Our constitution

Adopted on December 8th 2018. Amended at National Conference January 2024.

CONSTITUTION

ANOTHER EUROPE IS POSSIBLE

1. Statement of Aims and Principles

Another Europe is Possible was founded to fight the 2016 EU referendum campaign from a left wing Remain perspective. Since then, the need for our existence and the scope of our activities have only grown.

We stand for a society run in the interests of people and the planet. We stand for an open society and a pluralist politics.

We believe in the power of ordinary people and workers coming together to win a better life for everyone. The power to win a better society is in our hands. At the same time, we will fight for the legal protections for the environment, workers, migrants and human rights provided by EU membership. We will campaign to retain and extend all of these.

We stand unequivocally for continued and improved freedom of movement, and we will campaign for the rights of migrants and refugees at a time of growing domestic prejudice and international crisis.

We will fight against the racism, hate, border controls and right wing nationalism that have come alongside the Brexit moment, and which are part of a wider moment of far right resurgence. We aim to be a space for those parts of the progressive left who share our perspective to come together, cutting across party lines.

The struggle to win gains for ordinary people, and to democratise the European project, is our struggle. We will not shrink from criticising and opposing those policies and structures within the EU which cut against our progressive vision.

We are for solidarity between people and across borders. We want the progressive left in Britain to be internationalist, and to build links of solidarity and cooperation with the left across Europe and beyond.

Our vision of internationalism does not stop at the borders of Europe. We reject the idea of ‘Europe’ as an exclusionary identity based on race and religion – the Europe we want to build is based on ties of humanity and solidarity. We campaign for freedom of movement and other fundamental rights to expand beyond just Europe to all the people of the world.

2. Membership

2.1 Another Europe is the property of its members, who have the right to:

• Vote and stand in internal elections
• Attend and vote at National Conference, and put forward proposals for the strategy of the organisation
• Vote in online polls, surveys and ballots
• Be supported by the staff and National Committee in their relevant activities

2.2 Membership is open to all those who broadly agree with our statement of aims and principles.

2.3 Members will pay a monthly fee of at least £1

2.4 The National Committee may waive requirements for members to pay fees, or increase the minimum monthly fee set out in 2.3 above, at its discretion.

3. Decision-making bodies

3.1 National Conference

3.1.1. National conference is the most senior decision-making body in Another Europe, and has the power to:

• Set the overall strategy for Another Europe
• Amend this constitution (with a two thirds majority)
• Elect members to the National Committee or other bodies as set out in this constitution

3.1.2. All members of Another Europe have the right to attend and vote at conference

3.1.3. Decisions at conference, other than amendments to the constitution, are made by simple majority

3.1.4. Conference will take place at least every calendar year, and not more than 14 months apart.

3.1.5. The National Conference may be held in-person or online. The decision on whether to hold the conference as an in-person event or as an online event lies with the National Committee.

3.2 National Committee

3.2.1. The National Committee is the leading committee of Another Europe, and is responsible for:

• Implementing Another Europe’s broad strategy
• Making key political and strategic decisions which arise
• Running campaigns
• Overseeing the work of the Management Committee

3.2.2. The National Committee consists of:

• 16 members elected by Single Transferable Vote by online ballot of all members, with 8 seats reserved for self-defining women
• One representative for each national affiliate
• Members of Another Europe co-opted in a non-voting capacity by the National Committee

3.2.3. Decisions on the National Committee are by majority vote

3.2.4. The National Committee may delegate to working groups, project boards and sub-committees at its discretion, comprised of members of the National Committee and any other member of Another Europe.

3.2.5. Elected members of the National Committee will serve for two year terms, between elections which coincide with the National Conference in the relevant year.

3.2.6. If there are more affiliates on the committee or voting in any given instance, than elected members, any votes taken will ensure that elected members have at least 50% of the total voting power.

3.3. The Executive Committee

3.3.1. The Executive Committee is responsible, at the instruction of the National Committee, for:

• The management of staff
• Compliance with legislation
• Budgeting and fundraising
• Other key operational matters, including taking urgent decisions on behalf of the National Committee.

3.3.2. The Executive Committee consists of:

• Five members elected by and from the National Committee
• Those co-opted in a non-voting capacity for their expertise

3.3.3. Staff may attend Executive Committee meetings at the discretion of its members.

4. Staff

4.1. Another Europe may employ staff, as agreed in processes set out by the National Committee and Management Committee

4.2. Staff employed by Another Europe are expected to faithfully implement the policy and strategy of the organisation.

4.3. Staff may not exercise a vote on any Committee of Another Europe, but are free to vote as members (if they are members) at National Conference and in internal elections.

4.4. Staff must remain outwardly neutral on all internal elections and will not use the resources of the organisation to promote any candidate over another.

4.5. Staff will be treated with decency and dignity at all times by members and elected officers of Another Europe; will never be paid less than a living wage; and will have their trade union recognised.

4.6. Another Europe may also pay people on a freelance basis to do tasks. These people are not staff for the purposes of these rules, but will not use any access to data or resources to give them undue advantage or influence.

4.7. Staff must recluse themselves from matters on which they have a conflict of interest.

5. Elections

5.1. The National Committee will appoint a Returning Officer in all of Another Europe’s elections who will normally be a member of staff.

5.2. Any vacancies arising among elected members of the National Committee may be filled by an online ballot at the National Committee’s discretion. Where the next scheduled election is more than six months away, a by-election must be held if the number of elected members falls below ten.

6. Communications between members

6.1. Members – and supporters – of Another Europe are encouraged to organise together autonomously from (but supported by) the staff and committees of the organisation in local groups and informal networks.

6.2. Another Europe will, where agreed by National Conference or the National Committee, facilitate formal networks of members to deal with specific issues or areas of work.

7. Code of Conduct and Complaints process

7.1. The National Committee is responsible for maintaining a full Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Procedure.

7.2. Another Europe reserves the right to exclude those from membership whose behaviour or beliefs are opposed to its values, via a process approved by the National Committee.

7.3. Any member who is accused of any offence will have the right to a fair hearing in line with the rules of natural justice, and will have the right an impartial appeal, via a process approved by the National Committee.

8. Affiliation

8.1. Any organisation which shares the aims and principles of Another Europe may apply to affiliate.

8.2. The National Committee will decide on the application of any prospective affiliate.

8.3. National Conference may ultimately decide on affiliation decisions in cases where the National Committee’s decision is contested.

8.4. The basic affiliation fee for a national organisation is £200. The National Committee may at its discretion waive part or all of this fee.

8.5 Any local group, party unit, union branch or other relevant local organisation may also affiliate to Another Europe with an affiliation fee of £50. Local affiliates may send a voting representative to national conference.