract Bridge;
g) 'The President' means the President of the EBL;
h) 'four years' means the period between one Ordinary General Assembly at which scheduled elections take place and the Ordinary General Assembly held in the fourth calendar year thereafter;
i) 'By‐Laws' means these By‐laws of the EBL as duly adopted;
j) 'Statutes' means the statutes of the EBL as duly adopted.
B. NAME and ORGANISATION
1. Administrative Office
The registered office and principal Administrative Centre of the EBL shall be in Switzerland and fiscal reporting shall be made to the appropriate authorities in accordance with Swiss regulations.
2. Fundamental principles
The EBL recognizes and follows the fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter, in particular the aims:
a) to blend bridge with culture and education and to promote the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles;
b) to encourage the establishment of a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.
3. Official Language
a) English is the official language for the General Assembly, meetings, competitions, the Statutes, By‐laws, Rules & Regulations, Conditions of Contest, minutes and all the official documents published by the EBL.
b) At the General Assembly the Delegates may speak in their mother tongue: in this case the cost of any translations must be borne by the NBO deciding to speak in its mother tongue.
4. Rules of Debate
The Rules of Debate are to be observed at the General Assembly and, appropriately and suitably modified, at meetings of the Management Committee and any other Committees.
Any reproduction or distribution of documents, instructional material or other material belonging to the EBL is prohibited without the authority of the EBL.
Any contravention can be penalized requiring fines to be paid.
6. Official Documents
a) All official documents and official information are valid only if they are distributed by the President, the Treasurer and the Secretary. NBOs are obliged to respect this and are responsible for its enforcement within their own organisations.
b) Contracts, agreements and all other documents requiring the stamp of authority of the EBL must be signed by the President.
C. COMPOSITION AND MEMBERSHIP
1. Admissions to Membership
a) Admission to membership of the EBL is determined by the Executive Committee subject to ratification by the next General Assembly.
b) Admission applications signed by the legal representative of the applying National Bridge Organization must include the detailed history and status of the bridge activity in the country in question.
c) The application for admission to membership must be accompanied by a copy of the applying Organisation's statutes and the composition of the executive committee in office. The applying Organisation's statutes must observe the general principles of the EBL.
d) The EBL only recognizes one NBO per country.
e) Each National Bridge Organization wishing to affiliate with the EBL must undertake, in writing, to respect the Statutes, By‐laws, Regulations and Rules of the EBL.
f) In case of competing applications between two or more Organisations of the same country, only the application of the Organisation recognized by the Governmental Authority or the National Olympic Committee (NOC) will be accepted.
g) When considering an admission application, the Executive Committee will have regard to the length of time the Bridge Organisation has been in existence, the size of its membership, its activities and whether it is recognized by the authorities in its country.
2. Restriction of affiliation
Bridge associations and bridge clubs of any kind established within the political territory of an NBO shall not be allowed to affiliate with any other NBO within Zone 1.
3. Reciprocity
a) The NBOs as members of the EBL must recognize each other reciprocally as Organisations exclusively controlling bridge in their respective countries.
b) Each NBO within the EBL must accept and respect all decisions taken by the EBL and other NBOs in disciplinary matters. In particular, all NBOs within the EBL shall recognize the EBL's and each other's suspensions and expulsions, without examining the reason therefore.
c) NBOs shall report their suspensions and expulsions in a timely manner to the EBL which will publish the information to all other NBOs.
d) Each NBO as a member of the EBL must accept that reprehensible conduct (as defined in the Code of Discipline) at an EBL event is to be processed solely by the EBL unless expressly agreed otherwise by the EBL.
4. Membership Dues
a) NBOs pay annual membership dues. The membership dues are fixed by the General Assembly. Membership dues are calculated for each calendar year and must be paid before April 30th in that year. Membership dues are payable in their entirety for a NBO admitted before the 30th June in any year and for any NBO which has resigned. If admission has occurred after June 30th, one‐half of the annual membership due is payable for the remaining half of that year.
b) The General Assembly may establish for the following two‐year period the age limit or conditions under which the registered members of an NBO are entitled to reduced fees or are not to be taken into account in relation to the payment of Membership dues.
