FORWARD
In Athens at the offices of the AMPHICTYONY Network of Twinned Cities and Areas of the Mediterranean, on 29, Vironos street, Plaka
The following Local Government Organizations which constitute the members of the above mentioned Network, that is
GREECE
The Municipalities of Aghias Varvaras Attikis, Aghion Anargyron, Aghiou Dimitriou Attikis, Aghiou Ioanni Redi, Aghiou Nikolaou Kritis, Aghiou Stefanou, Aharnon, Alimou, Ano Liosion, Argyroupolis, Arideas, Atalantis, Chalkideon, Chiou, Dafnousion, Hydras, Iliou Imittou Itamou Kamenon Vourlon, Kalivion Thorikou, Kerateas, Megalou Alexandrou, Neas Chalkidonas, Paleou Falirou, Panoramatos, Peanias, Plateon, Prevezas, Rafinas, Rodou, Skyrou, Sofadon, Stylidas, Thrakomakedonon, Triandrias, Triglias, Chalkidikis, Vyssas and Zakynthou
CYPRUS
The Municipalities of Ammohostos, Kerynia, Larnaka, Lysi, Morfou and Paralimniou
ITALY
Comunita Montana della Murgia Tarantina, Comunita Montana Murgia Barese, Comune di Bova Marina
FRANCE
Commune de Garons
Taking into consideration:
· Regulation (EP) number 1082/2006 of the European Parliament and the Council of July 5th 2006 regarding the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation and in particular article 8 of what will be hereafter called “Regulation”,
· The Charter of the Network under the trade name “AMPHICTYONY of Twinned Cities and Areas of the Mediterranean”
· Τhe attached in this contact approvals of the national states in accordance with the article 4 of the aforementioned Regulation,
· The attached in this contract resolutions of the administration bodies of the contracting agencies,
agree and concede to the evolution of the Network into a European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (E.G.T.C.) as follows:
ARTICLE 1
TRADE NAME
The trade name of the EGTC to be established is “AMPHICTYONY of Twinned Cities and Areas of the Mediterranean, European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation” and will be called E.G.T.C AMPHICTYONY. in brief.
ARTICLE 2
SEAT
Athens is set as the seat of “E.G.T.C.”AMPHICTYONY
ARTICLE 3
TERRITORY
The territory on which E.G.T.C AMPHICTYONY. can perform its duties and organize the cooperation among its members is the one that is defined by the total of the ground area of the administrative-territorial responsibility or jurisdiction of the members of E.G.T.C.AMPHICTYONY
ARTICLE 4
AIMS AND DUTIES
4.1 The main aim of E.G.T.C AMPHICTYONY is for the people of the Mediterranean to live in a continuously peaceful environment and one of constant development, financially effective, socially just andenvironmentallyviable with cohesion and security in their areas.
4.2 The duties and operational objectives of E.G.T.C AMPHICTYONY that contribute to the achievement of its goal are the following:
§ The joint action and co-operation amongst its members
§ The respect in all levels of the principles of freedom, democracy, justice, security and protection of the environment.
§ The facilitation and promotion of cross border, interstate and/or interregional co-operation, with a view to reinforcing social and financial cohesion among its members.
§ The realization of programs that are co-funded by the European Union (E.U.) through the European Fund of Regional Development, the European Social Fund and/or the Cohesion Fund
§ The realization of actions of territorial co-operation amongst its members with or without the E.U.’s financial contribution
§ The collaboration with scientific centers and institutions, established in the countries of the Mediterranean, with E.U. institutions and International organizations, Self-government or not.
Exchange of information, experiences, promotion and application of successful practices among its members
Access to information and knowledge by means of utilizing data banks, new technologies and the development of the information society
§ The research, pursuit, preservation, promotion and utilization of the cultural identity of the Peoples of the Mediterranean towards the safeguarding of intercultural dialogue, the development of bonds of friendship, co-operation, respect and acceptance of diversity.
Strengthening the participation of the Citizen and the agencies of the Local Societies within the frame of territorial, financial and social collaboration among its members
4.3 The duration of “E.G.T.C AMPHICTYONY.” is determined at twenty five (25) years and can be extended following a resolution of the General Assembly in accordance with Article 10 of its Charter.
4.4 The termination of “AMPHICTYONY” occurs after a resolution of the General Assembly, taken with a majority of 2/3 of its members.
Following a petition made by any competent authority that has legitimate interest, the competent court or supervising authority provided in article 4 of the Regulation decides the termination of “E.G.T.C AMPHICTYONY.” for the reasons that are mentioned in the article 14 paragraph 1 of the Regulation.
The competent court or administration authority can set a deadline in order for it to remedy the situation. If “E.G.T.C AMPHICTYONY.” does not comply, the competent court or administration decides on its termination.
