MEMBERS OF EPIA

Full Members:

• Full Members are all legal entities, including their departments and branches operating within the photovoltaic industry sector whose place of business is in a European country.
  
  
• Each Full Member shall be entitled to one or more votes depending on the membership category to which it adheres in accordance with the provisions of Article 15 of EPIA's Articles of Incorporation. In accordance with Article 6.5 EPIA's Articles of Incorporation each Full Member has the possibility to adhere to a higher membership category than described in Article 6.5 and by paying the higher membership fee corresponding with such membership category for a period of at least two years it being provided that one can increase maximum two membership categories and with an effective date of such higher membership category starting in the year that follows the year in which the request to join a higher membership category was made. The Board of Directors of EPIA shall record the membership category to which a member adheres and shall draft a list mentioning for each member the membership category to which it adheres before each General Meeting of Members of EPIA.

Associate Members:

• Associate Members are all legal entities which are partly or wholly active in the photovoltaic field and who qualify on the basis of their activities as: research organizations, quality control and testing organisations, consultants, governmental institutions or others.
  
  
• Associate Members do not have any voting rights and may not be elected as a member of the Board of Directors of EPIA.
   
• Associate Members will have the same rights as Full Members as regards to the receipt of information, newsletters, bulletins and documentation issued by the Secretariat of EPIA.

To top

• Applications for membership must be submitted, in written form, to the President or the General Secretary of EPIA.
  
  
• The application must contain key-information regarding the following:  The applicant's activities, its organization as such, the main contact persons’ contact details and the worldwide turnover of its most recently ended financial year related to photovoltaics. The applicant must provide a copy of its most recent articles of incorporation/statutes and of its most recent annual accounts together with its application form.
  
  
• All application forms received by the President or the General Secretary of EPIA are submitted for approval to the Admission Committee.
  
  
• The composition of the Admission Committee is identical to the composition of the Board of Directors of EPIA.
  
  
• The admission of new members is subject to a unanimous decision of the Admission Committee.
  
  
• The Admission Committee reserves the right to refuse an application for membership without the need to justify its decision.
  
  
• Accepted members shall be notified within 30 days by the EPIA Secretariat and informed of the effective date of affiliation.
  In the event that admission is refused by the Admission Committee, the candidate may appeal against such decision with the General Meeting of Members who will take a final decision at its next meeting.
  
  
• A member shall only enjoy its full membership rights if its membership fee has been paid in full.

To top

• The Full Members of EPIA must pay an annual membership fee determined by the General Meeting of EPIA upon proposal of the Board of Directors and in accordance with the provisions of Article 6.5 of EPIA's Articles of Incorporation. Associate Members of EPIA must pay an annual membership fee determined by the General Meeting of EPIA upon proposal of the Board of Directors and in accordance with the provisions of Article 11 of EPIA's Articles of Incorporation.
  
  
• The annual membership fee of each individual member will be determined on the basis of their most recently available worldwide turnover related to photovoltaics. EPIA Board may propose, if necessary, an increase in the membership fees at any time. In special emergencies, the EPIA Board may set an additional extraordinary fee.
  
  
• The membership year runs from January 1 (or in case of new members for the first time as from the date of admission) to December 31 of each year.
  
  
• Membership fees are due annually upon the commencement of each membership year and are payable upon presentation of the membership fee invoice. Membership fees are due in full for each started membership year and cannot be claimed back in case of termination of membership during the year. The entire amount of the membership fee will be due and payable as from the first day of the membership year.

To top

• Members who have paid their membership fee of the relevant membership year will be entitled to participate in and exercise their membership rights at the General Meeting of members of EPIA and all other membership rights.
  
  
• Each EPIA member shall:
  
  
  • Act in a manner compatible with the purpose and aims of EPIA;
    
    
  • Observe the obligations imposed by EPIA's Articles of Incorporation and all resolutions adopted by EPIA's General Meeting of members and Board of Directors;
    
    
  • Pay in a timely manner all membership fees relating to its membership;
    
    
  • Keep its constituent bodies fully informed of the work and progress of EPIA;
    
    
  • Keep EPIA informed of all major developments in its own company c.q. organisation and country, as well as of any changes in the company’s contact persons or their contact details during the course of the membership.
    
    
  • Inform EPIA each year in a faithful manner about its annual global turn-over in photovoltaics in view of determining the membership category and the amount of the membership fee in line with article 6.5 of EPIA's Articles of Incorporation. Upon request of EPIA each member shall provide information regarding its annual global turn-over in photovoltaics within ultimately thirty days following such request.
    
    
• Members that have not paid their annual membership fee will not be able to exercise their membership rights, notwithstanding their automatic exclusion in case of failure to pay after expiry of a fifteen days notice period in accordance with article 9 of EPIA's Articles of Incorporation.

By submitting this application form the undersigned unconditionally agrees to, in case of acceptance of its membership, always abide by EPIA's Articles of Incorporation and all resolutions adopted by EPIA's General Meeting of members and Board of Directors.

To top

• Upon termination of membership, all membership rights will immediately and automatically cease, without prejudice to the obligation of the terminated member to pay any unpaid membership fees.
  
  
• Membership fees that have not been paid remain due in full for the membership year in which the termination of membership (e.g. as a result of resignation or exclusion) occurred.
  
  
• Membership fees already paid cannot be claimed back and will not be reimbursed, irrespective of the date of termination.
  
  
• Members can resign by sending a written notice via registered letter or e-mail to the General Secretary or the President of EPIA.
  
  
• Members can be excluded from membership by the General Meeting of members. Members shall be automatically excluded from membership in case of failure to pay their membership fee after expiry of a fifteen days notice period in accordance with article 9 of EPIA's Articles of Incorporation.

To top