5. Resignation, Suspension, Striking Off
a) Any NBO, having respected its obligations to the EBL, including the payment of any debts, and wishing to resign its membership, must so inform the EBL Secretary by registered letter or electronic means. No action will be taken until the resignation is confirmed after a period of three months. If the Executive Committee accepts the resignation, all NBOs will be notified by the Secretary. In the case of possible litigation on any question (financial or otherwise) the EBL may make representations to any National Organization which endorsed the application for admittance of the NBO now wishing to resign, or to any other national body under which the Organisation operates.
b) The accepted resignation from the EBL implies automatic resignation from the WBF.
c) An NBO can also be suspended or struck off from membership for not paying the membership dues, not observing the Statutes or By‐laws, the rules or decisions of the EBL, or for any action contrary to the aims of the Statutes or By‐Laws thus undermining the activity or the development or the good running of the EBL or for bringing the game of bridge into disrepute.
d) If after having been admitted to the EBL the activities of a NBO decrease to such a point that it is no longer representative of bridge in its country, its expulsion from the membership of the EBL may also be pronounced.
e) When a NBO suspended for financial reasons does not settle the sum due, the Executive Committee can pronounce its striking off after two years have passed since the payment was due.
f) Any decision to suspend or strike off an NBO rests with the Executive Committee.
g) The decision to strike off for non‐payment of the membership dues falls within the prerogative of the Executive Committee and is final. In other cases, the struck off NBO may appeal at the General Assembly against the decision of the Executive Committee.
h) The consequences of suspension (for the period) or striking off (for ever) are the following: the Organisation and its members can no longer participate in activities organized by the EBL or affiliated NBOs, nor submit any proposal to the EBL, nor propose a candidate for an EBL position.
6. Readmissions
a) Readmission must be in accordance with all admission conditions and is the decision of the Executive Committee.
b) In the case of suspension for financial reasons, the suspended NBO may be readmitted after settling the sum due plus an additional 10% of this sum and after justifying the delay in payment.
D. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND VOTING
1. Convocations
a) Convocations are made by the EBL President or their replacement as determined by Statute 7(i) by electronic means, receipt of which must be acknowledged by the recipient, sent to NBOs with the right to vote at least ninety days prior to the established Ordinary General Assembly date.
b) The convocation must include the date for the General Assembly, indicate the likely agenda and invite NBOs to put forward matters for discussion at the General Assembly.
c) At least sixty days prior to the Ordinary General Assembly the EBL President or their replacement as determined by Statute 7(i) must send a further electronic notification to NBOs setting out the agenda for the General Assembly.
d) Any NBO may submit a matter for discussion to be put on the Agenda by writing to the Secretary of the EBL at least sixty days before the General Assembly. The Executive Committee has the right to refuse to include such a matter on the Agenda for due cause.
e) Any special matter not on the Agenda may be introduced during the General Assembly if at least two thirds of the NBOs present are in agreement.
f) In the event of non‐acknowledgement of any notifications sent by electronic means, that notification will be sent be registered letter. The Administrative Office must maintain records of the registered mailings and delivery confirmations of emails.
2. Composition, Voting and Validity
a) The General Assembly is composed of delegates of the NBOs who must be bona fide members of the NBO they represent.
b) The name of the NBO delegate must be given to the EBL's Secretary before the opening of the General Assembly. It must be confirmed in writing by an official letter from the NBO, and the EBL President and the members of the EBL Executive Committee cannot be delegates of any NBO.
c) EBL Emeritus and Honorary Members may attend the General Assembly as may other personalities invited by the EBL President, without voting.
d) Participation in the General Assembly and the right to vote (in accordance with Statute 6.1) is given to NBOs which are not in a position of resignation, suspension or striking off.
e) The entitlement of NBOs to votes at a General Assembly is based on figures for the previous year.
f) An NBO which is not able to appoint a delegate to a General Assembly may give a proxy to another NBO with voting rights. To be valid the proxy must:
i. be completed on the relevant official form
ii. be given to an individual who is the bona fide member of another NBO and that individual may not transfer the proxy to someone else
iii. be signed by the President of the NBO and have endorsed thereon in handwriting 'GOOD FOR PROXY' written in English.
g) No person may act as proxy for more than one NBO and no person may be both a proxy and a delegate.
h) No person who is a candidate for election may act as a proxy.
i) The election of the EBL President and the Executive Committee is conducted by a secret ballot. Otherwise voting takes place by a show of hands except that on a delegate's proposal, delegates representing 25% of votes may require a secret ballot.
j) Whether on a secret ballot or a show of hands only delegates and duly appointed proxies present at the General Assembly may cast votes.
