(as amended and supplemented by the General Assembly on 12 November 2025)

General information

EENCE brings together experts and organizations working in the field of civic education in the region.

The mission of the Network is to have a tangible contribution to the sustainable development of the civil society in the Eastern Partnership region and Russia through widening the citizenship education sphere and developing the capacity of the institutions and experts in the field.

The key areas of the Network’s activities are:

1. Strengthening the capacity of organizations and experts in the field of civic education through advanced training for managers and educators, exchange of work experience, documentation and multiplication of best practices through training, exchange of experience and documentation of best practices, joint research.

2. Promotion of the values ​​of civic education and the impact on decision-making in all areas of society through common campaigns, dialogue and discussion platforms, research, participation in the work of other networks, international institutions.

3. Strengthening the sustainability of the network through the development of internal communication and public relations, fundraising, improvement of membership policies and strengthening of decision-making structures.

1. Membership

1.1. Members of the Network may include organizations or experts implementing programs, projects, studies, and other activities in the field of civic education.

1.2. The Network has fixed membership.

1.3. Member organizations are represented in the Network by their authorized representatives.

1.4. To obtain membership in the Network, an application in the form of consent to the Network’s Memorandum must be submitted.

1.5. The decision on admission to membership is made by the Coordination Council at a meeting held at least once every three months.

1.6. The Coordination Council maintains the register of members according to procedures established by the Council.

1.7. The decision on expulsion from membership is made by the Coordination Council.

1.8. A member may be expelled from the Network in the following cases:

– for actions discrediting the Network, as well as for insulting the dignity and business reputation of individual members of the Network;

– for gross violation of this Regulation.

1.9. A decision on expulsion from the Network may be appealed at the General Assembly by submitting an application addressed to the General Assembly not less than one month before its meeting.

1.10. As a rule, one month before the regular General Assembly at which the elective bodies of the Network are elected, re-registration of members of the Network is carried out.

1.11. The timing and procedure of re-registration are determined by the Coordination Council.

Members of the Network who have not passed re-registration are considered to have withdrawn from the Network.

1.12. Members of the Network have the right to:

– elect and be elected to the elective bodies of the Network;

– participate in the activities of the Network, submit proposals on matters related to the Network’s activities for consideration by its bodies;

– receive necessary information on the Network’s activities;

– withdraw from the Network based on a written statement submitted to the Coordination Council.

1.13. Members of the Network are obliged to:

– comply with the provisions of this Regulation;

– contribute to the implementation of the Network’s goals and objectives;

– contribute to the activities of the Network;

– promptly inform the Coordination Council of any changes in their contact information, as well as of circumstances related to or affecting their membership in the Network.

2. General Assembly of network members

2.1. The highest governing body of the Network is the General Assembly of Network Members (hereinafter – the General Assembly).

2.2. The General Assembly is held as necessary, but at least once a year.

The General Assembly may be held in person, online, or in a hybrid format, as decided by the convening body. The voting procedure should ensure transparency of procedure and security of voters.

2.4. The General Assembly is convened by decision of the Coordination Council on its own initiative, or upon the initiative of the Audit Commission (Auditor), or at the request of at least one-third of the total number of Network members.

2.5. If the Coordination Council fails to convene the General Assembly within one month after receiving the initiative of the Audit Commission (Auditor) or the request of at least one-third of Network members, the authority to convene the General Assembly passes to the Audit Commission (Auditor).

2.6. Information about the date, place, and format of the General Assembly is communicated to Network members through internal communication channels, as a rule, two months before the meeting.

2.7. The General Assembly is deemed valid if at least 25 percent of Network members are present.

2.8. Decisions of the General Assembly are made by a simple majority of votes of those present, unless otherwise determined by the General Assembly.

This provision does not apply to matters decided by rating-based voting.

2.9. Voting procedures not established by this Regulation are determined by the General Assembly.

2.10. The General Assembly has the right to make decisions on all matters of the Network’s activities and to annul, amend, or supplement any decision made by other bodies of the Network.