In case of termination whatever assets, real or movable, have been created are distributed among the members of “E.G.T.C AMPHICTYONY.” according to the share of each one of them.
ARTICLE 5
MEMBERS OF E.G.T.C.AMPHICTYONY.
The members of AMPHICTYONY E.G.T.C. are the aforementioned in the
forward of this contract.
5.2 It is agreed thatLocal Government Organizations of the 1st and 2nd degree, Associations of Local Government nature as well as Regions of the countries of the Mediterranean that are part of the EU can in the future become members of “E.G.T.C AMPHICTYONY” in accordance with what is provided by the Regulation (article 4) as well as third countries of the Mediterranean as it is noted in the foreword of above Regulation and the charter of E.G.T.C AMPHICTYONY.
5.3 Those Local Government Organizations, Associations and Regions of the countries of the Mediterranean that wish to become members of “E.G.T.C AMPHICTYONY”, should submit an application to the Board of Directors, which makes the relevant recommendation in the first General Assembly after the submission of the petition. The Board of Directors examines the request for the entrance of a new member on condition that the local national authority has first given its relevant approval, in accordance with article 4 of the Regulation.
5.4 Apart from the cases provided by article 13 of the Regulation, members of “E.G.T.C AMPHICTYONY” shall cease to be so if for two consecutive years fail to comply with their financial obligations or those specified in the Charter, or fail to carry out the tasks they have undertaken or do not act in accordance with the objectives and aims of “E.G.T.C AMPHICTYONY”.
The General Assembly is the competent body to decide on whether a member of “E.G.T.C AMPHICTYONY” will cease to be one, with a resolution taken by the majority of the total of its members.
Members wishing to resign should notify the Board of Directors in writing and with the appropriate justification at least six (6) months before the annual Ordinary General Assembly. The resolution to resign does not exempt the member from its financial obligations to “E.G.T.C AMPHICTYONY”.
ARTICLE 6
APPLICABLE LAW
The applicable law for the interpretation and application of the present contract, the definition of the relations between E.G.T.C AMPHICTYONY. and its members and the settlement of any issues that may arise during its operation is the law of the country of its seat, i.e the Greek law, subject to the application, when it is required, of the rules of the E.U. law.
ARTICLE 7
FINANCIAL AUDIT AND MANAGEMENT MATTERS
The audit of the management of the public funds of E.G.T.C AMPHICTYONY. is conducted by the competent Greek authorities in accordance with what is defined in the provisions of article 4 of the number 36808/2008 (Greek Government Gazette Issue 1262/B/1-7-2008) Joint Ministerial Resolution of the Ministers of Interior, Economy and Finance, and Foreign Affairs regarding the Settlement of issues for the implementation of Regulation (EK) 1082/2006 of the European Parliament and the Council of July 5th 2006 for the European Group of Territorial Cooperation (E.G.T.C.) .
The audit of the management of E.U. funds in particular is conducted according to what is provided by the local national or E.U. legislation
All audits are conducted in accordance with the internationally accepted standards of financial auditing
ARTICLE 8
AMENDMENT OF THE CONTRACT
Any amendment of the present contract is approved by the member states in accordance with the procedure described in Article 4 of the Regulation. Without the aforementioned approval, no amendment of the contract and by extension of the Charter of E.G.T.C AMPHICTYONY. will be legally conducted.
The overdue publication of the announcement for the establishment of E.G.T.C AMPHICTYONY. in the Official Gazette of the E.U. in accordance with the article 5 of the Regulation does not render its establishment void.
The members of E.G.T.C.AMPHICTYONY
GREECE
MUNICIPALITIES
Aghias Varvaras Attikis
Aghion Anargyron
Aghiou Dimitriou Attikis
Aghiou Ioanni Redi
Aghiou Nikolaou Kritis
Aghiou Stefanou
Aharnon
Alimou
Ano Liosion
Argyroupolis
Arideas
Atalantis
Chalkideon
Chiou
Dafnousion
Hydras
Iliou
Imittou
Itamou
Kamenon Vourlon
Kalivion Thorikou
Kerateas
Megalou Alexandrou
Neas Chalkidonas
Paleou Falirou
Panoramatos
Peanias
Plateon
Prevezas
Rafinas
Rodou
Skyrou
Sofadon
Stylidas
Thrakomakedonon
Triandrias
Triglias Chalkidikis
Vyssas
Zakynthou
CYPRUS
Municipalities
Ammohostos
Kerynia
Larnaka
Lysi
Morfou
Paralimniou
ITALY
Comunita Montana della Murgia Tarantina
Comunita Montana Murgia Barese
Comune di Bova Marina
FRANCE
Commune De Garons