Organizing, operation and pertinence of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) and other clauses

 The President of the Hellenic Republic

We issue the following law passed by the Parliament:

Article 1

Objectives- Pertinence- Headquarters

1. The World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE), as foreseen by Article 108, par. 2 of the Constitution, is a consultative, advisory, demanding and supportive body to the Hellenic State and its mission is to express all powers of worldwide Hellenism.

2. SAE exercises its consultative and advisory pertinence on issues relevant to Hellenes abroad. Especially:
   1. The preservation of the Greek Language and cultural identity of Hellenes Abroad.

   2. The strengthening of relations among Hellenes Abroad and the homeland and themselves in the host countries.

   3. Army and social security issues for Hellenes Abroad.

   4. Development and strengthening of the relations of host countries with Greece.

3. SAE’s pertinence also includes the submission of proposals on issues regarding Hellenes Abroad in the host countries and relevant geographical regions.

4. SAE is linked and cooperates with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, all Patriarchates and the Church in general.

5. SAE’s headquarters are in Thessaloniki.

Article 2

Members of SAE

1. The following are eligible for becoming members of SAE:
   1. Third-level organizations of Hellenic communities abroad, second-level (if third-level do not exist) and first-level organizations (if second-level do not exist), considering the structure in each SAE Region.

   2. Clergy Laity conventions of communities-parishes abroad that operate under the supervision of an Archpriest or a Metropolitan.

   3. Other agencies of Hellenes Abroad that promote issues relevant to the interests of Hellenism and have influence, effect and are famous among Hellenes Abroad and the societies of both the host countries and Greece, such are:

                                                               i.      Federations of National-Local associations that operate on a country or national level and have as a point of reference and structure a wider geographical region or a geopolitical district of historical interest or one of the Greek Prefectures.

                                                             ii.      Hellenic Cultural Centers in wider metropolitan areas, scientists’ and business people associations.

4. The World Federation of Cypriots Abroad (POMAK) and the World Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA).

1. The Hellenic Communities Abroad can become members of SAE following an application to the Coordinating Council of the relevant SAE Region, considering the fact that the following criteria are met:
   1. Submission of the constitution of the organization that will prove the at least three years of its existence and active operation.

   2. The objectives of the organization are not in conflict with SAE’s objectives and goals.

   3. Minutes of recent elections.

2. The above paragraph 2 also applies in case i-c of paragraph 1 and relatively in case ii-c and b of paragraph 1 of the present article.

3. The Coordinating Council of each Region examines the applications based on the criteria described in paragraph 2, and proposes to the SAE Board the acceptance or not of the members. SAE Board collects every six months all applications from all Regions and approves those that fulfill the above criteria. The applications submitted within the six months prior to the Regional Convention are examined following the end of the Convention. SAE Board proceeds to the registration of the approved members to the record of members, after the GGAE reassures that all clauses of the present article are kept.

Article 3

SAE Bodies

The SAE Bodies are:

-        The Regional Coordinating Councils

-        The Regional Conventions

-        The World Convention

-        The Board

Article 4

SAE Regional Coordinating Councils

Regional Conventions

1. SAE consists of seven (7) Regions: Canada Region, U.S. Region, Central-South America Region, Europe Region (except of European countries of the former USSR), Region of the countries of the former USSR (except those countries already members of the EU), Oceania-Far East Region and Africa-Middle East Region.

2. SAE Regions consist of SAE members of each region.

3. The seven Regional Coordinating Councils are formed as follows:
   1. Coordinating Council, Canada Region: five (5) members

   2. Coordinating Council, U.S. Region: eleven (11) members

   3. Coordinating Council, Central-South America Region: five (5) members

   4. Coordinating Council, Europe Region: eleven (11) members

   5. Coordinating Council, Region of former USSR Region: five (5) members

   6. Coordinating Council, Oceania-Far East Region: nine (9) members

   7. Coordinating Council, Africa-Middle East Region: seven (7) members

4. a. The Coordinating Councils represent their relevant Region.

b. The Regional Coordinating Councils form and submit proposals to the SAE Board, which with its comments submits them to the GGAE. The GGAE forwards these proposals to the relevant Minister who submits them to each Minister. The Minister for Hellenism Abroad is obliged within 60 days from the submission of proposals to inform SAE Board of the view of the Government and public agencies on the specific issues. The Minister for Hellenism Abroad requests from SAE Board proposals for specific issues. SAE Board is obliged to respond and submit justified views within a period of sixty days.

c. The Regional Coordinating Councils proceed to any planning regarding issues of their concern.

d. The Regional Coordinating Councils convene within the Region once a year. They can meet using new technology or any other mean. According to article 6, paragraph 1, the Coordinators of each SAE Region preside during the meetings. The Coordinating Councils operate according to Rules and Regulations for Operation that is formed and approved by the relevant Regional Conventions by a majority of 50%+1 of the total of the invited representatives. The same applies for any amendment of those Rules and Regulations. The Rules and Regulations for Operation should be communicated to the GGAE.

