Society Statute

A scientific society is hereby established under the name «CYPRUS SOCIETY OF VASCULAR AND ENDOVASCULAR SURGERY» (CSVES / ΚΕΑΕΧ), with its registered office in the city of Nicosia.

The Society has its own seal and emblem used on all official documents and certificates.

The seal is rectangular, bearing in four lines the letters and words: ΚΕΑΕΧ, Κυπριακή Εταιρεία, Αγγειακής, και Ενδαγγειακής Χειρουργικής.

The emblem consists of three circles. The outer circle is formed by three rows of broken red lines. The two inner interlocking circles are of equal size — one yellow and one blue. Red symbolises the arterial vascular network, yellow the lymphatic, and blue the venous.

For international cooperation purposes the Society uses the name «CYPRUS SOCIETY OF VASCULAR AND ENDOVASCULAR SURGERY» (CSVES).

The objectives of the Society are:

1. The promotion and scientific advancement of the specialty of Vascular Surgery in Cyprus, encompassing both Vascular and Endovascular Surgery.

2. The strengthening and development of scientific research in the field of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, independently or in collaboration with Cypriot or foreign organisations and international bodies.

3. Submission of proposals regarding the qualifications required for the specialty of Vascular Surgery, its practice, and the organisation of vascular surgical units and clinics.

4. Continuous care for the information and training of Cypriot Vascular Surgeons.

5. Cooperation with the competent Ministries, medical associations, related scientific or professional bodies, higher educational institutions, and healthcare organisations.

6. Safeguarding and promoting the right of the vascular surgeon as the most appropriately trained physician to manage the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of arterial, venous and lymphatic conditions.

7. Merging, absorbing or accepting the operations and assets of any affiliated or related society, club or association.

8. The activities of the Society do not relate to minors.

The objectives of the Society are pursued through the following activities:

1. Organisation of meetings, conferences, lectures, continuing medical education courses and other scientific events.

2. Planning and implementation of research programmes for the development of vascular and endovascular surgery in Cyprus and worldwide.

3. Cooperation with other Cypriot, foreign and international scientific societies and organisations.

4. Organisation or co-organisation of Pan-Cypriot or International conferences in Cyprus or abroad.

5. Any other lawful means as decided by the Board of Directors and the General Assembly.

The Society may establish committees composed of members or non-members for the pursuit of its objectives.

1. Full members of the Society are physicians holding a Medical degree from a recognised University together with a recognised specialty title in Vascular Surgery.

2. Membership is granted upon submission of an application to the Board of Directors and approval by absolute majority, accompanied by a detailed curriculum vitae and the necessary qualification certificates.

3. Persons convicted of any abuse in the context of involvement in the operation of a non-profit organisation or of an offence involving dishonesty or moral turpitude may in no case be registered as members.

4. Members are designated as Full, Honorary, Associate, Emeritus or Probationary. Honorary members are proclaimed by unanimous vote of the Board in recognition of exceptional services. They are exempt from all financial obligations but do not have voting rights at General Assemblies.

5. Full members upon reaching the age of 75 are awarded Emeritus status. Emeritus members retain voting rights but may not stand for election to the Board.

6. Proclamation of an Emeritus member as Honorary exempts them from any financial obligations while retaining voting rights.

Every member of the Society undertakes all obligations provided for in this statute for their respective category of membership, which they accept in their entirety.

1. All members of the Society, unless otherwise provided, have equal rights and obligations, including the right to elect and be elected.

2. Membership status is non-transferable and cannot be inherited.

a) Probationary members are registrars in vascular surgery. They have no voting rights and may not stand for election to the Board.

b) Emeritus members have voting rights but may not stand for election to the Board.

c) Associate members are elected by the Board with a 2/3 majority. They may be physicians of other related specialties. They have no voting rights and may not stand for election.

d) A two-member committee of registrars is constitutionally established, elected by registrars in vascular and endovascular surgery, with the right to attend Board meetings in an advisory capacity without voting rights.

Admission: Admission of new members is always permitted in accordance with the prescribed procedures.

Resignation: Members are entitled to resign from the Society at any time.

Expulsion: A member may be expelled if their conduct, acts or omissions bring disrepute or damage to the Society.

A member whose conduct is deemed incompatible with the principles of the Society is provisionally expelled by Board decision and referred to the next General Assembly for final expulsion.

Deletion of members may occur for the following reasons: 1. Written request or voluntary resignation. 2. Delay in payment of subscription for more than three (3) years. 3. Violation of medical professional ethics. 4. Acts contrary to the statute provisions. 5. Breach of binding decisions of the Board or General Assembly. 6. Deletion from the Medical Association.

The decision for final deletion is taken by a 3/4 majority of the members present at the General Assembly.

