Operating Framework of the “Initiative of Communist and Workers' Parties in order to study and elaborate european issues and to coordinate their activity”

Aim

The aim of the “PROVISIONAL OPERATING FRAMEWORK” of the “INITIATIVE” is the formulation of certain basic rules, which will be known and accepted by the parties which agreed with the Founding Declaration and participate in the “INITIATIVE of the communist and workers’ parties in order to study and elaborate European issues and to coordinate their activity” (the text will refer to it as the “Initiative”).

The observance of this “Framework” must assist the best possible consultation and coordination amongst the participant-parties.

We already have experience from the “International Meetings of Communist and Workers’ Parties” (IMCWP), as well as from the “European Communist Meetings”, initially on educational issues, and later on more general issues. The “Initiative” seeks to establish this cooperation amongst the CPs of Europe on more stable foundations.

The communist and workers’ parties form the “Initiative” on the specific text of the ‘’Founding Declaration”, while they also agree with the “Provisional Operating Framework”, which later will be corrected and will be enriched, on the basis of the experience that has been accumulated.

1. On the Character of the “Initiative”

The “Initiative” is a form of cooperation of communist and worker’s parties, above all in the member-states of the EU. It is based on a Founding Declaration, which describes its principles and goals. It does not constitute a unified political party, nor does it constitute a “European Party”, such as those established by the EU. Based on the above, all the parties, which participate in the “Initiative” have the same rights and obligations, while political decisions are taken according to the principle of Unanimity.

2. In relation to the participation in the “Initiative”

2.1 Every Communist and Workers’ Party from an EU member-state can participate in the “Initiative”, as long as it agrees with the Founding Declaration and is not a full member of any “European Party”.

2.2 The communist parties of the European countries, which are not members of the EU, (Both of the associated countries of the EU, as well as of other European countries), as long as they wish it and agree with the Founding Declaration, can be connected and participate equally in all the procedures of the “Initiative”.

2.3 Each CP, which after the foundation of the “Initiative” wishes to participate in it, agrees with the Founding Declaration and fulfils its conditions, can submit a request to participate in the “Initiative” to the Secretariat, tabling their Programme, Statutes and a brief history of the party in English.

2.4 The Secretariat informs all the participant-parties in the “Initiative” at least one month before the Full Plenum of the “Initiative” about the new participation requests. If there is an objection by any participant-party in the “Initiative”, then the candidate participant-party is required to produce the positive opinion of 2 participants in the “Initiative”, so that the issue can be tabled in the Full Plenum of the participant-parties. As to whether it participates, this is decided on by the Full Plenum of the participants, if it is supported by an expanded majority (3/4) of the participant-parties in the “Initiative”.

2.5 If a party, which participates in the “Initiative”, joins the ELP or another “European party” as a full member, it is considered that it automatically stops its participation in the “Initiative” and is removed from the list of participant-parties in it.

2.6 If a party, which participates in the “Initiative”, is dissolved or is absent from the activities of the “Initiative” for two years without explanation, it is removed from the list of participant-parties in it.

2.7 A CP, which participates in the “Initiative”, can be removed by its own decision from the list of participant-parties in it, or if it changes its character it is removed from it with the decision of an expanded majority (3/4) of the participant-parties.

2.8 If a Communist and Workers’ Party, which is a full member of the ELP (or another “European party”), assesses that it agrees with the Founding Declaration of the “Initiative” and wants to participate in it, it is sufficient for it to alters its membership of the ELP and to submit a request to enter the “Initiative”. The request is examined on the basis of the process which is described in the paragraphs above.

3. In relation to the functioning of the Full Plenum of the parties

3.1. Each Communist and Workers’ Party, which participates in the “Initiative”, has the right to equal participation in the Full Plenum of the Communist and Workers’ Parties.

3.2. The Full Plenum is convened at least once a year, for the exchange of views, experiences, the taking of decisions for the coordination of the activity of the participant-parties, the elaboration of positions on European issues.

3.3. The decisions will be taken on the basis of the principle of unanimity and with a spirit of consensus, with respect for the different assessments and positions of each participant-party, which however can not come into opposition with the ‘Founding Declaration”, in order to safeguard a minimum framework for common activity.

3.4 The Full Plenum can amend both the “Founding Declaration” and the “Rules of Procedure”, only if there is the unanimity of the parties that participate in the “Initiative” on those issues.

3.5. The Full Plenum elects its Secretariat.

4. On the Secretariat of the “Initiative”

4.1. Every party that participates in the “Initiative” can participate in the Secretariat, as long as it wishes to and judges that it has the financial capability to cover its transport costs to the meetings, and has the ability to communicate in English, which will be the language in which the work of the Secretariat will be conducted. The meetings of the Secretariat, which will be held when it is required and is judged to be advisable by the majority of its members, will be open to the participant-parties of the “Initiative”.

4.2. The number of members of the Secretariat is determined each time by the annual Full Plenum of the participant-parties. It can not be a large number, so that the Secretariat can function properly.

In the instance when there are more candidates proposed than the positions that exist on the Secretariat, there will be an effort, through consultations to reduce the number of candidates, so that there does not need to be a vote. If this is not possible a vote will be conducted by an open vote.

4.3. In the open vote in order to elect a party to the Secretariat, each party can vote for as many candidates as there are positions on the Secretariat. The parties which have the most votes are elected, until the positions of the Secretariat are filled, with the condition that at least 50% of the participant-parties on the Secretariat are from EU member-states.

4.4. The Secretariat seeks the common position of the parties on major European issues. So:

It prepares draft statements-joint positions of the parties.
It can itself issue statements, on emergency issues, on the basis of the positions which the Full Plenum of the participant-parties has formed.
It can determine and call the participating parties to days of joint action.
It can specify the necessity to create “Working Groups” for the study of special issues and to propose them to the Full Plenum of the participant-parties.
It prepares issues regarding the entry to and the removal from the list of participant-parties, which are tabled in the Full Plenum for a decision.

4.5. The headquarters of the Secretariat of the “Initiative” will be in Athens. The headquarters of the website will also be there, for which the KKE will have the responsibility.

5. In relation to the joint Founding Declaration, the symbols and joint actions of the “Initiative”

The parties that participate in the “Initiative” have accepted the Founding Declaration, which is integrated into the “Operating Framework”, while they can, on the basis of Unanimity, form further joint symbols, their own election declaration for the EU parliamentary elections, and announce their own campaigns as well. They can issue a common poster, determine certain joint slogans.

The parties that participate in the “Initiative” can use the common symbol of the “Initiative”, together with the symbols of their parties.

6. In relation to the financial aspect of the ‘Initiative”

There is no provision for financial dues. Each party undertakes the expenses of its delegation to the Full Plenums (once a year) and the meetings of the Secretariat (if it wants to participate in it), as well as in possible joint actions.