EFF's Statutes

Statutes of the European Franchise Federation

Adopted by the General Assembly, 9 November 2001,
Published in the Annexe of the Moniteur Belge, 19 September, 2002
N° 17703 - 17722, pages 9553 - 9557.
The registered version of these Statutes is in French.

I. Name, History, Registered Office, Object and Term of the Federation

Art. 1 - Name and History of the Federation

1.1 The EFF is an International non-profit Association ("aisbl" under Belgian law). Its name is: the "European Franchise Federation" (abbreviated “EFF”), hereafter called "the Federation".
Its objectives are scientific, pedagogic, informational and ethical.
This Federation is constituted under the Belgian Law of October 25th, 1919 as modified by the Laws of December 6th, 1954 and June 30th, 2000.

1.2 The Federation pursues the objectives of the non-profit association called the “European Franchising Federation” (also abbreviated the “EFF”), constituted in France on September 23rd, 1972 under the French Law of July 1st, 1901.

Art. 2 - Registered Office of the Federation

2.1 The EFF’s Registered Office is established in Brussels, Belgium at the following address:
179 Avenue Louise, B - 1050 Brussels, Belgium.

2.2 The Registered Office can be transferred to any other commune of the Brussels Region – or to any other EFF Member’s country within the European Union – by decision of the Federation’s Executive Board after consulting the Members of the General Assembly. The decision must be published in the Annexes of the Moniteur Belge within a month of the decision of transfer.
If the Registered Office is transferred to another country of the European Union, the Federation will lose the benefit of its legal personality acquired in accordance with the Belgian Law of October 25th, 1919.

2.3 The Permanent Secretariat may be transferred to another country of the EU, by decision of the Federation’s Executive Board, after consulting the Members of the General Assembly. It may also be at a distinct address from its Registered Office.
The EFF’s Permanent Secretariat is currently.

Art. 3 - Object of the Federation

3.1 The object of the Federation, which is a non-profit organisation, includes:

the co-ordination of the actions of the national franchise Associations or Federations established in Europe,
the undertaking of unbiased and scientific study of franchising in every respect,
the distribution of this information through pedagogic, and informational means,

3.2 The Federation defends an ethical vision of the development of franchising as expressed in the European Code of Ethics for Franchising drawn up in 1972 by the Federation’s legal predecessor, the “EFF” formally constituted in France, and whose objectives are pursued by this Federation.

3.3 The Federation’s scientific, pedagogic, informational and ethical objectives will be met principally in the following manner:

3.3.1 by carrying out research, studies, surveys and all other actions aimed at supporting the study, the promotion and the development of franchising in Europe;

3.3.2 by studying the national, EU or international legislation which might impact on franchising and its development;

3.3.3 by studying and defining the best methods for assuring the application in practice of the European Code of Ethics for Franchising;

3.3.4 by exchanging information, documentation and experience between the various national franchise Associations or Federations in Europe;

3.3.5 by ensuring the on-going communication with other international franchise Associations or Federations in order to keep a close follow up and to share in the evolution of specific franchising techniques, principles and legislation;

3.3.6 by organising meetings, colloquia, seminars, symposia, conferences, and workshops;

3.3.7 by organising campaigns aimed at informing the general public and the authorities on the objectives and goals of the Federation and of Franchising in general;

3.3.8 Furthermore, and without prejudice to the objectives described above, the Federation shall represent its Members and defend their interests with international organisations such as the European Union (EU).

Art. 4 - Term of the Federation

The Federation is constituted for an indefinite term