I.F.B.D.O.

MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

THURSDAY 22 MAY 2003

IN RABAT (Morocco)

Present:

I – APPROVAL OF THH AGENDA

. LABADIE remarked, that the report from the Control Commission should be available before the approval of the financial results. He asked that this was included in the Agenda.

II – THE REPORT FROM THE MEETING IN MALTA

The report from Malta was approved unanimously without reservation by the members present.

III - FINANCES

The Treasurer General read out the list of membership payments, the chart with the financial results, an alternative presentation based on cash-flow and the balance as of 31 December 2002.

The proposal of the Treasurer General to change to a cash flow based presentation was adopted by the Executive Council.

For the development of the budget for 2004, it was not possible to establish a budget with the present deficits and the expenses , which should be kept up in order to make it possible for the President and the Secretary General to represent the federation with the member organizations and in decision making bodies

R. LABADIE made use if this occasion to remind that the list of countries with difficulties to pay their contribution should remain confidential. These countries should in no way be exposed.

P. COLAMARTINO remarked that the European Union is the major supporter of NGOs on the European level but also for their international cooperation. If we want to obtain funds from the European Union, our Statutes must deposited in a member state of the CEE.

P. COLAMARTINO added that because of the link between taxation and policies of governments which support NGOs, it is up to the European Continental Committee to study the country, where the Foundation shall be located legally and physically.

In the name of Amadou BA, F. BELOUAFI shared the deep worries of some African countries which feared the disappearance of the IFBDO, as such, when the Foundation became effective.

G. VANHOVE wished to know if the creation of the Foundation will be independent of the IFBDO and what are other dispositions, which have to be taken.

P. COLAMARTINO answered that the IFBDO always will remain the federative structure , which links the all member organizations. But he added, that the creation of a Foundation can also be made in other continents.

L.C. PETRO noted, as the president had said, that the Foundation – by way of the funds which will be transferred to the IFBDO - could help all countries of the world. It seemed, then, to him necessary to create other Foundations in other places.

M. MAZZINE shared totally this analysis, as she estimated, that the support from the IFBDO should be the same for all member countries.

N. MIKKELSEN reminded that to be in conformity with the requirements of the European Union. the Foundation must have its legal seat in one of the countries of the European Union. But this will in no way change the structure of the IFBDO.

F. FERRUA proposed, to avoid confusion, that an organigram is made in order to explain in what precise context the IFBDO, the member organizations and the Foundation will be placed.

F. BELOUAFI wished that written information was sent to all African member organizations on the necessity to create this Foundation, on its goals and on its possibilities for action.

P. COLAMARTINO gave some clarifications on the Foundation. In fact it will be an IFBDO Foundation in Europe, where the donor organisations have the majority.

IV – PROPOSAL FOR CHANGE OF THE STATUTES

The Rapporteur on this project, G. VANHOVE read and commented the articles, where important changes have been added (in bold letters). He pinpointed, nevertheless, that it is sad to note the very few answers received from the member organizations.

P. COLAMARTINO would - in the report he would present to the G.A. - go through the important changes which should be made through the new Statutes:

  • Simple and suitable Statutes,
  • Rules of Procedures which are in conformity with the law
  • Headquarter in a country which supports NGOs
  • Creation of an IFBDO Foundation in Europe,
  • Expansion of the representation and membership of the IFBDO
  • Re-enforcement of the Continental Commitees.

N. MIKKELSEN signaled that a delegation, in this case Denmark, would vote against the proposed statutes, and that remarks from our member organization in MONACO unfortunately have arrived after the cut off date.

P. COLAMARTINO considered that the proposed new Statutes, which are by and large a copy of those of the International Red Cross, are difficult to adapt to our movement because of our very different identities. He proposed to postpone the adoption in order to know the viewpoints of a larger part of the member countries, and to try to take into account the different viewpoints of each other and to have a clearer reading of these documents.

We should, at the moment of the GA, have as a common position to postpone the approval of the Statutes. He made it clear that a negative vote would allow us to work on a new document which takes into account all the observations and remarks formulated.

The Executive Council decided, unanimously, to recommend to the General Assembly not to accept the proposal for changes to the Statutes.

V – ACTIVITIES

a) Strategic action plan
There was a round up of the strategies, which should be implemented the coming 3 years.

