AGREEMENT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF
THE JOINT VIENNA INSTITUTE
[Amended Effective May 1, 2003]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Article
I Establishment
and Status
Article
II Purpose
and Activities
Article
III Powers
Article
IV Headquarters
Article IVA Parties
Article
V Organization
and Management
Article
VI Associate
Members
Article
VII Cooperative
Relationships
Article
VIII Privileges
and Immunities
Article
IX Finances
and Reports
Article
X Liability
Article
XI Amendments
Article
XII Coming
into Force and Depositary
Article
XIII Settlement
of Disputes
Article
XIV Withdrawal
Article
XV Termination
Article
XVI Accession
AGREEMENT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE JOINT VIENNA
INSTITUTE
THE
PARTIES SIGNATORY HERETO,
RECOGNIZING
the importance of
assisting the Central and Eastern European countries, the Baltic and Balkan
countries, the members of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Asian
transition countries, and other eligible countries in their transition to full
market-based developed economies;
NOTING
that the training of officials from these countries is one important component
of such assistance;
HAVING
REGARD to the common interests of the Parties in establishing a training
institute in Vienna, Austria, for this purpose; and
RESPONDING
to the invitation of the Republic of Austria to locate such an institute in
Vienna;
HAVE
AGREED as follows:
ARTICLE
I
Establishment
and Status
1. There
is hereby established the Joint Vienna Institute (the “Institute”) as an
international organization with full juridical personality.
2. The
Institute shall operate in accordance with this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
Purpose and Activities
1. The
purpose of the Institute shall be to provide training to support and supplement
the national efforts of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Baltic
and Balkan countries, the members of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Asian
transition countries, and other eligible countries, in their transition to full
market-based developed economies.
2. To
this end, the Institute shall offer courses of instruction of the highest
standard and of direct relevance to the purpose of paragraph 1 above, including
courses in the areas of administration and economic and financial
management. The Institute shall
provide training primarily to public officials, and to other persons, with due
regard to the role of the private sector.
The Institute will also assist training institutes by providing training
and other support.
ARTICLE III
Powers
The Institute shall have the
capacity:
(a) to
contract;
(b) to
acquire and dispose of immovable and movable property;
(c) to
institute and respond to legal proceedings; and
(d) to
take such other action as may be necessary or useful for its purpose and
activities.
ARTICLE IV
Headquarters
1. The
headquarters of the Institute shall be located in Vienna, Austria, under such
terms and conditions as agreed between the Institute and the Republic of
Austria.
2. The
Institute may establish facilities in other locations as required to support
its activities.
Article
IV A
Parties
1. Upon
the coming into force of the First Amendment of the Agreement for the
Establishment of the Joint Vienna Institute in accordance with Article XI of
this Agreement, each Party to the Agreement before that date may choose to
continue its participation in the activities of the Institute as a Primary
Member; if a Party so chooses, it shall communicate that decision to the
Depositary in writing. A Party not
choosing to continue its participation as a Primary Member shall participate in
the activities of the Institute as a Contributing Member, provided that any
Party to the Agreement before the coming into force of the First Amendment to
the Agreement and which initially becomes a Contributing Member may opt to
change its participation in the activities of the Institute to that of a
Primary Member upon notification in writing to the Depositary of its decision
to become a Primary Member at any time up to 24 months after the coming into
force of the First Amendment.
2. Primary
Members are those Parties to the Agreement for the Establishment of the Joint
Vienna Institute that are willing to assume an equal proportionate financial
responsibility for the operating costs of the Institute on an annual
basis. Contributing Members are
those Parties that wish to participate in the Institute in accordance with its
policies but without assuming financial responsibility beyond the operating
cost of their proportionate use of the Institute.
3. The
Executive Board may decide, upon the request of the Party, that a Primary Member
become a Contributing Member, and that a Contributing Member become a Primary
Member.