A member who resigns or is expelled has no claim on the Society's assets and must pay their subscriptions until the end of the financial year in which the event occurs.

All full members who have fulfilled their financial obligations have the right to participate in General Assemblies and to be elected to all governing or supervisory bodies.

Emeritus members in good financial standing have the right to participate in General Assemblies and to vote, but not to stand for election to governing bodies.

The Governing Bodies of the Society are: 1.1 The General Assembly of Members. 1.2 The Board of Directors of the Society.

1. The General Assembly is the supreme body of the Society and decides on all matters not falling within the competence of another body.

2. The Assembly elects the members of the administration, appoints auditors, decides on the admission or expulsion of members, approval of the balance sheet, amendment of the statute and dissolution of the Society.

3. General Assemblies are quorate when at least ½ of all full and emeritus members are present. If fewer members attend, a new Assembly is held within 8 days and is quorate with 1/3 of members present. Participation via teleconference is permitted subject to Board approval.

4. Assemblies are not public. The Board may exclude members who have not fulfilled their financial obligations.

1. The Assembly convenes annually in January upon the Board's invitation: 1.1 To hear the Board's report and, at the biennial Ordinary Assembly, to proceed with elections. 1.2 To vote on the budget and approve the previous year's accounts.

2. An Extraordinary General Assembly is convened by the President following a Board decision or written request from 1/5 of the members.

3. Resolutions are adopted by majority of those present. Votes on matters of confidence or personal issues must be by secret ballot.

A decision to amend the statute, dissolve or change the purpose of the Society requires the consent of three-quarters (¾) of all members.

1. The Society is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors: a President, Vice-President, Secretary-General, Special Secretary, Treasurer and two members.

2. The General Assembly elects every two years, by secret ballot, the President — who cannot be re-elected for two consecutive terms — six (6) Board members, and one alternate member.

3. The Board is composed of Cypriot citizens or citizens of EU member states who meet the full member requirements. The term of office is two years.

4. The Board meets at least every two months. A quorum consists of more than ½ of its members.

1. The Board is obliged to diligently manage the Society's affairs in compliance with the laws of the Republic.

2. The Board must maintain a fully updated members' register, reviewed at least once per year.

3. The Board must notify the Registrar within one (1) month if membership falls below twenty (20).

4. Any amendment to the statute must be submitted to the Registrar within thirty (30) days.

5. Within the first quarter of each year the Board notifies the Registrar of membership changes, active Board members, and whether the minimum number of General Assemblies was held.

1. The President represents the Society before courts and authorities, convenes the Board and members, authorises payments, and signs official documents.

2. The Vice-President substitutes the President in their absence or incapacity.

3. The Secretary-General handles correspondence, maintains archives and seals, keeps the minutes register, and convenes members on the President's orders.

4. The Special Secretary drafts and signs minutes, keeps scientific records, and deputises for the Secretary-General.

5. The Treasurer handles all receipts and payments, maintains accounting books and issues receipts. May independently process receipts up to €5,000 and payments up to €300. Funds exceeding €500 must be deposited in a bank account.

Vacant positions on the Board of Directors are filled as provided for in this statute.

Financial oversight is entrusted to a three-member audit committee of full members. If annual income exceeds €40,000, accounts are prepared by a certified auditor; otherwise by an accountant or other competent person.

1. The Society does not own any movable or immovable property.

2. The Society's income derives from: 1. Membership registration fees. 2. Annual membership subscriptions. 3. Donations and contributions approved by the competent authority. 4. Journal subscriptions and publication revenue. 5. Financial proceeds from Society events. 6. Grants, subsidies and donations from state or EU funds. 7. Any other lawful income.

Financial obligations (registration fee and annual subscription) are determined and revised by the Board.

1. The financial year begins on 1 January and ends on 31 December of each year.

2. The budget is prepared by the Board and submitted for approval to the annual General Assembly.

1. The Society is dissolved if the number of regular members falls below 20.

2. Dissolution requires the consent of three-quarters (¾) of all members.

3. Upon dissolution, after settling any debts, the remaining assets shall pass to a society with similar objectives and shall in no case be distributed among members.

4. Upon dissolution the Society is placed in liquidation in accordance with Article 25 of Law 57/72.

1. No remuneration of any kind is paid for services rendered by any member or officer.

2. The Society is represented judicially and extrajudicially by the President of the Board.

3. The Society is liable to third parties for any unlawful acts or omissions of its bodies or employees carried out in the performance of their duties.

Any matter not provided for by this statute shall be decided by the General Assembly within the provisions of the Associations and Foundations Law of 2017 and 2018 (104(I)/2017 and 76(I)/2018), whose provisions shall prevail in every case of ambiguity and/or contradiction.