3. Conduct and Procedure of General Assembly
a) Attendance Sheet
i. For each General Assembly an attendance sheet shall be drawn up including the identification of each delegate and duly appointed proxy who is present and the number of votes he has.
ii. The attendance sheet signed by the delegates present shall be certified as being correct by the Assembly Committee.
b) Assembly Committee
i. The Assembly Committee shall consist of three appointed delegates and/or invitees at the General Assembly who are not candidates for election and/or from the EBL secretarial staff.
ii. The so‐constituted Assembly Committee shall appoint a secretary who may not be a delegate.
iii. The Assembly Committee shall check and sign the attendance sheet, check the issued votes, count the votes cast and certify in writing the number of votes cast and the result of any election.
c) Presidency of the General Assembly
The General Assembly is presided over by the EBL President, or in their absence by one of the Vice‐ Presidents (according to rank). If this condition is impossible, the longest serving elected member of the Executive Committee presides.
4. Minutes of the deliberations of the General Assembly
a) The deliberations of the General Assembly are acknowledged in minutes kept in a special book signed by the EBL President.
b) Copies or extracts of the minutes of the General Assembly deliberations, to produce in Court or elsewhere, are valid if they are signed by the EBL President or failing him by one of the Vice‐ Presidents or by two members of the Executive Committee.
5. Right of Voting Members to Receive Information
a) All NBOs have the right to obtain at or from the EBL Administrative Office copies of the necessary documents (classified hereunder) enabling it to comment on the management and running of the EBL.
b) The name of these documents, the conditions for their mailing and their availability to members are established as follows.
c) The following documents must be sent out to all NBOs 60 clear days before a General Assembly (30 clear days before an Extraordinary General Assembly convoked under By‐law F3:
i. an official proxy form;
ii. the list of the Executive Committee members;
iii. the text and the explanation of the reasons for the draft resolutions included on the Agenda;
iv. if appropriate, information on the candidates for President of the EBL and the Executive Committee;
v. in the case of the Ordinary General Assembly the Financial Statements and supporting documents.
d) The following documents must be available for any NBO, delegate or proxy at or from the EBL Administrative Office:
i. For a 15 clear day period preceding the General Assembly –
• the text of the proposed resolutions and the President's report;
• an up to date certified list of all NBOs and the number of votes each NBO is entitled to;
ii. Any time during the year, the following documents concerning the past three years submitted to the General Assembly:
• President's report;
• Financial Statements and supporting documents;
• all documents concerning the General Assemblies' deliberations.
6. Special Business for Extraordinary General Assemblies
An Extraordinary General Assembly is convoked by the EBL President or their replacement, as determined by Statute 7(i), by electronic means, receipt of which must be acknowledged by the recipient sent to NBOs with the right to vote at least sixty days prior to the Extraordinary General Assembly date (and in the case of an Extraordinary General Assembly convoked under By‐law F3 at least thirty days prior to the date).
E. CANDIDATES AND ELECTIONS OF OFFICE HOLDERS
1. Candidates; Ordinary General Assembly
a) Nominations for EBL President and Executive Committee members must be in writing, fax or e‐mail and be received by the EBL Administrative Office at least 60 days before the Ordinary General Assembly.
b) The nominations will be circulated to the NBOs at the same time as the agenda for the Ordinary General Assembly.
c) The outgoing EBL President and Executive Committee members, in the absence of express renunciations, or unless not in accordance with the term restrictions of Statute 7(g) or age restrictions of By‐law E9 are automatically nominated for re‐election for the same positions as currently held.
2. Candidates; Extraordinary General Assembly
a) Nominations for EBL President and Executive Committee members must be in writing, fax or e‐mail and be received by the EBL Administrative Office at least 30 days before the Extraordinary General Assembly.
b) In order to preserve continuity and to ensure experienced leadership, candidates for the office of President must have been members of the Executive Committee for at least one term of legislature.
c) The nominations will be circulated to the NBOs at the same time as the agenda for the Extraordinary General Assembly.
3. Nominations and Presentation of Candidates
a) To be validly nominated the candidates for EBL President and for members of the Executive Committee must be nominated by:
i. the NBO of the country of which the candidate is a citizen. The NBO must be in good standing and must have paid its current and all previous years' dues,
ii. the NBO of the country of which the candidate is bona fide permanently resident (and has been so for at least the last three years). The NBO must be in good standing and must have paid its current and all previous years' dues,
iii. be automatically nominated under By‐law E1(c).
b) A summary of the candidate's bridge activities must be attached to the nomination and must be circulated to all NBOs.
c) The candidate must be physically present at the General Assembly at the time of the election, unless presence is prevented by "force majeure".
