I. Introduction

Newropeans is born from the Newropeans Democracy Marathon project which allowed more than 120 European civil society organizations to successfully cooperate in setting up conferences about the future of Europe in 100 cities of 25 countries in just 8 months.

By allowing about 10.000 citizens to take part in this unique trans-European political debate, the various partners of the Newropeans Democracy Marathon did pave the way for the democratisation of the European Union.

The process we have been pioneering is based upon five main ideas:

1. with 500 millions citizens coming from about 30 different countries, tomorrow’s EU represents a new challenge for democracy in terms of size and in terms of diversity
2. democratisation of EU as a grass-root process which requires the training of both euro-citizens and euro-elites
3. cooperation between existing organizations, through the motivation of individual members/executives, directly implementing this cooperation
4. fast implementation in order to keep initial momentum, based upon Internet preparation, communication and promotion
5. low cost and high added value rationale allowing each partner to input the project without straining its resources.

The success of our first cooperation and the growing demand for debate about future of the European Union lead the participants of the Newropeans 2003 Congress gathered in Paris on October 18th to propose series of new actions and to call for a basic charter setting the rules for common actions and enhanced cooperation.

II. Status

This Charter is to be used as a gentlemen’s agreement, describing the common rules accepted by those who are becoming partners of Newropeans projects.

III. Newropeans Partnership – Nature and Conditions

1. Newropeans is open to all potential partners, both existing organizations and groups of individuals, public or private, provide they want to contribute to the democratisation of the European Union.

2. There is no membership fee for becoming a Newropeans partner.

3. Newropeans has no budget and no funds. It solely relies on partners co-funding of projects and costs on a voluntary basis.

4. Each partner must be actively involved in the cooperation or assistance in implementation of the projects within each year, otherwise it is not anymore part of Newropeans. This condition aims at preventing Newropeans of becoming fast a large network with only a few active partners.

IV. Newropeans Partners - Benefits

5. The Newropeans partners:

a) have access to all Newropeans activities and to Newropeans newsletters.
b) can publicize their own activities trough Newropeans communication tools as well as website.
c) benefit a two week free banner on Newropeans Magazine in order to publicize ones’ project.

6. Newropeans Partners are members of the Newropeans Partners List where all Newropeans matters are discussed and decided upon.

7. Newropeans partners may take part free of charge at the annual Newropeans Congress and to the annual Newropeans Grand Prix Ceremony. They are the exclusive part of the Newropeans Grand Prix Academy which every year vote to select the Grand prix winners.

8. Newropeans partners benefit special opportunities to take part or access events/projects organized by other Newropeans partners. These opportunities are dealt on a case by case basis by Newropeans with its relevant partners.

V. Newropeans Coordination Process

9. Newropeans is coordinated by a Newropeans Coordination Team consisting of up to 20 members, voted at the occasion of Newropeans Congress. This Coordination Team is made up in priority of all Newropeans Projects Leaders.
Its composition must include at least 8 different European nationalities.

10. The President of Newropeans is President of the Coordination Team, which he proposed to vote by the Newropeans Congress. Two or more different teams may be in competition on this occasion.

11. The Coordination Team aims at developing Newropeans and ensures that the Charter’s rules are respected by all partners. It represents Newropeans.

12. In case when a groups of individuals want to become Newropeans partner, they can do it by creating a local Newropeans Node. This new organization will be treated like any other Newropeans partners. This Newropeans Node will have to be validated every year by Newropeans. A Node must organize or actively take part in Newropeans activities every year, otherwise it will loose its status as Newropeans Node

VI. Charter’s Modification

13. Modifications of this Charter can only be made at the occasion of a Newropeans Congress, if approved at a majority of 60% of Newropeans Partners participating at this congress.