5. The members of the Regional Coordinating Councils are elected at the Regional Conventions following secret voting by a simple majority of the electors that represent at least the 2/3 of the invited representatives. In case of halved votes a lottery takes place. The term of the members of the Coordinating Councils are of 4 years and the members cannot be elected more than two terms for the same position. The terms of the members of the Coordinating Councils since the beginning of their operation, are accounted for the enforcement of the present paragraph. The term of the elected members of the Coordinating Councils begins at the first day of the next year following the last World Convention. In case of resignation or impediment of a member of the Coordinating Council, the position is taken by the first runner up.

6. Regional Conventions are convened by the Coordinating Councils every two years in the Regions, while elections for the members of the Coordinating Councils take place every four years. The electoral Regional Convention takes place at least two months (not more than three months) prior to the World Convention. The Coordinating Councils are responsible for the organizing and secretarial support of the Regional Conventions. The Coordinating Councils prepare the Agenda that may include issues proposed by the members of the SAE Board and the GGAE.

7. A Presidential Decree published following the proposal of the Minister for Hellenism Abroad, describes the criteria and procedures regarding representation of SAE members in Regional Conventions, as these are stated in paragraph 1, Article 2 of the present law, as well as the number of their representatives. The Regional Coordinating Councils and the Board submit to the relevant Minister for Hellenism Abroad proposals regarding the under publication Presidential Decree within four months from the 6^th World Convention. If these proposals are not submitted within the four months, the Presidential Decree will be published without them prior to the end of the year of the World Convention.

8. During the Regional Conventions the positions and views of Hellenes Abroad on issues of concern are expressed, priorities are set and there is the possibility for proposals of issues for discussion. The decisions of the Regional SAE Conventions are taken by simple majority of the present representatives. The Regional SAE Conventions form their Rules and Regulations of Operation and approve it by a majority of 50%+1 of the total of invited representatives. The same applies for any amendment of Rules and Regulations of Operation. The Rules and Regulations of Operation of the Regional Conventions are communicated to the GGAE.

9. Within SAE Regions Networks of Hellenism operate. The issues regarding the structure and operation of the Networks are determined by a decision of the Regional Conventions and are included in the Rules and Regulations of their Operation.

Especially for the Youth Networks, these should be established in each region within two years from the coming World Convention, according to the relevant prediction included in the Rules and Regulations of the Regional Conventions.

10. A special Regional Convention may be convened following the request of the majority of ¾ of the members of the Coordinating Council or of the 1/3 of the total of the members of the Regional Convention, the opinion of the SAE Board and the decision of the relevant Minister for Hellenism Abroad, if there are special reasons relevant to the interests of Hellenism Abroad.

11. The budget of the Regional Convention is submitted by each Coordinator to the GGAE for approval at least six months prior to the date of the Convention.

Article 5

World Convention

1. SAE World Convention is convened by the SAE Board every four years (during the last two months of the fourth year since the last Convention), and is announced at least eight months earlier. SAE Board is responsible for the organizing and secretarial support of the Convention.

2. A Presidential Decree published following the proposal of the Minister for Hellenism Abroad, describes the criteria and procedures regarding representation of SAE members in the World Convention, as these are stated in paragraph 1, Article 2 of the present law, as well as the number of their representatives. The Regional Coordinating Councils and the Board submit to the relevant Minister for Hellenism Abroad proposals regarding the under publication Presidential Decree within four months from the 6^th World Convention. If these proposals are not submitted within the four months, the Presidential Decree will be published without them prior to the end of the year of the World Convention.

3. The budget for the World Convention is prepared by the Board and is submitted by the SAE Board and is submitted by SAE President to the GGAE for approval at least seven months prior to the Convention. In case of non-submission or non-approval of the budget the GGAE undertakes the responsibility for the organizing of the World Convention.

4. SAE President prepares the Agenda following the decision of the Board and after taking under consideration the proposals submitted by the Regional Coordinating Councils. The Agenda may include issues proposed by the GGAE. During the World Convention a Board is elected for the works of the Convention, the members of which cannot be candidates in the elections for the members of the SAE Board. The decisions of the World Convention are taken by a simple majority of the present delegates. SAE World Convention forms its Rules and Regulations of Operation that is approved by a majority of 50%+1 of the total invited delegates. The same applies for any amendment of Rules and Regulations. The Rules and Regulations of Operation of the World Convention should be communicated to the GGAE.