4. Candidates from the Floor
If and only if there are insufficient candidates NBOs may present further candidates on the following conditions:
a) the candidates must be presented at the opening of the General Assembly;
b) the presentation must be made by the delegate of the NBO;
c) all the other conditions of admissibility must apply.
5. Restrictions on NBO Representation on the Executive Committee
No more than two citizens or bona fide residents of any country represented by its NBO may simultaneously be members of the thirteen member Executive Committee (EBL President plus twelve Executive Committee members).
6. Restrictions ‐ Professionals
No person earning a substantial part of their income from commercial bridge activities, such as from the manufacturing or sale of bridge equipment, may be elected as EBL President or as a member of the Executive Committee.
7. Number of Votes that may be cast by an NBO
a) For the post of President an NBO may cast up to the number of votes which it is entitled under Statute 6.1.
b) For the election of Executive Committee members an NBO may cast up to the number of votes it is entitled under Statute 6.1, each vote for up to twelve (but not more than twelve, nor less than six) of the candidates.
8. Election ‐ Duration of Office
a) The EBL President and members of the Executive Committee elected at an Ordinary General Assembly hold office for a four year period. They may be re‐elected subject to the term restrictions of Statute 7(g) or age restrictions of By‐law E9.
b) The EBL President and members of the EBL Executive Committee elected at an Extraordinary General Assembly hold office for the residue of the four years of the person or persons whom they have replaced.
9. Election of President:
a) The election for EBL President takes place before the election of the Executive Committee members. It is by secret ballot. The result of the election for EBL President is announced before the election of the Executive Committee members.
b) In the event that there are more than two candidates for the office of President, a candidate receiving an absolute majority of the votes is elected, otherwise the top two candidates at the end of the first vote will be voted upon again.
c) The age limit for candidates for the office of President is 75 years at the date of election.
d) The President cannot be President of an NBO at the same time.
10. Election of Executive Committee
The election of the Executive Committee members takes place by a single secret ballot. The twelve candidates with the highest number of votes are elected. In the event of a tie for twelfth place there is a further secret ballot amongst the candidates who tied.
F. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
1. Composition and Functions
a) The Vice‐Presidents, Treasurer and Secretary must have been members of the Executive Committee for at least one term of the legislature; in exceptional circumstances, the Executive Committee may, by an absolute majority of two thirds, decide to waive this requirement.
b) The functions of the First Vice President and the Second Vice President include representing the President at championships, events and meetings which the President is unable to attend and to preside over meetings of the Executive Committee and General Assemblies if the President is unable to attend. The First Vice President has precedence over the Second Vice President.
c) The functions of the Secretary include keeping and distributing the minutes of all General Assemblies and meetings of the Executive Committee and in the name of and with the authority of the President convoking General Assemblies.
d) The functions of the Treasurer include supervising the financial position of the EBL, preparing budgets and financial statements for approval by the Executive Committee and the General Assembly and making payments on behalf of the EBL as indicated by approved budgets and as authorized by the President and the Executive Committee.
e) Membership on the Executive Committee or on any of the Committees of the EBL is a personal determination and is granted on the clear understanding that such members are not elected to represent their NBOs but to serve the European bridge community at large.
f) The Executive Committee meets at least twice a year. The Executive Committee is convened by the President or at the request of at least five of its members.
g) A quorum for Executive Committee meetings is seven and voting is by majority. In the case of a tie the President has in addition, a casting vote.
h) The minutes of the deliberations of the Executive Committee are signed by the President.
