Statute

Chapter I — General provisions

§1 — The Association operates under the name Stowarzyszenie Kultury i Współpracy Polsko – Tureckiej TURKPOL, hereinafter referred to as the "Association". The Association operates in accordance with the Polish Act of 7 April 1989 on Associations and the provisions of this statute.

§2 — The area of the Association's activity is the Republic of Poland, with particular reference to the capital city of Warsaw and the Mazovian Voivodeship. To fulfil its statutory objectives, the Association may conduct activities abroad in accordance with local law. The registered office of the Association is the capital city of Warsaw.

§3 — The Association may be a member of national and international organisations with similar areas of activity, where this does not affect obligations arising from international agreements to which the Republic of Poland is a party.

Chapter II — Objectives and means of achieving them

§4 — The objectives of the Association are:

• to build and deepen friendly Polish–Turkish relations based on openness, tolerance, and cooperation
• to raise knowledge of both communities about Poland and Türkiye and Polish–Turkish relations, and to overcome stereotypes
• to support, cultivate, and promote Polish cultural heritage in Türkiye
• to support, cultivate, and promote Turkish cultural heritage in Poland
• to integrate and support the Polish community in Türkiye and persons associated with it
• to integrate and support the Turkish community in Poland and persons associated with it
• to promote intercultural and interfaith dialogue
• to raise knowledge of cultural differences and multiculturalism
• to spread tolerance and understanding and stand against various forms of discrimination, especially racial, ethnic, or religious
• to encourage the strengthening of business relations and engagements between Türkiye and Poland
• to maintain and disseminate national tradition, cultivate Polish identity, and develop national, civic, and cultural awareness
• to carry out activities for national and ethnic minorities and the regional language
• to carry out activities for the integration of foreigners of Turkish nationality with Polish citizens
• to jointly create and implement projects within the above scope in cooperation with other European Union countries

§5 — Means of achieving the objectives

The Association achieves its objectives by:

• creating a space for Polish–Turkish communication, action, and cooperation
• cultural activity
• creative activity
• sports activity
• scientific activity
• teaching and educational activity
• publishing activity
• organising meetings and thematic workshops
• cooperating with and supporting organisations with similar programme premises in Poland and abroad
• cooperating with government and local administration, non-governmental organisations, cultural and educational institutions, and the media
• awarding prizes and distinctions for individuals and institutions who have contributed to the Association's objectives

Chapter III — Members of the Association

§6 — Members of the Association are divided into ordinary, supporting, and honorary members. Legal persons may only be supporting members.

§7 — Polish citizens and foreigners — including foreigners without residency in Poland — may become members of the Association.

§8 — A natural person who submits a declaration to join the Association to the Board of Directors may become an ordinary member. Ordinary members are accepted by the Board of Directors within one month from the date of submitting the declaration.

§9 — Ordinary members have the right to: passive and active voting rights in elections to the authorities of the Association; take active part in the work of the Association; make use of the achievements and any activities of the Association; receive any information concerning the activities of the Association; make use of the benefits determined by the authorities of the Association; report proposals as to the activity of the Association.

§10 — Ordinary members are obliged to: adhere to the statute and resolutions of the authorities of the Association; actively participate in the activities of the Association and in achieving its objectives; participate in general meetings of members; regularly pay membership fees and fulfil other obligations resulting from the resolutions of the authorities of the Association.

§11 — Ordinary membership ceases due to voluntary written resignation submitted to the Board; exclusion by the Board (lack of active work for the Association, gross violation of the statute, or unjustified arrears in membership fees exceeding twelve months); loss of civil rights pursuant to a final court judgment; death of the member; or liquidation of the Association. Resolutions of the Board concerning ordinary membership may be appealed to the General Meeting of Members within one month of receipt; the appeal is considered at the next General Meeting and the resolution of the General Meeting is final.

§12 — A natural or legal person declaring financial, material, or substantial help in achieving the objectives of the Association who submits a declaration to join may become a supporting member. Supporting members are accepted by the Board of Directors within one month from the date of submitting the declaration.

§13 — Supporting members are entitled to enjoy the rights of an ordinary member with the exception of passive and active voting rights, but may have an advisory vote. Supporting members are exempt from membership fees but are required to fulfil obligations declared by them and to adhere to the statute and resolutions of the authorities of the Association. Supporting members may participate in meetings of the Board of Directors as observers.

§14 — Supporting membership ceases on voluntary written resignation; exclusion by the Board; loss of civil rights; death of the member (or, in the case of a legal person, loss of legal personality); or liquidation of the Association. Resolutions of the Board concerning supporting membership may be appealed to the General Meeting in the same manner as for ordinary membership.

§15 — A natural person who has made an outstanding contribution to the activities and development of the Association may become an honorary member following a resolution of the General Meeting at the request of the Board of Directors or of at least six members of the Association, with the consent of the person concerned.

§16 — Honorary members are entitled to enjoy the rights of an ordinary member with the exception of passive and active voting rights, but may have an advisory vote. Honorary members are exempt from membership fees.