P. COLAMARTINO indicated that a proposal for ’EUROBLOODNET is supported by the European Parliament and financed 80% by the Commission. 24 countries in Europe will participate, and we have registered 55 partners (the list was communicated during the session)

b) Consultative status with the Council of Europe
In order to guard our consultative status with the Council of Europe we should send them reports about our activities, which contribute to reach the goals of the Council of Europe

Accordingly NIELS MIKKELSEN invited all members of the IFBDO to communicate to him all activities taken, promotion, donor recruitment, actions to create awareness, the international donor day etc.

c) European Union Directive
The technical annexes of this Directive on quality and security of blood products needs comments in three fields :

P. COLAMARTINO brought this to the attention of the members from countries of the EU, who should strive to have meetings with their Ministers of Health on all major questions.

d) Regional Congress of the ISBT in TURKEY
In the beginning an invitation had been given to the IFBDO, where the organizers had declared, that they would pay for all costs for the speakers, but afterwards they had taken their promise back. N. MIKKELSEN had answered that he would come, but found himself in a delicate position because of this change, where his participation would have to be entirely covered by the IFBDO. Therefore he asked for accept of this from the EC.

R. LABADIE regretted strongly that a planning of travels had not been elaborated, since he found himself in front of a fait accompli today. It seemed to him necessary that we rationalize our actions, if we shall not find ourselves in financial difficulties that could prejudge our good financial conduct. We should all cooperate to run this thing

For the meeting in TURKEY, with the health organizations, P. COLAMARTINO et N. MIKKELSEN would go and represent the IFBDO. The costs for the travel of the President would be covered by the hospital in VASTO.

e) Annual report
The Secretary General presented his report and there were no comments from the EC.

f) Youth Forum in POITIERS
France has accepted to organise this important manifestation, which should unite about 150 young people designated from their Organisations from 21 -25 August 2003 in POITIERS.

F. FERRUA made a brief presentation of the local organization, the conditions for room and board, the program made and the plans made together with the young French which had participated at the Forum in KLIPLEV.

As far as the inscriptions were concerned, F. FERRUA regretted the lack of support from certain countries to propose their young representatives, even when we find ourselves very close to the date for the third Forum. It is indispensable, for obvious practical reasons, that we know very soon the persons, which will in fact be present in POITIERS.

g) Recruitment seminar in China
This seminar has been postponed to 2004 because of the situation with the SARS

h) Establishment of a permanent committee of young donors within the IFBDO.
This proposal should be made during the GA : Nevertheless, it is a good idea to think of the functioning of such a commmittee and its place within the IFBDO. The meeting with the young people in POITIERS could with advantage inform us on the motivations and ideas, they have on this matter..

i) Executive Council on 11 October 2003 in CORSICA
The complete program has been sent for agreement and a first lecture by the Secretary General, who has accepted it. The FFDSB expects the inscriptions at an early date in order be able to assure the best possible reception of the participants, who will be housed in a vacation village belonging to the staff of the Industries Electriques et Gazičres, located in a small forrest close to the bay of AJACCIO. The price will be 200 € including room and board.

j) The General Assemblies 23 and 24 May 2003
M. MAZZINE went through, point by point, the program for these days, especially the opening session, which would be presided by the Secretary of the Minister of Health.

k) General Assembly in 2004
Only one written candidature had been sent to the Secretary General. So we will meet again in MALTA, 17 April 2004.

G. SIMIGIATOS proposed a meeting in March 2004 in PATRAS, at the same time as a great meeting which should assemble representatives from 5 continents in the Olympic village.

C. DAMASE RYNCE AGASSOUSI still awaited an answer to the candidature presented by BENIN 3 years ago.

N. MIKKELSEN reminded that there is a specific formula to be filled out in the format and with the deadlines decided at the time of the GA in SAO PAOLO.

l) Medals to be distributed:
Three candidatures were presented by TUNISIA with the support from the African Continental Delegate, and they received the unanimous approval of the CE

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As the Agenda had been exhausted the meeting was suspended at 17h40

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Special Council meeting about medals, 24 Mai, 2003 (11h05 / 11h20)

Our Italian friends proposed the following candidatures for the distribution of Merit for Blood medals:

Decision : Unanimous agreement from the CE Members present.

The Assistant Secretary General                         The Secretary General of the IFBDO,

Jean-Marie Durant                                                         Niels Mikkelsen