2. Special provisions for the Executive Committee
Amongst its powers and obligations, the Executive Committee has the following functions:
a) to study all proposed amendments to the statutes before they are submitted to an Extraordinary General Assembly for approval;
b) to draw up rules of procedure;
c) to uphold the strict observation of the EBL's regulations;
d) to maintain regular contact with the NBOs;
e) to appoint representatives to carry out functions relating to the promotion and coordination of bridge in a region, country or NBO;
f) to monitor the Treasurer's financial management;
g) to consider, and if it judges appropriate, to adopt the proposals of committees;
h) to prescribe a disciplinary code of conduct with rules of procedure and sanctions and to delegate the enforcement of the code of conduct to a Disciplinary Commission;
i) to maintain good relations with Sports Organizations and Public Authorities and with International Organizations, including the IOC, the WBF and the other WBF zonal conferences;
j) to appoint such committees of the Executive Committee as are necessary for the smooth running of the EBL;
k) to appoint a Disciplinary Commission;
l) to appoint chairmen and members of Committees, who need not be members of the Executive Committee, as it deems useful and to invite the chairman of such committees to participate as appropriate in Executive Committee meetings with consultative power;
m) to revoke, at any time, the appointment of a committee, or of members thereof;
n) to award recognitions and the EBL medals of distinction to ratify decisions of the President taken in exceptional and extremely urgent circumstances;
o) to determine the admission to membership of a National Bridge Organisation (subject to ratification at the next General Assembly);
p) to fix the international calendar in consultation with the NBOs and to grant the EBL's patronage to different proposed events;
q) in special circumstances to authorize the participation in a European Championship of a National Bridge Organisation which is not yet a member of the EBL;
r) to propose to the General Assembly to bestow the title of President Emeritus, Honorary President,
Honorary Vice‐President or Honorary Member on any individual or organization having
contributed outstandingly to the development of European bridge or having served European bridge with distinction;
s) to hear the activity reports of the committees, commissions, and people it has appointed;
t) to deliberate on any other matter relating to the good governance of the EBL.
3. Dissolution of the Executive Committee
a) The Executive Committee is dissolved in the event of:
i. the resignation of the EBL President, their death or permanent mental impediment or any other reason which ends their presidency;
ii. the rejection of the President's Report by the General Assembly;
iii. the contemporaneous resignation of seven or more of the Executive Committee;
iv. the resignation, irrespective of the reasons and even though not contemporaneous, during the four year period of seven of the twelve Executive Committee members.
b) The following are the consequences and the procedures to be followed in the event of the dissolution of the Executive Committee:
i. if the President of the EBL resigns, the President and the Executive Committee remain in office for the completion of ordinary administration until the election of a new EBL President and new Committee at an Extraordinary General Assembly. The Extraordinary General Assembly must be convoked within 60 days of the resignation and be held not less than 30 nor more than 60 days after the convocation.
ii. In the event of the death or permanent mental incapacity of the EBL President the first Vice‐ President assumes the responsibilities of the President and must convoke the Extraordinary General Assembly within the timetable set out in By‐law F 3 (a) above.
iii. In the event of the rejection of the President's Report, the EBL President and the Executive Committee cease to hold office with immediate effect and an Extraordinary General Assembly must be called for the election of a new EBL President and Executive Committee within the timetable set out in By‐law F 3 (a) above.
iv. In the event of the contemporaneous resignation of seven or more of the Executive Committee, the EBL President and Executive Committee cease to hold office with immediate effect and an Extraordinary General Assembly must be called for the election of a new EBL President and Executive Committee within the timetable set out in By‐law F 3 (a) above.
v. In the event of the non‐contemporaneous resignation of seven members of the Executive Committee during the four year term, the Executive Committee is dissolved but the term of the EBL President continues and he/she must convoke an Extraordinary General Assembly for the election of a new Executive Committee within the time limits set out in By‐law F 3 (a) above.
4. Filling Vacancies of the Executive Committee
In the case of the resignation or death or permanent mental incapacity of one or more (but less than seven) of the Executive Committee members, their place(s) shall (if possible) be filled by holding new elections at the next Ordinary General Assembly.
5. The Management Committee
a) The Management Committee may be called by the EBL President at any time, without formality and with little notice.
b) The President may invite other persons (for example members of the Executive Committee, chairmen of committees and commissions and other appointed persons) to participate in meetings of the Committee where they are involved in activities and matters to be discussed.
c) The minutes of the meetings of the Management Committee are the responsibility of the Secretary and shall be sent for information to all members of the Executive Committee.
G. APPOINTMENTS and AWARDS:
1. Award of distinctions
a) The EBL may confer awards of distinction upon any person who, in any capacity, has rendered particularly outstanding service to the cause of European Bridge. These awards shall be granted by the Executive Committee, on behalf of the EBL, and shall consist of the "EBL Gold Medal", "EBL Silver Medal" and the "EBL Bronze Medal".
b) The Executive Committee will set out Rules for granting awards.
c) Committee of Honour: The Presidents Emeritus, the Honorary Presidents, the Honorary Vice Presidents and Honorary Members make the 'Committee of Honour'. They may attend General Assemblies.
2. Auditors
The Executive Committee appoints the EBL's Auditors but once appointed they may only be removed by the General Assembly.
The Auditors are responsible to and report to the General Assembly.