§17 — Honorary members are obliged to adhere to the statute and resolutions of the authorities of the Association.

§18 — Honorary membership ceases on voluntary written resignation, exclusion by the Board, loss of civil rights, or liquidation of the Association. The same appeal procedure as for ordinary membership applies.

Chapter IV — Authorities of the Association

§19 — The authorities of the Association are: the General Meeting of Members, the Board of Directors, and the Audit Committee. The term of the authorities lasts three years and shall expire with the opening of the Ordinary General Meeting of Members. Election of the authorities takes place by secret voting and absolute majority of votes in the presence of at least half of the members entitled to vote, from an unlimited number of candidates. Unless the statute provides otherwise, resolutions are adopted by simple majority of members present and entitled to vote.

§20 — The supreme authority of the Association is the General Meeting of Members. It is composed of ordinary members and of supporting and honorary members with advisory vote.

§21 — The powers of the General Meeting include: identifying main directions of activity and development; appointing and dismissing the authorities of the Association and, where necessary, individual members of those authorities; considering and approving reports of the authorities; granting approval of the performance of duties by Board members; setting rules for managing funds and assets; adopting amendments to the statute; considering appeals against Board resolutions; passing resolutions on the adoption of honorary members; adopting resolutions on membership in other organisations; adopting resolutions on dissolution and asset allocation; and adopting resolutions on all matters not reserved to other authorities.

§22 — The Ordinary General Meeting is convened by the Board of Directors once a year. The Extraordinary General Meeting is convened by the Board on its own initiative, at the request of the Audit Committee, or at the request of at least one third (1/3) of the ordinary members.

§23 — If the Board does not convene the General Meeting within thirty days of a request, the Audit Committee shall do so. The Board notifies all members of the Association thirty days in advance of the date, place, and agenda. If the meeting does not have a quorum, it is convened in another date no later than one month from the date of the first General Meeting.

§24 — The Board of Directors consists of four to nine persons: a President of the Board and Board Members elected by the General Meeting. The Board meets at least once every three months. Members of the Board may not have been convicted by a final judgment for an intentional crime prosecuted by public indictment or a fiscal crime.

§25 — The powers of the Board of Directors include: managing the ongoing operation of the Association; implementing resolutions of the General Meeting; managing the assets of the Association; deciding the amount of membership fees; representing the Association and acting on its behalf; accepting and excluding members; and convening the General Meeting.

§26 — The President of the Board acting solely, or two Members of the Board acting jointly, are authorised to make declarations of will, sign documents, and incur obligations in the name of the Association. They may establish one or more proxies authorised to act within the limits and conditions specified in the power of attorney.

§27 — The Audit Committee consists of three persons: a Chairman of the Audit Committee and two Members, appointed by the General Meeting. Members of the Audit Committee cannot simultaneously be members of the Board. The Audit Committee is a collegial supervisory body, separate from the managing body and not subordinated to it; its members may not be members of the Management Board, may not remain with them in marriage, cohabitation, consanguinity, affinity or subordination, and must not have been convicted by a final judgment for an intentional crime prosecuted by public indictment or a fiscal crime.

§28 — The powers of the Audit Committee include: control of the overall operations of the Association; evaluation of the Board's operations, including annual reports and balance sheets; submitting reports and assessments to the General Meeting; proposing approval of the performance of Board members' duties; proposing dismissal of the Board or its individual members; and requesting the convening of an Extraordinary General Meeting.

§29 — In case of a decrease in the number of Board or Audit Committee members below the number specified in the statute during the term, supplementary elections may take place at an Extraordinary General Meeting convened immediately by the Board.

§30 — Members of the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee shall not receive remuneration for activities performed in connection with their function.

Chapter V — Assets and funds of the Association

§31 — Sources of the Association's assets are: membership fees; donations (cash and in kind); public and private grants; sponsoring; public collections and campaigns; income from the assets of the organisation and capital investments; income from paid public-benefit operations; inheritances and bequests. The Association may receive free of charge ownership or the right to use movables, immovables, and other property rights.

§32 — The Association manages its finances in accordance with applicable law. It is prohibited to: grant loans or secure liabilities with the assets of the organisation in relation to its members, members of its bodies, employees, or persons closely related to them, or transfer assets to such persons on terms more favourable than to third parties (including free of charge or on preferential terms); use the assets for the benefit of members, board members, or employees and their relatives on principles other than in relation to third parties, unless such use results directly from the statutory purpose; and purchase goods or services from entities in which members of the organisation, members of its bodies or employees and their relatives participate, on principles other than in relation to third parties or at prices higher than market prices.

§33 — Decisions about acquiring, disposing of, and encumbering the assets of the Association are taken by the Board of Directors.

Chapter VI — Final provisions

§34 — A resolution concerning the amendment of the statute or dissolution of the Association is adopted by the General Meeting by a majority of two thirds (2/3) of the votes in the presence of at least half of the members entitled to vote. While adopting a resolution to dissolve the Association, the General Meeting determines the manner of liquidation and the allocation of the Association's assets.