2.11. The General Assembly:

– approves the Network’s development strategy;

– determines the number of members of the Coordination Council, Executive Bureau, and Audit Body (Audit Commission or Auditor);

– elects the Coordination Council, Executive Bureau, and Audit Commission for their term of office;

– holds by-elections for members of these bodies in case of early termination of their powers, upon the initiative of corresponding elected bodies. By-elections may be held either at the conventions of the General Assembly, or between them through online voting. In this case, the voting procedure is determined by the Coordination Council;

– approves the report of the Coordination Council on the Network’s work;

– approves the report of the Audit Commission (Auditor);

– takes note of reports on the activities of the Network’s working groups and project teams;

– introduces amendments and additions to this Regulation;

– makes decisions on the reorganization or liquidation of the Network;

– decides on any other matters related to the Network’s activities.

2.12. Decisions of the General Assembly are recorded in minutes and communicated to Network members within 14 days from the date of adoption.

3. Elective Bodies of the Network

3.1. Coordination Council

3.1.1. The Coordination Council is a permanent governing body of the Network, elected by the General Assembly for a term of two years.

3.1.2. The Coordination Council is formed from among the Network members.

3.1.3. The Coordination Council holds meetings as necessary, but at least once every quarter.

3.1.4. The Coordination Council is competent to make decisions if more than half of its members are present at the meeting.

3.1.5. Decisions of the Coordination Council are made by a simple majority of votes of the members present.

3.1.6. Members of the Executive Bureau participate in the meetings of the Coordination Council with advisory voting rights. Members of the Audit Commission (Auditor) have the right to attend Coordination Council meetings as observers.

3.1.7. At least 25% of the members of the Coordination Council must be renewed every two years.

3.1.8. The Coordination Council:

– convenes General Assembly and determines its agenda, the procedure of its conduct, determines the procedure for nominating candidates to elective bodies;

– organizes the process of developing and revising the Network’s development strategy;

– registers the establishment of working groups and project teams of the Network;

– initiates and provides expert support for the preparation of the Network’s projects, approves projects’ concepts;

– is responsible for monitoring and evaluating the Network’s activities, and for providing internal and external reporting;

– works with members of the Network and attracts new members;

– makes decisions on admission of new members to the Network and on exclusion of the members from the Network;

– maintains records of Network members;

– resolves ethical disputes and conflicts within the Network;

– represents the Network externally;

– establishes and maintains partnerships of the Network and works with donors;

– decides on the creation of a Secretariat consisting of hired staff to support the work of the Executive Bureau, approves its regulations, including its structure, functions, and accountability;

– makes decisions on other issues of the Network’s activities not falling within the exclusive competence of other bodies.

3.1.9. The procedure of work, structure of the Coordination Council, and its powers in representing the Network externally are determined at its first meeting after election.

3.1.10. The decision on approval of the Coordination Council’s working procedure is recorded in minutes and communicated to Network members, the Executive Bureau, and the Audit Commission (Auditor) within seven working days after the meeting.

3.1.11. Decisions of the Coordination Council are communicated to Network members, the Executive Bureau, and the Audit Commission (Auditor) within seven working days after the meeting.

3.1.12. Members of the Coordination Council do not receive remuneration for performing their functions in the Coordination Council.

A member of the Coordination Council shall not participate in decision-making on matters in which they have a conflict of interest.

3.2. Executive Bureau

3.2.1. The Executive Bureau is a permanent executive body of the Network, elected by the General Assembly for a term of two years.

3.2.2. The Executive Bureau is formed from among the Network members.

3.2.3. The Executive Bureau:

– organizes technical preparation and holding of General Assemblies;

– provides organizational support to the Coordination Council, working groups, and project teams in their activities;

– is responsible for the development and implementation of Network projects;

– provides technical assistance to the Coordination Council on issues of membership admission and termination;

– organizes internal and external communication;

– organizes the work of the Secretariat and accountant (if available);

– participates in the work of the Coordination Council with advisory voting rights;

– organizes the Network’s day-to-day activities.

3.2.4. In agreement with the Coordination Council, it determines its own structure and working procedures and informs the Audit Commission (Auditor) and Network members accordingly.

