ANNEX

STATUTES OF THE CLARIN ERIC
CHAPTER 2

MEMBERSHIP
Article 3

Membership and representing entity
3.1.

The following entities may become members of CLARIN ERIC or they may become observers without voting rights:
1. Member States;
2. associated countries;
3. third countries other than associated countries;
4. intergovernmental organisations.
Conditions for admission of members and observers are specified in Article 4.1 and 4.2 of these statutes.
3.2.
CLARIN ERIC shall have at least three Member States as members.
3.3.
Member States shall jointly hold the majority of the voting rights in the General Assembly.
3.4.
Any member or observer may be represented by one public entity or one private entity with a public service mission, of its own choosing and appointed according to its own rules and procedures.
3.5.
The current members, observers and their representing entities are listed in Annex 1. The members at the time of submission of the ERIC application shall be referred to as founding members.
Article 4

Admission of members and observers
4.1.

The terms for admission of new members are the following:
1. the admission of new members shall require the approval of the General Assembly;
2. applicants shall submit a written application to the President of the General Assembly;
3. the application shall describe how the applicant will contribute to CLARIN objectives and activities described in Article 2 and how it will fulfil obligations referred to in Article 6.2.
4.2.

Entities listed in Article 3.1 who are willing to contribute to CLARIN ERIC, but are not yet in a position to join as members, may apply for observer status. The terms for admission of observers are the following:
1. observers shall be admitted for a three year period maximum. An observer may reapply once for observer status. In exceptional cases the General Assembly may accept further extension of observer status;
2. the admission or re-admission of observers shall require the approval of the General Assembly;
3. applicants shall submit a written application to the CLARIN ERIC statutory seat;
4. the application shall describe how the applicant will contribute to CLARIN objectives and activities described in Article 2 and how it will fulfil obligations referred to in Article 7.2.
Article 5

Withdrawal of a member or an observer/Termination of membership or observer status
5.1.
Within the first five years of the establishment of CLARIN ERIC no member may withdraw unless the membership has been entered into for a specified shorter period.
5.2.
After the first five years of the establishment of CLARIN ERIC a member may withdraw at the end of a financial year, following a request 12 months prior to the withdrawal.
5.3.
Observers may withdraw at the end of a financial year, following a request six months prior to the withdrawal.
5.4.
Financial and other obligations must be fulfilled before a withdrawal will be accepted.
5.5.

The General Assembly shall have the power to terminate the membership of a member or the observer status of an observer if the following conditions are met:
1. the member or observer is in serious breach of one or more of its obligations under these statutes;
2. the member or observer has failed to rectify such breach within a period of six months.
The member or observer shall be given opportunity to contest the decision of termination and to present its defence to the General Assembly.