The Auditors must verify and certify the EBL's Financial Statements and the existence of documents justifying income and expenses.
The Auditors report is considered by the General Assembly before it deliberates on the EBL President's report.
3. Disciplinary Commission
a) The Executive Committee will appoint a Disciplinary Commission consisting of a President and two other persons who are not members of any of the EBL or WBF Authorities.
b) In case of incompatibility or default, the Executive Committee designates the substitutes.
c) The Disciplinary Commission will act in accordance with the procedures set out in the Code of Discipline and the WBF Anti‐Doping Rules.
4. The Court of Arbitration for Sport
a) Any decision made by the Disciplinary Commission may be submitted exclusively by way of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, which will resolve the dispute definitively in accordance with the Code of Sports‐related Arbitration.
b) The time limit for appeal is twenty‐one days after the receipt of the decision of the Disciplinary Commission.
5. Medical and Prevention Commission
a) The Commission consists of a President, who has to be a doctor and cannot be a member of the Executive Committee or of any of the EBL or WBF Authorities, and two other persons who are not members of any of the EBL or WBF Authorities and have to be doctors or biologists.
b) The function of the Medical and Prevention Commission is to supervise, regulate and enforce the IOC's rules prohibiting the use of banned drugs and other substances.
6. Credentials Committee
The Credentials Committee shall rule on the eligibility of any person nominated as a participant or captain in a championship or contest of the EBL, whether before or during the contest, giving due attention to the Eligibility Code and reports from any person or Committee charged with ensuring correct and equitable conditions for the event, and to prohibit any player or players, captain or captains, without having to disclose the reason, from participating in any championship or contest sanctioned and conducted under the auspices of the EBL.
7. General Counsel
a) On the proposal of the President, the Executive Committee may appoint a General Counsel (who need not be a member of the Executive Committee).
b) The General Counsel is the legal consultant and advisor to the President and the Executive Committee and may be asked to attend Executive Committee meetings and General Assemblies and to formulate proposals and give suggestions.
c) The General Counsel does not have a vote.
8. Delegates to the WBF:
On the proposal of the President, the Executive Committee shall elect from amongst its members the EBL delegates to the WBF.
9. Others Appointments and Committees
The Executive Committee may appoint various persons or committees or commissions to study problems related to the management, administration, and organization of the EBL's activities and subsequently submit proposals and recommendations to the Executive Committee.
H. FINANCES
1. Financial Year
The financial year of the EBL starts on the 1st January and terminates on 31st December of each year.
2. Endowments and Annual Resources
a) The EBL obtains the means necessary to carry out its objects from:
i. annual membership dues from NBOs. The dues are payable in advance on the 1st January of the financial year to which they relate. Dues unpaid by 30th April of the financial year to which they relate will automatically be increased by 10%. An NBO will be treated as being in arrears if it has not paid its annual dues by the 30th April of the year to which it relates. Whilst an NBO is in arrears with the payment of annual dues and/or other sums payable to the EBL the NBO is not in good standing and is prohibited from nominating or entering any pairs or teams to participate in any championship or competition of the EBL;
ii. subscription fees for championships and competitions and events organized by the EBL;
iii. Income from the EBL's assets;
iv. Any other lawful source including money from sponsorship.
b) The EBL may acquire immovable property. It has the right and power to borrow money from national or private banking institutions in order to purchase immovable property.
3. Indemnity and reimbursement of expenses
a) All elected positions within the EBL are determined as voluntary and so are unpaid.
b) The President, the Vice‐Presidents, the Treasurer and the Secretary are entitled to receive an annual indemnity for their offices, determined by the Executive Committee and ratified by the General Assembly.
c) The members of the Executive Committee, and any members of the various Committees and Commissions are entitled to reasonable reimbursement of costs of travel and accommodations incurred in carrying out designated functions in the interests of the EBL: these need authorization by the President or their delegate.
I. GENERAL
1. Unforeseen Circumstances
Cases not foreseen in the present Statutes or By‐Laws are resolved by the Executive Committee subject to ratification by the next General Assembly.
2. Decisions of General Assembly: Operative Date
The decisions and changes in statutes taken at the General Assembly come into effect immediately unless otherwise decided by the General Assembly.
3. Official Events
The official events of the EBL are the European Championships and the Executive Committee will draw up their Rules & Regulations.
When aiming to carry out promotion of bridge or to enhance the income and/or prestige of the EBL, the EBL may organize events of a European character. Where necessary, regulations for these will be drawn up by the Executive Committee.