ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION-SECTION V - MEMBERS, RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS

S E C T I O N   V
MEMBERS, RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS

MEMBERSHIP
Art. 13. Membership in the Chamber shall be voluntary.
Art. 14. (1) Members of the Chamber shall be direct, honorary, associated and corresponding.
  (2) Direct members of the Chamber may be:
   
  1. Physical and legal persons performing business activities duly registered for this purpose;
  2. Regional Chambers of Commerce and Industry;
  3. Foundations and associations duly registered and helping on the business activities;
  4. Physical persons co-operating with the Chamber, supporting and promoting its activities.
  (3) Members of the organisations as per items 2 & 3 of the preceding Paragraph shall become members of the Chamber pursuant to these Articles of Association.
  (4) Honorary members of the Chamber may be physical persons from the country and abroad - distinguished figures who have special contribution for the achievement of the Chamber’s goals and objectives.
  (5) (amended – General Assembly of the BCCI, 17.06.2014) Associated members of the Chamber may be the entered into its unified Register persons carrying out economic and/or non-economic activities – traders, civil partnerships, legal non-profit organisations.
  (6) Corresponding members of the Chamber may be foreign unions, societies, associations, etc. with which the Chamber maintains active cooperation.
  (7) No state bodies, political parties, syndicate nor religious organisations may be members of the Chamber.
Art. 15. (1) Persons as per Art. 14, Paragraph 2, items 1, 2 & 3, shall be admitted to direct membership of the Chamber on the grounds of a written request to the Executive Council in which the applicant shall state his approval of these Articles of Association, and his observance of the Code of Ethics in business activities. Membership shall become legal and effective after a resolution of the Executive Council and payment of the property contribution (membership fee).
  (2) Any refusal of the Executive Council to satisfy the application for membership shall be appealed before the General meeting within one month after notification but not later than one year as of the resolution of the Executive Council.

 

(3)

Direct members as per Art. 14, Paragraph 2, item 4, honorary members and corresponding members of the Chamber shall be admitted to membership at the proposal of the Executive Council, with the consent of the physical or legal person and by a decision of the Board of Directors.

MEMBERS’ RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
Art. 16. (1) Any direct and honorary members of the Chamber shall have the following rights:
 
  1. To participate personally or by proxy in the General meeting;
  2. To be elected in the managing and supervisory bodies of the Chamber;
  3. To vote, either personally or by proxy.
  (2) Members of the Chamber have the following additional rights:
 
  1. To enjoy privileges and make use of any service of the Chamber’s activities and/or its property either free-of-charge and/or with a discount;
  2. To participate in the events organized by the Chamber;
  3. To receive information on the Chamber’s activities;
  4. To participate in discussions for matters closely affecting their interests;
  5. If necessary, to specify and quote in their documents their membership in the Chamber;
  6. To participate in the work of the councils with the Chamber and make use of their co-operation upon carrying out their activities;
Art. 17. (suppl. – General Assembly of the BCCI, 17.06.2014) Any member of the Chamber is obliged through its representatives and employees:
 
  1. to observe the requirements of the Articles of Association;
  2. to contribute to the fulfillment of the Chamber’s goals and objectives;
  3. to submit to the Chamber the necessary information on its activities;
  4. (amended – General Assembly of the BCCI, 17.06.2014) to observe in its activity the rules of the Code of Ethics in business activities in the relations with its trade partners;
  5. (new text – General Assembly of the BCCI, 17.06.2014) to be loyal to the Chamber and not to be derogatory to its reputation;
  6. (preceding item 5, amended – General Assembly of the BCCI, 17.06.2014) to pay the fixed property contribution (membership fee) against a document issued by the Chamber.
Art. 18. Associated members shall pay a single membership fee upon their entering into the Register of the Chamber. Members as per Art. 14, Paragraph 2, item 4; Paragraph 4 and Paragraph 6 do not owe any property contribution (membership fee).

TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
Art. 19. (1) Membership shall be terminated by a Decision of the Executive Council upon:
 
  1. one-month written notice by the member;
  2. dropping out – upon systematic non-participation in the Chamber’s activities and/or non- payment of the prescribed property contribution (membership fee);
  3. winding-up of the legal entity;
  4. death or full judicial disability of a physical person-member;
  5. dismissal – upon systematic and gross violation of membership obligations and market ethics.
  (2) Upon termination as per items 1 or 2 of the preceding Paragraph, the Executive Council may renew membership upon request of the person.
  (3) The decision for dismissal can be appealed before the General meeting within one month as of its announcement but not later than one year as of the date of the decision.
  (4) Upon termination of membership, any property contributions (membership fee) due to or paid to the Chamber up to this date shall not be refunded.