Commission Implementing Decision of 12 December 2014 on setting up the Joint Institute for Very Long Baseline Interferometry as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (JIV-ERIC) (2014/923/EU)

CHAPTER 2 MEMBERSHIP

Article 3 Membership and Representatives

1. The following entities may become Member of JIV-ERIC or Observer without voting rights:

(a) Member States;

(b) Associated countries;

(c) Third countries other than associated countries;

(d) Intergovernmental organisations.

2. Any Member or Observer may be represented by one public entity or one private entity with a public service mission, of its own choice and appointed according to its own rules and procedures.

3. The current JIV-ERIC Members, Observers and their representatives are listed in Annex 1. Annex 1 shall be updated by the Executive Director. The Members at the time of submission of the ERIC application shall be referred to as founding Members.

Article 4 Admission of Members

1. The terms for admission of new Members are the following:

(a) the admission of new Members shall require the approval of the Council;

(b) applicants shall submit a written application to the Chair of the Council;

(c) the application shall describe how the applicant will contribute to JIV-ERIC objectives and activities, fulfil its obligations and nominate an empowered legally entitled entity as representative.

2. The initial term for membership is five years.

Article 5 Withdrawal of a Member, Termination of Membership

1. No Member shall withdraw within the first five years of the establishment of JIV-ERIC unless the Membership has been entered into for a specified shorter period. After the first five years of the establishment of JIV-ERIC, a Member may withdraw at the end of a financial year following a request at least 12 months prior to the withdrawal.

2. A Member may withdraw should the Council decide to raise the annual contribution as specified in Annex 2. Notwithstanding Article 5(1), a Member wishing to withdraw may do so within six months after the proposal to raise the contribution is adopted by the Council.

3. The withdrawal shall become effective at the end of the financial year on the condition that the withdrawing Member has fulfilled its obligations.

4. The Council shall have the power to terminate the membership of a Member if the following conditions are met:

(a) the Member is in serious breach of one or more of its obligations under these Statutes;

(b) the Member has failed to rectify such breach within a period of six months after notification.

The Member shall be given the opportunity to contest the decision of termination and to present its position to the Council.