3.3. Audit Body

3.3.1. The control over the Network’s activities is exercised by the Audit Body, elected by the General Assembly for a term of two years.

3.3.2. By decision of the General Assembly, the Audit Body may be collective (Audit Commission) or individual (Auditor).

3.3.3. Audit Commission

3.3.3.1. Meetings of the Audit Commission are held as necessary, but at least once a year, and are valid with the participation of at least two-thirds of its members.

3.3.3.2. Decisions of the Audit Commission are made by a majority of votes.

3.3.3.3. Meetings of the Audit Commission are recorded in minutes.

3.3.3.4. The Auditor conducts audits as necessary, but at least once a year, and documents them in the form of reports.

3.3.4. The Audit Commission (Auditor):

– audits the Network’s financial resources;

– monitors compliance with this Regulation by the Network’s bodies;

– may participate in the work of the elective bodies of the Network as an observer;

– submits reports within its competence to the General Assembly.

3.3.5. The Audit Commission (Auditor) independently determines its structure and procedures of work.

3.3.6. In the event of a conflict of interest, a member of the Audit Body must declare it and shall not participate in the review of substantive or financial activities related to the matter in question.

4. Network Activities

4.1 Working Groups

4.1.1 Thematic working groups are created and work within the Network. The theme of the working group can cover any pressing issues related to civic education and relevant to the mission and priorities of the Network.

4.1.2. Each registered member of the network has the right to initiate the creation of only one thematic working group per year. A working group is considered created if it includes at least three people from three countries of Eastern Europe and Russia. Information on the creation of a working group is sent to all members of the Network with a proposal to register in the group and join its activities for the next 6 month after the formation of the group. Members of the organizations that have signed the memorandum, have the right to join different thematic working groups. However, one person has the right to become a member of no more than 3 working groups, including the working groups where he/she is a leader. The thematic group is managed by the initiator of its creation. Additionally, he/she makes a decision about the admission of new members in the working group. The coordination council can change this decision, for example, in case the group will be joined by people who have not signed the memorandum.

New members can join the existing working groups within 6 months after the formation of the group. To do this he/she should send a request to WG leader and fill out an online form for joining the WG. The completed form should be sent to the board by the leader of WG. The leader shall notify the Council of the admission of new members to his Working Group.

Network members can switch to other working groups (which were not indicated during the registration process), if there are serious reasons. To do this, it is necessary to notify the leader of the WG from which the participant leaves, also send a request to the address of its leader to join the new group and once again fill out the online form for joining the WG. The completed form should be sent to the board by WG leader.

4.1.3. The date of the official work of the thematic working group is considered the day when a notice of the beginning of the work of the group is sent to the common email address of the registered network members (google groups).

4.1.4. The Coordination Council has the right to create operational working groups to solve the problems of communication, management, fundraising and other important issues for the development of the network.

4.1.5. Information on active working groups and their composition is available on the website: www.eence.eu  and is updated after each annual meeting of network members.

 4.1.6 The activities of working groups are financed through open competitions held within the network, as well as through funds attracted independently by group members.

4.1.7. The results of the activities of each working group over the past year should be presented at the annual conference in oral or written form.

4.1.8. The working group ends its activities by decision of the Network members or if the group does not provide information on the results of its activities at the annual general meeting of network members.

4.2 Project Team / Consortia

 4.2.1 For the implementation of joint projects within the Network, consortia may be created, which include member organizations of the Network. Any member of the Network can initiate the creation of a consortium and informs the coordination council about its goals and key activities within the framework of a project that is planned to be implemented within the consortium.The decision to establish a consortium is approved by the Network’s Council.

4.2.2 Management of the project implemented by the consortium is carried out by one of the consortium organizations, which provides financial management, monitoring and evaluation of the project, and reporting on its implementation. Other tasks related to the implementation of the project are agreed and shared between representatives of other organizations and experts who are part of the project team.

4.2.3 The results of the activities of the consortia are presented at the annual general meetings of network members. The consortium coordinating organization ensures the visibility of the consortium’s activities for all network members (publishes information on the progress and results of the project on the website, in social networks, newsletters and other information resources of the Network).