5. SAE Board announces the resolutions of the World Convention to the Minister for Hellenism Abroad, the Presidium of the Special Permanent Committee of the Parliament for Issues of Hellenism Abroad and the GGAE.

6. a. The World Convention may be postponed for a reasonable period of time, not more than twelve months, in case there are special reasons, by the decision of the Minister for Hellenism Abroad and the agreement of the Regional Coordinating Councils and the SAE Board.

b. A special World Convention may be convened if there are special reasons relevant to the benefit of Hellenism abroad, following the request of the majority of 2/3 of the Coordinating Councils that have been approved by the majority of 2/3 of their members, the opinion of the SAE Board and the decision of the relevant Minister for Hellenism Abroad.

7. Following 10 months from the World Convention and not later than twelve months, a meeting will take place in Greece with the participation of the Board and the Coordinating Councils aiming to set the goals, objectives and priorities relevant to SAE’s pertinence. Distinguished personalities from Hellenism Abroad –up to 25%- will participate at the meeting following the decision of the Minister for Hellenism Abroad and relevant suggestions by the GGAE, the Special Permanent Committee of the Parliament and SAE Board.

Article 6

SAE Board

1.       SAE Board consists of 11 members: The President, seven Regional Coordinators, the Secretary, the Treasurer and the Representative of POMAK/PSEKA.

2.       The Pertinence of the Board includes the following:

a.      May submit, through its President, proposals on draft laws relevant exclusively to Hellenism Abroad. The proposals should include an analysis of each subject, SAE’s views and proposals, and is submitted to the Minister for Hellenism Abroad with a copy to the Special Permanent Committee of the Parliament for Issues of Hellenism Abroad.

b.      Submits any proposals of the Regional Coordinating Councils, with its comments, to the GGAE.

c.      Promotes SAE’s goals.

3.       The President of SAE is elected through a secret voting during the World Convention. The President should gather the absolute majority of the electors that represent at least the 2/3 of the invited delegates. In case one of the candidate do not has the majority of the electors the electoral procedure is repeated among the two first in votes, candidates. In case of halved votes a lottery takes place. The President represents SAE and cooperates with the rest of the Board members. In case of resignation or impediment of the President, the position is taken by the Alternate President. Each of the seven Regional Coordinators will exercise the duties of the Alternate President on rotation. The turn is set by lottery.

4.       The Regional SAE Coordinators are elected at the relevant Regional Conventions by an absolute majority and following secret voting of the electors representing at least the 2/3 of the invited delegates. In case one of the candidate do not has the majority of the electors the electoral procedure is repeated among the two first in votes, candidates. In case of halved votes a lottery takes place. In case of resignation or impediment of a Regional Coordinator, the Coordinating Council elects one of its members at the position of the Coordinator for the rest of the term, by an absolute majority of its members.

5.       The Secretary and the Treasurer are elected during the World Convention following secret voting and by a simple majority of the electors that represent at least the 2/3 of the invited delegates. Their duties are set by a decision of the Board. In case of resignation or impediment of either the Secretary or the Treasurer, the position is taken by the first runner up.

6.       The representative of POMAK/PSEKA is elected during the World Convention by an absolute majority and following secret voting of the electors representing at least the 2/3 of the invited delegates of the relevant organizations. In case of resignation or impediment of the POMAK/PSEKA representative, the position is taken by the first runner up.

7.       The term of the SAE Board members is set to four years. The Board members cannot be elected for more than two terms for the same position. The terms of the SAE Board members done since the beginning of SAE’s operation are taken under consideration for the application of the present paragraph. The term of the elected SAE Board members starts on the first day of the year following the World Convention.

8.       The Board is convened by the President to meet every six months at its headquarters, but it can meet in other Greek cities following the unanimous decision of the Board. The Board may hold a special meet following the decision of the 2/3 of its members and the agreed opinion of the Minister for Hellenism Abroad. A representative of the youth will participate at each SAE Board meeting without a right to vote. The representative will participation on rotation and will come from the Region that holds the position of the Alternate President. The way for the determination of the youth representative is foreseen by the Rules and Regulations of each Regional Convention. The Agenda is communicated at least thirty days prior to the meeting, to the Board members and the GGAE. The Board may meet using new technology or any other mean. SAE Board operates on Rules and Regulations approved by a majority of 2/3 of the Board members. The same applies for any amendment of the Rules and Regulations. The Rules and Regulations for Operation should be communicated to the GGAE.

9.       SAE Board during the first month of every year submits a report with the proposals of the World Convention, the Board, the Regional Conventions and the Regional Coordinating Councils to the following:

a.      The President of the Republic

b.      The Prime Minister

c.      The President of the Parliament

d.      The Leaders of the Political Parties

e.      The Minister for Hellenism Abroad

f.        The General Secretariat of Greeks Abroad

Through the President of the Parliament the report is presented to the Special Permanent Committee of the Parliament for Issues of Hellenism Abroad and is distributed to the MPs of all political parties.

