European Society for Paediatric Research

Section Neonatology

CONSTITUTION

Article 1: Name and affiliation

From September 2001, The Society, formerly known as the ESPR Working Group for Neonatology, is called the European Society for Neonatology (ESN). The ESN is affiliated to the European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR) and responsible to the European Academy of Paediatrics with respect to matters of training and accreditation.

Article 2: Purpose

The aims of the ESN are threefold:

To promote research in neonatology by working within the structure of the ESPR. The purpose can also be achieved by directly stimulating research and education concerning diseases of the newborn and will include the selection of papers concerning neonatology submitted for presentation to the Annual ESPR meeting.
To promote educational opportunities for trainee neonatologists and continuing professional development for established neonatologists.
To work with the European Union through the European Academy of Paediatrics to harmonise training in neonatology across Europe through

the development and updating of a common syllabus for neonatal medicine
the development of common methods to assess the competence of trainees
the accreditation of neonatal units as training centres for neonatology

Article 3: Membership

Individuals may become members of the ESN by direct application and the payment of an annual subscription, to be determined by the Council of the ESN and confirmed by the membership at the Annual Business Meeting (see below). Individuals may choose to join the ESPR and ESN or the ESN alone. Those choosing the latter may also choose to receive an annual subscription to Pediatric Research at reduced rate on payment of a full membership subscription.

Membership is open to:

Practising neonatologists or trainees committed to a career in neonatology in Europe.
Any person who is active or senior member of ESPR and who is involved in clinical and experimental neonatal research (for these individuals no extra subscription is required).

Those members, whose subscription lapses in the 12 months before the Annual Business Meeting, shall be deemed to have resigned.

Article 4: Organisation

The ESN has its own Annual Business Meeting which will be held during the annual ESPR scientific meeting.
The Annual Business Meeting shall make decisions by simple majority of the votes of the members of ESN present.
All members of the ESN shall have the right to participate and speak at the annual meeting.
The ESN council must circulate the Agenda for the Annual Business Meeting well in advance of the date to allow time for members to raise items for discussion. The council shall decide the final agenda which must be circulated 4 weeks before the meeting. Written proposals for the agenda submitted by members at least two months before the annual business meeting must be included in the agenda. The ESN council will decide whether proposals received after this deadline will be included in the agenda.
The President of the ESN will chair the meeting. If he/she is unable to do so, a member of the council may deputise.
The President and active officers of the ESN (Officer for Training; Officer for Education) will submit annual reports for approval by the Council.
Any proposal concerning changes in the constitution or dissolution of the Society shall be approved only if at least three-quarters of the active members present at the annual business meeting vote in favour. Due notice and prior circulation of proposed changes must occur with the Draft Agenda circulated with the invitations to the ESPR Annual Scientific Meeting.

Article 5: The Council

The ESN Council shall comprise a President, Officers for Training and Education, respectively, and 2 other council members.
The President and two officers of the ESN should be members of both the ESPR and ESN and will be members of the ESPR Council ex-officio.
Each member of the Council should serve one term of three years; re-election for the officers’ posts is possible for one further term. Council members who are not officers of the Society must be members of the ESN, but may not be members of ESPR.
Candidates for membership of the council must be proposed by at least two members. The candidates shall be elected at the annual business meeting by a simple majority of the votes cast. Only ESN members may vote.
Those four members of the council who do not hold office as President must be of different nationalities.
If the President is unable to complete the term, the remaining Council members will elect one of their number to serve in the role of Acting-President until a new President is elected at the subsequent Annual Business Meeting. If any other council member is unable to complete his/her term of office, new members will be elected at the next annual business meeting.
The Council should meet on three occasions each year and as directed by extraordinary circumstances after due notice.