This Charter sets out the name, headquarters, purposes, organisational structure, bodies and operating rules of the Kybele Atasever World Business Council (KADİK).
1. Name of the Organisation
KYBELE ATASEVER WORLD BUSINESS COUNCIL, referred to for short as the Council, Kybele and KADİK.
2. Headquarters and Branches
The headquarters is in London. Branches and representatives around the world, as well as new organisations, institutions, bodies and enterprises, may be opened in line with the direction set by the Board of Directors.
3. Purpose
In addition to bringing about a more democratic business world, the Council works for the unity, wellbeing, success, revival, advancement and continuity of Turkish business people around the world, and for the achievement of its other written aims. As a secular, democratic organisation, its line cannot be changed by any General Assembly (Kurultay). In the present conjuncture, its principal subjects will be those set out below.
4. Core Policy Areas
(1) Foreign Policy and the European Union: EU–Turkey relations and the democratisation of the business world; relations with European social democrats; relations with neighbouring countries; multilateral diplomacy – Peace at Home, Peace in the World. (2) Defence, Security and NATO: NATO and European security; organising peace, and supporting – and where necessary leading – the business world's efforts towards peace; stopping wars and working for lasting peace. (3) Migration, Refugees and Integration Policies: migration relations in the world; peaceful solutions to refugee policies, including opening the way to entrepreneurship; contributing to integration processes, and efforts for the welfare of society and fair sharing; combating irregular migration and human trafficking. (4) Social Democracy and the Social State in Europe and the World: the social state; the fair sharing of income, welfare and knowledge, and the prevention of poverty; income distribution and the role of the business world; working life and democracy; trade unions and their role in working life; welfare-state models and balanced income distribution.
5. Further Focus Areas
Digital economy; climate, environment and energy; democracy, law and human rights – the rule of law, judicial independence, the protection of fundamental rights and democratic institutions; diaspora policies – the problems and participation of the Turkish community in Europe, and the comparison of diaspora policies; local government and European urban policies; digitalisation, artificial intelligence and technology policies; and any other areas where the need arises.
6. Working Groups and Measuring Success
The Council is a flexible structure that can open and close subjects and new working groups when necessary. KYBELE's success should be measured not by the number of meetings it organises, but by the research, policy notes, comparative analyses and applicable policy proposals it produces. Each working group should produce at least a few policy reports a year, and these should be presented to the relevant boards and to the public.
7. Global Organisational Structure
The Council will create a coordination and policy-making mechanism, with its own democratic representation mechanisms, that brings together economy, industry and the green transition. KYBELE's bodies must comply with the law of each country in the way they organise on a world scale. When organising in all countries, the division of labour comprises: the Conference of Countries; the International Executive Board; coordination with the Presidency/Headquarters; policy and strategy commissions; women's and youth structures; and horizontal organisation and collective work. Continental or regional coordination bodies may be formed when necessary.
8. Country Representation and Delegates
Each country should be enabled to send KYBELE representatives/delegates. Both democratic equality and organisational weight must be preserved in representation. When necessary, the Board of Directors may hold digital elections and votes under notarial supervision to safeguard internal democracy. A base number of delegates is set for each country; additional delegates are added according to the number of registered members; an upper limit on the number of delegates may be set for very large countries; and the representation of women and youth is separately guaranteed. Verified and regularly updated central membership records are the basis for calculating membership numbers. For certain duties within the organisation, candidates may be required to meet the requirements of the role, such as language proficiency, international political experience, representational ability and expertise in the relevant field. However, these criteria must rest on clear, predetermined standards, not on subjective conditions that restrict the right to be elected. This system can form a model comparable to Italy's elected assembly of delegates for citizens abroad and its representation of citizens abroad in national bodies.
9. Country Federations
A multi-layered structure may be formed, consisting of the Country Federation, the organisations within the country, and city/regional organisations. Federation can strengthen nationwide political coordination while preserving the local activities of the organisations in the country. The duties of country federations include: nationwide political coordination; relations with fraternal social-democratic circles; relations with trade unions and civil society organisations; conveying the organisation's policy and the countries' agenda; coordinating meetings and campaigns at country level; and sending Kybele country representatives and delegates. Where there are only one or two groups in a country, the direct union model may be maintained. The decision to federate is taken when organisational size and need arise. In this way, rather than forcing all countries into the same organisational mould, a gradual and flexible structure is created according to each country's organisational size and needs.
10. Use of the KYBELE Name
Where the use of the KYBELE name is not possible under a country's legislation or the relevant national law, an alternative name reflecting its international social-democratic identity may be used. Trying out different models in different countries will also require cooperation, harmony and the approval of the Board of Directors.
11. External Relations and Partnerships
The KYBELE organisation should also develop relations with local parties and the business world sharing the same line, municipalities, trade unions, European left parties, migrant entrepreneurs and their organisations, human rights organisations, women's and youth organisations, academic circles and democratic civil society organisations. In other words, country organisations should also be able to cooperate in the sense of lobbying. KYBELE organisations should strive to become active actors in the political life of the countries in which they are located; international agreements will facilitate such work. As an institute, KYBELE also supports and generates scientific contribution, and will pay close attention to education and training and to the management of information.