10.    SAE Board is invited and attends within the first three months of each year the meeting of the Special Permanent Committee of the Parliament for Issues of Hellenism Abroad, following the invitation of its President, and presents issues relevant to Hellenism Abroad.

Article 7

1. SAE is funded by the public budget for the exercise of its advisory and consultative pertinence and its operation. The relevant credits are registered at the regular budget of the GGAE, which is responsible for SAE’s funding.

2. The Board members prepare a proposal for the SAE budget for the following year. The President in cooperation with the Treasurer assess the above proposals and forms a unified budget proposal for the more effective operation of the organization, and submits it on November of each year for approval to the GGAE. SAE is funded by the GGAE with directs disbursals in the name of the President, the Regional Coordinators, the Secretary, the Treasurer and the representative of PSEKA/POMAK under the condition that:
   1. The suggested total budget is in agreement with SAE’s pertinence.

   2. The President, the Regional Coordinators, the Secretary, the Treasurer and the POMAK/PSEKA representative, submit at the end of the year and the latest until the end of February of the next year, a financial statement accompanied with all legal invoices and receipts, according to the Code of Books and Principles and the Rules and Regulations for SAE’s financial management.

3. The GGAE examines the legality of expenses and their proper management in cooperation with an Auditor.

Article 8

Other Clauses

1. The registered at the annual GGAE budget credits are given for its objectives and programs that include, apart from the foreseen in paragraph 1 of Article 44 of the Law 2413/1996, and funding or financing of:

a. organizations of Hellenes Abroad such are communities, associations, and other communal, bi-communal and national-local forms of organization of Hellenism Abroad independently of their organizational level.

b. churches of Hellenes Abroad and church institutions and foundations.

c. departments and academic seats of Greek studies abroad.

d. educational institutions of Hellenic interest abroad (e.g. schools of any level).

e. Scientific and cultural agencies of Hellenic interest, libraries, research centers, institutions, chambers of commerce, etc.

f. any kind of organization of Hellenes Abroad.

2. The objective and amount of funding to the above mentioned agencies is determined along with the decision of funding forwarded to each agency, each time by the Minister for Hellenism Abroad or by the authorized by the Minister bodies. With the completion of the goal for which the funding was given and within three months, the funded agency is obliged to submit to the GGAE a financial statement accompanied with all legal invoices and receipts according to the existing Code of Books and Principles.

Article 9

Abolished Clauses 

From the publication of the present law the following clauses are abolished:

1. Article 17 of the Law 1867/1989 “Personal imprisonment according to the clauses of the Code for Collection of Public Income and other Clauses”.

2. Paragraph 2 of Article 44 of the law 2413/1996 “Greek Education Abroad, inter-cultural education and other clauses”.

3. Article 8, paragraph 1 of the law 2452/1996 “Regulation of issues relevant to refugees according to the amendment of the clauses of the law 1975/1991 and other clauses”.

4. Paragraph D-1 of article 12 of the law 2552/1997 “Greek Open University and other clauses.”

5. The Presidential Decree 291/1999 “Formation and operation of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad” apart from the first paragraph of article 11. Articles 2 & 3 are in enforcement up to the organizing of the World Convention this year.

6. The Presidential Decree 328/2003 “Amendment of the Presidential Decree 291/1999, Formation and operation of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad”

Any clause that comes in conflict with the present law is abolished from its publication to the Government’s Paper.

 Article 10

Interim Clauses

1. The Regional Conventions and the World Convention that will take place within the current year, will have similar composition with those held in 2003. The total number of delegates in the World Convention, including the elected members in SAE bodies, will be 450, plus the newly elected members of the Coordinating Councils the term of who will start at the first day of the next year of the 6^th World Convention. Their distribution will take place following the proposal of the SAE Board three months prior to the World Convention and the relevant approval of the Minister of Hellenism Abroad.

2. a. Responsible for the convening and organizing of the First Regional Conventions of the new Regions are the Coordinating Councils of the Regions where they belonged prior to the enforcement of the present law.

b. The GGAE is responsible for the organizing of the 6^th World Convention.

Article 11

Enforcement of the Law

The law applies from the day of its publication in the Government’s Paper.

 Argostoli July 29, 2006

The President of the Hellenic Republic

Karolos Papoulias

 The Ministers

Interior, Public Administration & Decentralization

P. Pavlopoulos

 Economy & Finances

G. Alogoskoufis

 Foreign Affairs

T. Bakoyiannis

 Transportation & Communication

M. G. Liapis

 Public Order

V. Polydoras