RULES
FOR THE STRUCTURE AND ACTIVITY OF THE BULGARIAN-U.S. TRADE AND ECONOMIC COUNCIL
WITH THE BULGARIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Art. 1. The Bulgarian-American Trade and Economic Council (BATEC) with the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry was established on the grounds of Art. 7 of the Articles of Association of BCCI.
Art. 2. BATEC shall carry out its activities as provided by these Rules and by the BCCI Articles of Association.
Art. 3. The head office of the Council shall be within the premises of BCCI.
II. ACTIVITIES OF BATEC
Art. 4. The Council shall promote and support the contacts between the Bulgarian and U.S. business circles to increase the volume of U.S. investments in Bulgaria, and for the purpose it shall:
  1. Establish and maintain a data base and provide information about the import-export, financial, foreign exchange, customs, registration, license and any other regimes, related to foreign trade relations between the business circles and the registration of trade representative offices and companies with U.S. capital in Bulgaria and with Bulgarian capital in the U.S.A.
  2. Provide information about the goods offered and demanded on both markets, about the current prices of goods traded on the commodity exchange and of securities, as well as about the opportunities on the European market for goods made in Bulgaria by companies with American and/or Bulgarian capital .
  3. Organize discussions with its members on problems of the foreign trade relations between the two countries .
  4. Organize, at the request of its members, through the executives of BCCI, meetings with trade representative offices.
  5. Organize, with the help of the executives of BCCI, meetings with representatives of Bulgarian governmental bodies and institutions to discuss issues concerning the trade relations between the business circles of the two countries, as well as for the promotion of American investments to Bulgaria.
  6. Organize seminars, courses and other forms of training in connection with amendments in the legislations of the two countries, with reference to the regimes under item 1 .
  7. Organize the printing and distribution of periodical and non-periodical publications of translations, comments, statistical information, etc.
  8. Provide information about forthcoming fairs and exhibitions and assist its members to participate in them .
  9. Organize presentations of its members .
  10. Assist its members to advertise their activities in both countries.
  11. Assist the business circles of the two countries to establish contractual relations .
  12. Organize business trips and business meeting for its members.
  13. Take part, through the management of BCCI, in partnership with other organizations and institutions, in home and international projects, related to the activity of BATEC .
  14. Establish and maintain a data base for any other information proposed by members of BATEC.
III. MEMBERSHIP
Art. 5. Members of BATEC shall be legal entities and natural persons, registered as provided by the legislation in the two countries, developing or promoting the foreign trade relations or mutual investments between the two countries.
Art. 6. (1) The members of BCCI can become automatically members of BATEC, further to their written request.

(2) Besides the provision of the preceding paragraph, members of BATEC, can become the persons, indicated in Art. 5, para 1, further to a written request and an enclosed registration card and resolution of the Club Council.

(3) Members shall pay a membership fee, as decided by the General Assembly of BATEC.
IV. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE MEMBERS
Art. 7. The members of BATEC have the right to:
  1. One vote at the General Meeting .
  2. Request the Club Council to call up sessions of the General Meeting to discuss issues concerning the object of activity of BATEC.
  3. Participate in all events organized by BATEC.
  4. A package of services, related to their economic activities, provided by BATEC with preferential treatment .
  5. A free copy of all publications of BATEC.
Art. 8. The members of BATEC shall comply with these Rules and maintain loyal relations with the other members and with BCCI, as well as pay their membership fee, should the General Meeting pass such a resolution.
V. MANAGING BODIES OF BATEC
Art. 9. BATEC shall have the following bodies:
  1. General Meeting
  2. Club Council
  3. Chairman.
Art. 10. (1) All members, including the honorary members, shall take part in the General Meeting in person (if the member is a natural person), or, by their lawful representative (if the member is a legal entity).

(2) Te General Meeting of BATEC shall:

  1. Propose for the approval of the Executive Council of BCCI a chairman of the Club Council, who shall have two year term of office.
  2. Elect a Deputy Chairman of the Club Council with two year term of office .
  3. Approve the program of work of BATEC for the following calendar year and the annual report on the activity.
  4. Propose to the competent bodies of BCCI drafts for amendments to these Rules .
  5. Discuss issues and problems under art. 4 items 3, 4, 5 and 9 of these Rules.
  6. Adopt the annual membership fee.

(3) To adopt resolutions under the preceding paragraph 2, the General Meeting shall be called up by the Club Council by a written invitation signed by BATEC Chairman, which has to be sent not later than 7 days before the meeting.

(4) The General Meeting of BATEC shall adopt resolutions by open vote and simple majority.
Art. 11. (1) The Club Council shall comprise of 11 persons: Chairman, 3 Deputy Chairmen and 7 Members.

(2) The Secretary of the Club Council shall be an employee of the Chamber, nominated by the President of BCCI and shall have the right of consultative vote in the Club Council.

(3) The Club Council shall:

  1. Execute the resolutions of the General Meeting .
  2. Call up sessions of the General Meeting .
  3. Prepare and submit for the approval of the General Meeting the report on the previous year, and, the programme of work for the next calendar year
  4. Approve new members of BATEC, incl. honorary members and release members, upon their request .
  5. Organize the events under the annual programme of BATEC as well as other events on topical issues .
  6. Prepare generalized standpoints of its members on specific issues and submit them through the chairman to the BCCI executives with a proposal for their resolution by competent institutions .
  7. In consideration of the financial possibilities of BATEC, determine the package of preferential services for the members .
  8. Make proposals to the General Meeting for amendments of this Rules.
  9. Decide for the expenditures made and report before the General Assembly.

(4) The Club Council shall adopt resolutions by open vote and simple majority.
Art. 12. (1) The Chairman shall:
  1. Represent BATEC before the BCCI executives and any other persons, institutions, organizations
  2. Chair the sessions of the General Meeting and the Club Council
  3. Call up the Club Council and sign the invitations for the General Meeting
  4. Sign the generalized proposals of the members of BATEC.

(2) The Deputy Chairmen shall perform the duties of the Chairman during his/her absence.
Art. 13. The Secretary shall maintain and keep the documents of BATEC.
VI. FINAL PROVISIONS
§ 1. These Rules were approved by the founding General Meeting of BATEC members, held on 23 January 2001 ,  amended by the General Meeting of BATEC members, held on 15.01.2004 and on the grounds of art. 26, para 1, item 3 of BCCI Articles of Association, they were approved by the Managing Council of BCCI at its session, held on 3 February 2004.