EFF's Statutes

Statutes of the European Franchise Federation

Art. 5 - Regular Members

5.1 The Federation is composed of regular members hereafter called Regular Members.

5.2 Are admitted as Regular Members any legally constituted, representative and independent national franchise Associations or Federations established, in accordance with the laws and customs of their country of origin, within one of the countries of the European Union, or which have an official link to the EU, as well as other Associations or Federations which, in the opinion of the Board, will contribute to the attainment of the Objectives mentioned in Article 3.
A Regular Member is subject to the following conditions:

5.2.1 to accept without reservation the Statutes of the Federation as well as any rules and regulations drawn up in accordance with the Statutes;

5.2.2 to have as members franchise networks comprising franchisors and their franchisees, and to have as a governing body, one that is primarily composed of franchisors elected by accredited franchisor members;
to have as Chairman of the national association or federation a person elected from among the accredited franchisor members of the governing body.

5.2.3 to operate an accreditation scheme with positive checks to ensure that its voting franchisor members comply with the European Code of Ethics for Franchising;

5.2.4 to be accepted by the General Assembly of the Federation.

Art. 6 - Associate and Affiliate Members

6.1 Associate members: The Federation can admit, on terms to be firstly agreed by the Executive Board, followed by approval of the General Assembly, national franchise Associations or Federations who, whilst they do not meet conditions of the Regular members, commit to and are demonstrably working towards meeting those conditions.

6.2 Affiliate members: the Federation can also accept other members to be known as Affiliates on conditions specified by the Board.

6.3 Associate and Affiliate members have no voting rights. Their representatives cannot be appointed as Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer of the Federation, nor as Directors of the Executive Board, or as its Advisors.

Art. 7 - Admission of Members

7.1 National franchise associations or Federations wishing to join the EFF as Members must submit a written application to the Executive Board, which after examination decides or not to forward it to the General Assembly.

7.2 The applicant has a right of appeal against refusal by the Executive Board with the General Assembly. In case of rejection of the application, the General Assembly's decision is without right of appeal, and the General Assembly need not give its reasons for refusal.

Art. 8 - Resignation of Members

8.1 Members of the Federation may resign from the Federation by registered letter to the Chairman of the Federation. The letter must be received by the Federation at least 3 months before the start of the Federation's financial year. Otherwise, the member will have to pay the equivalent of 6-months due for the following financial year.

8.2 The resigning Member (and/or parties having claims on these Members) may not claim any rights over the assets of the Federation, nor may they lay claims on ex-EFF Members.

Art. 9 - Exclusion of Members

9.1 The Board may propose the exclusion of a Member to the General Assembly after the said member has been invited to duly present its case. Likewise, the General Assembly may propose the exclusion of a Member.

9.2. The Board may propose to the General Assembly the motion of excluding a Member for non payment of dues in case the member gives no valid justification after having been invited to so in writing by the Executive Director. The General Assembly may validly deliberate on all cases of non-payment of Members' dues and decide accordingly.

9.3 The excluded Member (and/or parties having claims on these Members) may not claim any rights over the assets of the Federation, nor may they lay claims on ex-EFF Members.