European Examination

European Register

Site visits

STATUTES

Article 1 - Name, Duration and Office

This aim shall be achieved by the following means:

1. The EBPS shall recommend the standards required for the training of specialists in paediatric surgery and supervise the maintenance of these standards.
2. The EBPS shall make proposals for the quality of training and for the syllabus for paediatric surgery.
3. The EBPS shall recommend criteria to which the training centres in paediatric surgery" should conform to be registered as EBPS-approved training centres for trainees in the speciality.
4. The EBPS shall recommend the requirements for quality control or certification as trained in paediatric surgery; 'European Board Qualification'.
5. The EBPS shall recommend procedures to facilitate tree movement of specialists in paediatric surgery in the EU.
6. Within the EU the free movement of paediatric surgeons or trainees shall be encouraged between member countries.
7. The EBPS may conduct site visits of institutions that have formally agreed to live up to EBPS standards. Site visits will be carried out only whit an agreement of principle of the visited institutions. The visits may result in certification as EBPS recognised training institution. In countries where residencies are already reviewed, the EBPS will cooperage with such activities.

An European Board quality control in paediatric surgery will be established.

Only fully trained specialists having undertaken recognised training in a Member State of the EU, in a EFTA country or in another state at a comparable level may apply for this quality control to the EBPS.

This quality control shall give the candidate the right to 'European Board Qualification'.

Application for quality control:

1. The candidate shall have been working in paediatric surgery for at least three years when he or she applies for quality control
2. It shall be demonstrated that he or she has effectively practised in paediatric surgery during that period.
3. The candidate shall prove that he or she has continued in his or her post- graduate education.

Concerning free movement of paediatric surgeons in the EU;

1. The recognition of qualification is optional and shall not be a condition for immigration into the countries having mutual] recognition of the training in paediatric surgery with the candidate's home country.
2. It is desirable to each agreement that obtaining this qualification shall be considered by the authorities as proof of the quality and relative equivalence of the contents of training. It is therefore a factor which shall be added to compliance with the normal conditions authorising free movement.
3. Within the EU this recognition of European Board Qualification should foster the free movement of recognised paediatric surgeons.
4. The European Commission is invited to approve this initiative and consider it as a factor in achieving free movement.

The EBPS shall comprise two representatives for each country. They shall be confirmed by the national professional organisation, recognised by the UEMS.

At least one of the representatives shall be a member of the national delegation to the monospecialist section of paediatric surgery.

A member of EBPS shall be in office for a peri-od of 4 years, which may be renewed once, provided the delegate continues in active practice.

The EBPS may form working committees.

The EBPS may call upon one or more experts.

A special relationship between the EBPS and the European Union of Paediatric Surgical Association (EUPSA) will be created with respect to the standards and the contents of training.

The Permanent Working Group of Junior Hospital Doctors (PWG) has the right to delegate a specialist under training in paediatric surgery. He will sit with deliberative vote.

Article 5 - Executive Committee

The executive committee shall establish rules of procedure to be communicated to the General Secretary of the UEMS. It shall undertake the organisation of meetings and the execution of decisions.

The executive committee shall communicate with the General Secretary of the UEMS who shall be informed of the activities of the EBPS as prescribed in the statutes of the UEMS.

The president and vice-president shall remain in office for four years. They cannot be re-elected immediately. The secretary and treasurer shall remain in office for four years and can be re-elected for another four years.

Article 6 - Meetings

Items for the agenda may be proposed by the members, associate members, the EBPS executive committee, the monospecialist section, the UEMS Management Council or its General Secretary. They should be forwarded to the secretary three months before the meeting.

The agenda of the EBPS plenary meetings shall be communicated to the members and the UEMS General Secretary at least two months before every meeting.

Minutes of the meetings, resolutions, recommendations, opinions, studies and all other relevant documents will be forwarded to EBPS members, to the General Secretary of the UEMS and to the secretary of the monospecialist section within one month after the meeting. They will be read, amended, proposed and signed as an accurate record at the next meeting.

The EBPS executive committee meets at least every six months.

Meetings of the executive committee are convened by the president, the vice- president and/or the secretary.

The agenda and relevant papers will be distributed to the members of the executive committee at least one month before the meeting - with a copy for information to the General Secretary of the UEMS.

In dealing with third parties EBPS and its executive committee respect Article 13.111 of the UEMS.

Article 7 - Voting

The voting procedures described in the UEMS Rules of Procedure of 2.10.87 in Art. 14 and decision rights [Article 15) and speaking rights (Article 16) are to be followed.

For each country the right to vote is subject to the payment of the contribution.

Experts and observers have a consultative status and shall not have voting rights.

Article 8 - Committees

Each committee is elected by the EBPS and describes his own objectives and procedures in a detailed document (by-laws) according to the UEMS statutes and Rules of Procedures. These by-laws must be submitted to the approval of the EBPS.

Each committee shall establish its own executive and shall be responsible for the management of its own finances, subject to the approval of the treasurer of the EBPS.

Each committee is empowered to raise such funds as may be necessary to achieve its objectives. Their annual budgets are, however, part of the EBPS global budget and must be submitted for approval to the Annual General Meeting of the EBPS. They are to be sent to the General Secretary of the UEMS for information.

Article 9 - Finances

Over and above payment of the agreed annual subscription to the monospecialist section for paediatric surgery, a quota can be reserved for the EBPS.

The financial activities of the EBPS are subject to the approval and the control of the treasurer of the EBPS and the monospecialist section for paediatric surgery.

All works performed on account of or on behalf of the EBPS by the UEMS Secretary's office, are to be paid for to the General Secretary, the same as for any work executed for any monospecialist section.

The treasurer of the EBPS will present a budget to the Annual General Meeting for approval, sending a copy for information to the General Secretary of the UEMS.

The accounts of the EBPS shall be audited by an independent committee of two elected delegates appointed annually at the General Meeting.

Article 10 - Relationship with National Associations

The EBPS does not seek any legislative or executive power within countries of the European Union (Article 13 of UEMS Statutes).

The EBPS will be kept informed about national rules and regulations which concern the areas covered by its objectives. Conflicting rules and situations will be registered. The EBPS annual plenary meeting will be the appropriate assembly to discuss such situations and to work out recommendations and amendment procedures.

A synopsis of the training situation in the member states shall be made to the EBPS. It will be submitted to the monospecialist section, that will forward d to the UEMS General Secretary. Such report will serve as a basis for the committee's work in order to reach the comparable high level as required by the EBPS.

No EBPS rule shall be in contradiction with the UEMS Statues and Rules of Procedure and particularly with the working rules of the monospecialist section.

Article 11 - Amendments, Dissolution and By-Iaws

The executive committee may determine by-laws, which cover subjects which have not been included in these statutes.

A by-law shall not be in violation with the statutes of the EBPS or those of the UEMS.

Accepted by the representatives at the meeting of the monospecialist section paediatric surgery of the UEMS held in Leeds (UK) on the 21^st July 1992. With some minor amendments approved by the executive council of the monospecialist section paediatric surgery in its meeting on 30th January, 1993, in Madrid, Spain.