12. The General Assembly
The most competent body is the KYBELE General Assembly (Kurultay). Unless it is compulsory to do otherwise, elections at the General Assembly are held without delegates, with the participation of all members, and one-third of the Board of Directors is elected. For this reason, the General Assembly is held every 2 years. The date and change schedule is prepared by the Presidency and communicated to voters for their information no later than 3 months before the General Assembly.
13. Candidates and Elections
The qualifications of candidates standing for election are approved by the Board of Directors, and candidates are announced together with their CVs and assets. Candidates running election campaigns and incurring campaign expenditure cannot be tolerated. The necessary information will be conveyed to voters by the relevant Election Board, and equality among candidates will be observed.
14. Renewal of the Board and Presiding Board
The General Assembly elects the KYBELE Board of Directors and the Presiding Board. One-third of the Board of Directors and of the Presiding Board is renewed once a year. The new Board meets the following day and allocates duties. The KYBELE President and Vice-President are the natural spokespersons. The duties and powers of the President and the officers are determined by a two-thirds majority.
15. Quorum and Convening
The General Assembly begins its work with an absolute majority of those eligible to vote. In digital elections, prior registration is mandatory. If the required majority is not reached at the first meeting, the second meeting is opened one week later with the members present. The General Assembly convenes within 45 days upon a decision of the Board of Directors or the Supervisory Board, or upon a written application to the Presidency by one-third of the members.
16. The Presiding Board and Its Decisions
The number of Presiding Board members is determined at each General Assembly for the next General Assembly. Following the General Assembly's decision, the Presiding Board acts as the organiser of the election work and as a kind of Honour Board. To conduct General Assembly meetings, it elects a Chair, a Deputy Chair and a Secretary from among the members or, where necessary, from outside. Decisions are taken by a majority of those present. The matters discussed and the decisions taken are recorded in minutes, which are signed at the foot by the Election Board.
17. Voting Rights and Procedure
Every member of the General Assembly, including the members of the Election Board, has an individual vote. A member unable to attend the General Assembly may send a proxy; no person may hold more than one proxy. Voting may be secret or open, as decided by the General Assembly. The agenda is set at the meeting of the Presiding Board and the Board of Directors. The General Assembly announces its results with at least one scientific paper; it should not be held for voting alone. List-based elections are prohibited. The General Assembly may make any changes it wishes to the agenda of each meeting.
18. Powers and Duties of the General Assembly
The duties and powers of the General Assembly are: (a) to elect one-third of the members of the Board of Directors and the Supervisory Board; (b) to amend the Charter and agreements, provided a two-thirds majority of the total number of founding members is reached; (c) to examine the reports of the Board of Directors and the Supervisory Board together with the balance sheet and profit-and-loss accounts, and to release the management; (d) to make changes and additions to the meeting agenda where it deems necessary; (e) to take binding or advisory decisions on the functioning and work of the organisation.
19. The Board of Directors
KYBELE is managed through its Board of Directors. Membership of the seven-member Board of Directors does not lapse except for reasons such as health or resignation; in the event of a conflict, the Presiding Board intervenes and resolves the problem. Benefit to the organisation, multilingualism, merit and competence are sought first in members and in any other Board members to be elected.
20. Operations of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors may meet with an absolute majority, or online. Decisions may also be taken in writing when necessary. Minutes are always kept of meetings. Decisions are binding.
21. Representation
The organisation is represented by two persons: the President or the Deputy President, together with one member. Day-to-day management is determined by the Board of Directors.
22. Powers and Duties of the Board of Directors
The duties and powers of the Board of Directors are: (a) to set out and carry out all decisions and conditions relating to the work of the organisation; (b) to acquire and dispose of, on behalf of the organisation, all kinds of movable and immovable property, money, rights with cash value, shares, bonds and similar securities, and rights of usufruct, residence and other rights in rem, including all or part of an estate, by way of gift, bequest or other dispositions upon death, or by purchase or lease; to accept such transfers; to carry out all other private or official business; to borrow; and to accept and discharge mortgages in favour of or against the organisation and to establish rights. Each Board hands over its duties with a neutral budget. Where debt accumulates, the directors who signed the decision are jointly liable.
23. Supervisory Board
The Supervisory Board consists of auditors. If an auditor's seat becomes vacant due to health or resignation, the General Assembly elects a replacement. The Board of Auditors audits all activities of the organisation, calls the General Assembly to meet when necessary, and submits a report for the annual publication at the end of each activity year.
24. Finance
The organisation's initial financial assets are determined by the provisional Board of Directors. Its income consists of: (a) grants, donations, membership fees, operating income and the like; (b) movable and immovable property and cash left or entrusted by way of disposition upon death; (c) income from the institutions established by the organisation, and other income. All income is spent entirely for the purposes of the organisation.
25. Amendments to the Charter
The Charter and decisions may be amended upon the proposal of at least five members of the Board of Directors and the General Assembly, and by a two-thirds majority decision of the General Assembly.
26. Dissolution and Liquidation
In the event of dissolution and liquidation, the organisation's movable and immovable property, together with its rights and receivables, are donated to a secular, democratic organisation.