ARTICLE V
Organization and Management
1. Structure
of the Institute
The
Institute shall have an Executive Board, an Advisory Committee, a Director, and
staff.
2. Executive
Board
(a)
The
Executive Board (the “Board”) shall be responsible for the conduct of the
business of the Institute.
(b)
(i) Primary
Members shall each appoint two Members to the Board and two Alternate Members
to act for the Member when the Member is unable to serve. Each Contributing Member shall appoint
one Member to the Board and an Alternate Member to act for the Member when the
Member is unable to serve.
(ii) The
JVI Director shall serve as an ex officio Member of the Board, but shall not
exercise a vote.
(c)
The
Board shall elect a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman annually, provided that:
(i) The
Chairman shall be elected from among the representatives
of the Primary Members, on a
rotating basis among Primary Members; and
(ii) The
Vice-Chairman shall be elected from among the representatives of Contributing
Members, if any, on a rotating basis among Contributing Members, and otherwise
among Primary Members.
(d)
The
Board shall meet at least once a year.
Meetings of the Board shall be called by the Chairman as required or
when requested by at least two Members of the Board.
(e)
A
majority of Members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for any meeting of
the Board.
(f)
Decisions
of the Board shall normally be taken by consensus. If a decision of the Board cannot be taken by consensus,
that decision shall be taken by a majority of votes cast, provided that the
following decisions shall be subject to the approval of all Primary Members
voting, together with the approval of the Contributing Member if there is only
one Contributing Member, or of at least two Contributing Members, if there are
two or more Contributing Members, voting: decisions under Article II, paragraph
1, Article IV A, paragraph 3, Article V, paragraph 2(g)(i), Article V,
paragraph 2(g)(ii), Article V, paragraph 2(g)(iii), Article V, paragraph
2(g)(iv), Article V, paragraph 2(g)(vi) and Article XVI, paragraph 2.
(g)
The
Board shall:
(i) adopt
by-laws for the governance of the Institute in accordance with this Agreement,
including by-laws for the implementation of the provisions of Article IX,
paragraphs 3 and 4;
(ii) determine
the Institute’s policies and approve its work program;
(iii) select
the Director, following a proposal by the Primary
Members, and the
external auditor of the Institute;
(iv) approve
the Institute’s annual budget, audited financial statements and reports;
(v) appoint
members of the Advisory Committee; and
(vi) approve
agreements to be concluded under Article VIII.
3. Director
and Staff
(a) The
Director shall be chief of the operating staff of the Institute and shall,
under the direction of the Board:
(i) conduct
the ordinary business of the Institute;
(ii) represent
the Institute in its dealings with third parties; and
(iii) do
and perform all other acts necessary to further the purpose of the Institute.
(b) The
Director shall serve for a term of two years, subject to renewal.
(c) The
Director shall be responsible entirely to the Board, and to no other authority,
for operating and managing the Institute in accordance with this Agreement, the
by-laws and other decisions of the Board.
(d) Subject
to the general control of the Board, the Director shall be responsible for the
organization, appointment and dismissal of the staff of the Institute. In appointing the staff, the Director
shall secure the highest standards of efficiency and of technical competence.
4. Advisory
Committee
The
Advisory Committee shall consist of members appointed by the Board, including
representatives of countries referred to in Article II, paragraph 1, to advise
it on the Institute’s general training policies and programs.
ARTICLE VI
Associate Members
1. The
Board may appoint major contributors to the Institute as Associate Members for
such periods of time as it shall determine.
2. The
Board may invite Associate Members to participate in its meetings for
particular agenda items. Associate
Members shall have no right to vote.
3. The
Institute shall provide Associate Members with copies of its work program,
annual budget, and of its annual report referred to in Article IX,
paragraph 4.
ARTICLE VII
Cooperative Relationships
The
Institute may establish cooperative relationships with any public or private
entity, including other training and teaching institutions.
