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IP For sustainable finances of JEF-Europe (submitted by the outgoing EB)

The Federal Committee of JEF-Europe,

– having regard to article 21 of the statutes and its financial responsibilities,

- appreciates the increased consultation in the presentation of JEF-Europe’s finances to the Federal Committee,

- takes note of JEF’s structural-operational financial deficit of roughly 3-5.000 Euro,

- appreciates the efforts of the previous Executive Bureaus and the Auditor Committees to improve the situation of the finances,

- takes into account the revised and stricter Financial Regulations of the European Commission applicable since the beginning of 2007,

- reiterates the dependence of the organisation on the operational grants from the European Commission which have been running close to the outdated ceiling of 35.000 Euro / year, as well as the annual support from the Council of Europe which has been decreasing over past years,

- observes the relative stagnation/decrease in membership fees paid over the past 10 years,

- reminds of the continuity with regards to the membership fee since at least 1997 (standing at 1,75 Euro / member / year),

- understands that the budgetary problem of JEF Europe is mostly one of revenue and less of expenditure,

- regrets that numerous efforts to find external, private fundraising have been unsuccessful and acknowledges that a sustainable financing of the organisation cannot rely on such sources while further effort to win private sponsorship for targeted projects and events from the Executive Bureau is welcome,

- thanks the Union of European Federalists (UEF) for the support,

- takes note of the exorbitant request for membership fees from the World Federalist Movement,

- wishes to expand further JEF’s engagement with its alumnus, the Friends of JEF, and their planned set-up of a Friends of JEF Foundation,

Wishes to establish a number of conclusions with regards to the financing of JEF-Europe,

1. asks the incoming Executive Bureau to evaluate

a. a participation contribution from each EB member (and potential guest) at EB meetings as of January 2008,

b. a limit to the costs of travel reimbursements towards EB meetings at 200 Euro per person,

c. old and outstanding liabilities and assets towards the next Federal Committee with a view of consolidating them,

d. the pay, numeration and guidelines for staff employed in the secretariat (e.g. use of vouchers, employment as service provider),

e. the introduction of a ceiling to the reimbursement of the mobile of the Secretary General/office as of January 2008, or alternatively the individual coverage of expenditure in connection with mobile phone use for work,

f. the membership fee to JEF-Europe,

2. requests the Executive Bureau to continue lobbying (with or without the potential support of the European Youth Forum) both the Council of Europe and the European Commission to increase the operational grants for JEF-Europe,

3. sets a ceiling for the travel reimbursement for the meetings of the Executive Bureau, auditors and arbitration board at 200 Euro per person,

4. establishes as a rule that the bi-annual seminars, Federal Committee meetings and Congresses need to be paid out of participation fees and project funding, while JEF’s own resources shall not be used for them,

5. decides that JEF changes its status as full member of the European Youth Forum towards observer status,

6. wishes to continue the close cooperation with the European Movement International (EMI) while reminding the EMI of JEF’s particular status as their quasi youth organisation which should be taken into account by a special partnership support,

7. refuses to pay any membership fee to the World Federalist Movement but wishes to further engage in dialogue with this organisation,

8. requests the Executive Bureau to present to the FC the updated accounts before each FC meeting,

9. encourages the Executive Bureau to present at the autumn FC the budget for the following year and at the spring FC the accounts of the preceding year for adoption.

 

Explanatory remarks

The organisation needs to take decisions now as to how it wants to tackle the structural deficit. It needs to balance out possible cuts in expenditure with revenue-raising activities.