European Society for Moral Philosophy (ESMP)

The European Society for Moral Philosophy (ESMP) promotes the discipline and profession of moral philosophy in Europe. It is established in 2016 and brings together scholars from the whole of Europe, as well as collaborators from the rest of the world, to foster collaboration and exchange of studies in moral philosophy.

Statutes

Chapter 1: Nature, aims and duration of the Society

ART. 1– The European Society for Moral Philosophy (ESMP) – hereafter “Society” – is an association of European scholars working in moral philosophy. Its members come from all European countries.

ART. 2– The aims of the Society are as follows: a) to promote moral philosophy in Europe; b) to organize regular colloquia; c) to inform all members of the Society, and scholars interested in moral philosophy (included Foundations Associations, Departments, Centres for research) about the activities of the Society and the researches, studies and conferences concerning moral philosophy; d) to further contacts among scholars in moral philosophy in Europe; e) to promote international (also not-European) philosophical exchanges on all levels.

ART. 3– The Society may receive donations and subsidies from public institutions, as governments or intergovernmental organizations, and private institutions, individuals included. These funds may be restricted to specific tasks in the way to support collaborations to the Society, projects of research, or publications, or to organize colloquia, insofar as these activities are clearly connected with the aims of the Society and are meant to support the progress of philosophical studies and their communication to the world of learning and research. In the cases outlined above, the Society may either undertake the execution of such activities on its own or delegate them to a competent organization.

ART. 4– The Society may also receive patronage by private and public institutions. The Society can also give the patronage to private and public institutions, with approval of the President and the Board.

ART. 5– ESMP is an Association satisfying the norms of articles 36ff. of Italian Civil Code. Its headquarters are in Milan (Italy). By request of the members of the Society and with the authorization of the Board, the Society can be hosted at universities and foundations.

ART. 6– The duration of the Society is unlimited.

Chapter 2: Composition of the Society

ART. 7– Individual persons as well as regularly constituted philosophical societies or associations may apply for admission to the Society.

ART. 8– Applications for admission of new members shall be acted on by the Board of the Society.

ART. 9– Membership in the Society may be terminated: a) by resignation; b) by exclusion, pronounced by the President and the Board, on the grounds of: 1. failure to observe the Statutes;
2. persistent opposition to the realization of the aims of the Society.

Chapter 3: Functioning of the Society

ART. 10– The Society operates through the President, the Director, the Board, the Steering Committee, and the General Assembly.

ART. 11– The President and the Director of the Society assume the following functions:
a) chair the sessions of the General Assembly; b) chair the meetings of the Steering Committee, and consult its members by correspondence;
c) represent the Society or have himself represented, in cases where this is required by the activity of the Society;
d) order expenditures of the Society within the statutory scope of the budget.

ART. 12– The President represents the Association. He is elected for three years, and may be re-elected twice. The election of the President takes place through the General Assembly with absolute majority. If no candidate obtains such majority in the first ballot, a second ballot will take place among the two candidates having received the highest number of votes at the first ballot. The one who receives the higher number of voters preferences in this ballot is elected.

ART. 13– The Director has powers of ordinary and extraordinary administration, and represents the Association. Acts of ordinary administration may be delegated by the Director.

ART. 14– The Board is composed by the Director, the General Secretary, and the Treasurer. The Board is the administrative body of the Society, and is elected for 7 years. It could be re-elected.

ART. 15– The Steering Committee is chaired by the President and the Director of the Society. Its tasks are: a) to update the research in moral philosophy considering: 1. projects in progress; 2. publications concluded, in progress and announced; 3. the ongoing debate; b) to elaborate a cultural proposal; c) to report publications concluded, in progress and announced; d) to report events concerning moral philosophy planned in Europe; f) to propose activities concerning the research in moral philosophy, such as conferences, workshops, talks, lectures, courses, summer and winter school; f) to supervise the execution of activities involved in the programme of the Society; g) to fix the membership fees, with the approval of the President and the Board.

ART. 16– The Steering Committee is composed by a minimum of 7 members and a maximum of 25 members. It is elected by the General Assembly for three years. Each member of the Steering Committee can be re-elected. No more than four members of the Scientific Committee may belong to the same country.

ART. 17–  The Steering Committee approve the balance of the Association.

ART. 18– The General Assembly is chaired by the President and the Director of the Society. The decision of its convocation is up to the President and the Director. The Director, after consulting the Steering Committee, prepares the agenda and has the minutes of the debates drawn up.

ART. 19– Decisions of the General Assembly are made by the absolute majority of those voting, except for amendments of the Statutes, for which a 2/3 majority is required.

ART. 20– The General Assembly proceeds, if required, to a revision of clauses of these Statutes, as laid before it by the Board.

ART. 21– The Society, upon suggestion of the President and the Board, may collaborate with people and public and private non-European institutions.