Statutes
The International Association for Environmentally Safe Disposal of RAdioactive Materials – EDRAM – is established as a non-profitmaking organisation according to Swiss Civil Law (Art. 60 of the Civil Law Code)
In order to promote the exchange of knowledge, experience and information among its members, the Association has the following objectives:
- To create a forum where strategic questions can be discussed among implementers with a view to supporting their individual approaches on policy issues, particularly as these relate to demonstration of safety and environmental protection to both the general public and to regulatory organisations.
- To support national efforts towards site selection and implementation of long-term disposal strategies and to promote a common understanding of waste management issues and the internationally recognised principles which apply thereto.
- To stimulate and promote coordinated research and development activities, particularly in underground research laboratories.
- To define positions and coordinate actions, where appropriate, in dealing with international organisations (e.g. OECD, IAEA, EU), whilst recognising the value of open discussions with governments and regulators in such organisations.
- To discuss technical and management matters, particularly with a view to benchmarking and establishing optimum practices, without disrupting existing mechanisms for cooperation on specific projects.
The working methods adopted by the Association to achieve the above objectives will consist essentially of expert group meetings, workshops and seminars, technical visits, exchange of staff and review programmes at bilateral and multilateral level. Specific joint programmes can also be established.
Each member agency retains full power and ability to speak for itself, internationally as well as in its own country. The Chairman will be the spokesman of the Association only on specific subjects to be decided upon by the Association on a case by case basis.
The constitutional organs of the Association are
- the General Assembly
- the Executive Board
- the Auditors
4.1 General Assembly – powers, sessions, voting
Under the exclusion of fundamental, unalterable provisions of Swiss Civil Law, as the supreme authority of the Association the General Assembly has the power to
select the Executive Board, the Chairman and the Auditors and define their competences
- decide on applications for, or cancellation of, membership of the Association
- discharge the Executive Board
- approve the accounts of the Association
- make decisions regarding the budget and the annual financial contributions of the members
- modify the statutes
- create further organisational structures as deemed appropriate
- dissolve the Association.
The General Assembly shall be summoned in ordinary session by the Chairman at least once in each calendar year. It shall be summoned in extraordinary session by the Chairman upon the Chairman's own decision or upon a written request submitted by at least one-fifth of the members.
Decisions of the General Assembly shall be by a simple majority of the representatives present, with the exception of decisions relating to modification of the statutes or dissolution of the Association which require a two-thirds majority. The written agreement of all members to a proposal shall be deemed equivalent to a decision of the General Assembly.
The General Assembly shall be chaired by the Chairman. In the absence of the Chairman, the members present at a session may appoint another member to act on behalf of the Chairman for this purpose.
The Association shall operate with the support of a simple infrastructure, with rotation of responsibilities among the members. Elections made by the General Assembly shall, in principle, be for a period of two years.
A protocol shall be kept of the business of the General Assembly.
4.2 Executive Board – powers, sessions, voting
The Executive Board, elected by the General Assembly, shall consist of one or more persons and shall be chaired by the Chairman, who is the legal representative of the Association. The business of the Association shall be managed by the Executive Board. Members of the Executive Board need not necessarily be members of the Association.
The Executive Board has the right to delegate and re-assume power as it deems necessary.
The Executive Board shall meet on the request of the Chairman. A quorum shall exist if more than half of the members are present. Each member shall have one vote and, in the event of a tie, the Chairman shall have the casting vote. Decisions shall be taken by a simple majority of the votes present and cast and votes by proxy or in writing are admitted.
4.3 Auditors
If the task is not entrusted by the General Assembly to a professional auditing company, two auditors shall be appointed by the General Assembly to undertake an annual audit of the Association's accounts. For this purpose, the Auditors shall have access at all times to the relevant books, documents and reports and shall examine all cash and financial records.
The accounting period shall be the calendar year.
- The activities of the Association shall be financed by:
- annual contributions fixed by the General Assembly
- contributions of member organisations participating in special projects as outlined and agreed in project-specific budgets to cover direct costs
- any other resources or revenues which may result from the Association's activities
- Each member organisation will cover its own expenses of participation in the Association's activities.
- In the event that the Association is dissolved, the remaining assets will be divided equally among the members at the time.
- The members of the Association are responsible only for their annual financial contribution. The Association is liable only to the extent of its assets.
- The members of the Association are well-established organisations with responsibility for management of radioactive wastes in their respective countries.
- Membership may be terminated by written notice of withdrawal, subject to a minimum of six months notice prior to the end of the calendar year.
- Applications for new membership will be considered from well-established organisations who are the national agencies or bodies responsible for radioactive waste management in their respective countries and who have a comprehensive research programme sustained by field activities.
- Applicants for new membership must accept the EDRAM statutes and objectives. Applications for new membership require the agreement of all current members. Written agreement to an application will be deemed equivalent to a decision made within the framework of the General Assembly.
