EDF members agreed to establish term limits for our Executive Committee and President during our General Assembly in Slovenia on 11 and 12 May 2024.
In line with our commitment to transparency, this article will outline these term limits and the consultative process which EDF has undertaken in the last two years. The constitutional changes address just one issue right now: term limits. This aims to promote renewal in our leadership but also to maintain a high level of experience and expertise.
Term limits for some EDF Governing Bodies
The General Assembly agreed to change EDF statues to reflect the following:
- Term limits for the Executive Committee and the President. Each member can be elected for 3 terms in succession.
- Each term lasts 4 years, which means a member can serve 12 years consecutively in the executive committee.
- Executive committee members may stand for election again after taking a break from a previously fully completed mandate.
- These changes will only take effect at the next elections in 2026, and the mandate limit will only apply from then on.
These term limits will not apply to Board members.
Decision-making process
The decision-making process started in 2022 and included the creation of a working group composed of 10 people representing a diversity of EDF members, led by executive committee member Klaus Lachwitz. The group, supported by the EDF secretariat, also undertook consultations with the full membership, governing bodies and legal professionals:
- The Constitutional Working Group worked during 2022 and 2023 to assess the current statutes, identify possible areas to strengthen them and create a range of proposals and suggestions.
- These proposals were presented and discussed at each Board and Executive Committee meeting and during the General Assembly of 2023.
- The proposals took into account two membership-wide surveys where all members had the opportunity to share their opinions.
- The proposals were supported by consultations with a legal firm to ensure the changes comply with Belgian law, where the Forum is legally registered. Two notaries were also consulted.
- The final proposal was discussed at EDF’s Board meeting in March 2024, and a majority of board members voted to put the proposals forward for a vote during the General Assembly in May.
The General Assembly approved the changes on 12 May 2024.
Next steps
The EDF secretariat, together with the governing bodies, will apply for the changes in statutes with the Belgian authorities.