ARTICLE VIII
Privileges and
Immunities
1. The
Institute, the Members of the Board and their alternates, members of the
Advisory Committee, the Director, staff and experts shall enjoy such privileges
and immunities as agreed between the Institute and the Republic of Austria.
2. The
Institute may conclude agreements with other countries in order to secure
appropriate privileges and immunities.
ARTICLE IX
Finances and Reports
1. The
resources of the Institute shall include the following:
(a)
voluntary
contributions by each Party;
(b)
contributions
by the Republic of Austria;
(c)
contributions
from other sources; and
(d)
income
accruing from such contributions and other income.
2. The
fiscal year of the Institute shall be the calendar year.
3. Each
year, the Director shall prepare and submit to the Board, for its approval, the
annual work program and budget.
4. Each
year, the Director shall prepare and submit to the Board, for its approval, an
annual report containing an audited statement of the Institute’s accounts and a
summary of the activities of the Institute. Such audit shall be conducted by an independent external auditor
selected by the Board.
ARTICLE X
Liability
1. No
Party or Associate Member shall be required to provide financial support to the
Institute beyond such contributions as it has pledged.
2. The
Parties shall not be responsible, individually or collectively, for any debts,
liabilities, or other obligations of the Institute; a statement to this effect
shall be included in each of the agreements concluded by the Institute under
Article VIII.
ARTICLE
XI
Amendments
This
Agreement may be amended only with the consent of all Parties. Notification of
such consent shall be made in writing to the Depositary. Any amendment shall
come into force upon receipt by the Depositary of the notification of all
Parties, or at such other date as the Parties may agree.
ARTICLE
XII
Coming
into Force and Depositary
1. This
Agreement shall be open for signature by the following organizations: the Bank for International Settlements,
the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Bank
for Reconstruction and Development, the International Monetary Fund, and the
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
2. This
Agreement shall come into force upon signature by four of the above-named
organizations and shall remain open for signature by such organizations for a
period of one year from the date of its coming into force.
3. The
Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria shall be the
Depositary of this Agreement.
ARTICLE XIII
Settlement of
Disputes
Any
dispute arising between the Institute and any Party or between any Parties
under this Agreement shall be settled by negotiation or other agreed means of
settlement.
ARTICLE
XIV
Withdrawal
1. Any
of the Parties may withdraw from this Agreement by written notification to the
Depositary. Such withdrawal shall
become effective three months after receipt of such notification by the
Depositary.
2. Withdrawal
from this Agreement by a Party shall not limit, reduce or otherwise affect its
pledged contribution for the fiscal year in which it withdraws.
ARTICLE XV
Termination
1. The
Parties, acting unanimously, may terminate this Agreement at any time and wind
up the Institute by written notification to the Depositary. Any assets of the Institute remaining
after payment of its legal obligations shall be disposed of in accordance with
a decision of the Board.
2. The
provisions of this Agreement shall survive its termination to the extent
necessary to permit an orderly disposal of assets and settlement of accounts.
ARTICLE XVI
Accession
1. This
Agreement shall be open to accession by the Republic of Austria. Upon accession, the Republic of Austria
shall become a Party as a Primary Member.
2. This
Agreement shall be open for signature by such international organizations as
may be decided by the Board. Such
an acceding organization shall become a Party as a Primary Member or as a
Contributing Member as requested by the acceding Party and agreed by the Board.
3. The
accession of the Republic of Austria shall become effective as of the date of
the coming into force of the First Amendment to the Agreement for the
Establishment of the Joint Vienna Institute, but not before May 1, 2003.
In WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being
duly authorized, have signed this Agreement on the dates indicated below.
For the Bank for International
Settlements:
______________________________ ___________________________
Date
For the European
Bank for Reconstruction and Development:
______________________________ ___________________________
Date
For the
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development:
______________________________ ____________________________
Date
For the
International Monetary Fund:
______________________________ _____________________________
Date
For the Organisation for Economic Co-operation
and Development:
______________________________ _____________________________
Date