Statute

New version from July 12, 2025, with additions according to the minutes of the Board meeting of the German-Ukrainian Society Rhein-Neckar e.V. (VR 331959) dated September 10, 2025 (automatic translation from German)

§ 1 Name, Seat

I. The Association bears the name "Deutsch-Ukrainische Gesellschaft Rhein-Neckar e.V." (German-Ukrainian Society Rhein-Neckar) (DUG).

II. Its seat is in Heidelberg; the Society is entered in the Register of Associations of the District Court of Mannheim.

§ 2 Tasks and Goals

Preamble:

The Association pursues exclusively and directly charitable purposes within the meaning of the section "Tax-privileged Purposes" of the Fiscal Code. It acts selflessly and does not pursue its own economic interests.

The purpose of the Association is the promotion of international attitude, tolerance in all areas of culture and the idea of international understanding, the promotion of popular and vocational education, integration, as well as the promotion of aid for war victims.

The statutory purpose is realized in particular through efforts between Germans and Ukrainians, mutual open-mindedness, and friendly connections.

The Association sees its activity as part of the work of European unification and seeks cooperation with institutions and citizens of Ukraine – regardless of nationality – who accept its objectives.

The DUG promotes contacts in cultural, humanitarian, religious, pedagogical, scientific, and sports fields.

The DUG is ready to cooperate with organizations and groups that strive for international understanding and affirm the ideals of democracy in accordance with the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany.

In particular, the Association sets itself the following tasks:

1. To be active in the Ukrainian educational sector, to organize native language instruction – primarily for children and adolescents – and to promote and maintain the Ukrainian language and culture,
2. To promote cultural exchange and personal contacts between Germany and Ukraine through encounters,
3. To participate in multicultural events and to inform about history, culture, and current affairs in events,
4. To organize and carry out humanitarian aid campaigns for the benefit of the population of Ukraine.

§ 3 Membership

I. Any natural or legal person who supports the goals of the Association can become a member.

II. Honorary Members: The General Meeting may appoint persons who have rendered special services to the Association as honorary members. Honorary members have no voting rights and are exempt from paying contributions. In the event of conduct damaging to the Association, honorary membership may be revoked by the General Meeting.

III. Admission: The Board decides on the written application for membership. Persons or organizations wishing to support the Association ideationally or financially may become sponsoring members.

IV. Termination: Membership ends by resignation, exclusion, or death of the member. Resignation must be declared in writing to the Board and is only permissible at the end of a calendar year with a notice period of six weeks.

V. Exclusion: The General Meeting may, by a two-thirds majority, declare the termination of a member's affiliation due to conduct damaging to the Association.

VI. Striking off: Striking off as a member by the Board may take place if the annual contribution is in arrears, provided that the arrears have been unsuccessfully reminded at least once with a deadline set.

§ 4 Finances & Remuneration

I. The necessary financial means of the Association are provided by:

• a. Membership fees,
• b. Donations,
• c. School fees,
• d. State grants and subsidies,
• e. Other funds collected through the statutory activities of the Association.

II. The membership fees as well as their due date and payment modalities are regulated in a contribution regulation (Vereinsordnung), which is not part of the Statutes, and which can be decided and amended by the General Meeting.

III. Funds of the Association may only be used for statutory purposes. The members receive no payments from the funds of the Association. No person may be favored by expenditures that are foreign to the purpose of the Association or by disproportionately high remuneration.

IV. The Association may employ staff for the execution of tasks that require regular qualified employment.

V. Board members may assume additional activities in addition to their honorary main duties, which may be remunerated according to the Association's regulations.

VI. Board members, Association members, or other persons may receive appropriate remuneration for their activities in the Association, provided that this:

• a. is permissible within the framework of the non-profit regulations of the Fiscal Code (§ 55 AO),
• b. stands in an appropriate relationship to the service rendered,
• c. is regulated in a separate Association regulation adopted by the General Meeting.

VII. Employment contracts or fee agreements for Board members must be approved by the General Meeting on the basis of the remuneration regulation. These employment contracts are limited in time to the duration of the term of office.

VIII. The Board may decide on employment contracts or fee agreements for non-Board members at its own discretion. The Association's regulations apply here as well.

IX. In addition to voluntary activities, other activities may be honored by an expense allowance (e.g., volunteer allowance according to § 3 No. 26a EStG or instructor allowance according to § 3 No. 26 EStG) or other appropriate remuneration, provided that the non-profit status of the Association is not endangered thereby. Expenses incurred during work for the Society may be reimbursed in the proven amount.

§ 5 Organs

Organs of the German-Ukrainian Society are:

1. The General Meeting
2. The Board

§ 6 The General Meeting

The General Meeting is the supreme organ of the DUG and responsible for:

• The election of the Board
• The receipt of the activity reports and the treasurer's report
• The discharge (exoneration) of the Board
• The handling of motions
• Amendments to the Statutes
• The dissolution of the Association

The following applies to the convening and conduct of the General Meeting:

I. The General Meeting takes place at least once within the election period of a Board.

II. In urgent cases, an extraordinary General Meeting may be convened by decision of the Board.

III. General Meetings may also be convened upon a written request to the Board by at least one-third of the members; the Board must comply with this request.

IV. The invitation to the General Meeting must be issued two weeks in advance in writing or by e-mail, stating the time, place, and agenda.

V. Motions for amendments to the Statutes must also be sent to the members two weeks before the meeting.

VI. Virtual Meeting: A virtual General Meeting via video conference is possible. The invitation is sent 14 days before the date by e-mail. Members also receive the individual access data for the virtual room by e-mail 2 days before the meeting.

VII. Even in the case of virtual General Meetings with Board elections, only voting members of the Association may vote.

VIII. Quorum: The General Meeting is quorate if it has been properly convened. It is led by the Chairperson, or if prevented, by the Deputy, or a meeting leader.

IX. Voting: Unless otherwise regulated in these Statutes, decisions and elections are decided by a simple majority of the valid votes cast. Abstentions are not taken into account.

X. Voting Mode: Elections and voting take place openly – by show of hands – unless a secret election or secret ballot is requested by at least one person entitled to vote.

XI. Minutes: Minutes of the General Meeting are prepared, which are signed by the Secretary and the meeting leader and can be inspected by the members upon request.

§ 7 The Board

I. Composition: The Board consists of the Chairperson, their Deputy, a Secretary, and further Assessors.

II. Honorary Chairperson: The General Meeting may appoint former Board Chairpersons who have rendered special services to the Association as Honorary Chairpersons. The appointment is for life or for a specific duration. The Honorary Chairmanship is a representative honor without voting rights on the Board. Honorary Chairpersons have the right to participate in Board meetings in an advisory capacity. They may also represent the Association in public in coordination with the Board. In the event of conduct damaging to the Association, the title may be revoked by decision of the General Meeting.

III. Representation: The Society is represented judicially and extrajudicially (§ 26 BGB) by the Chairperson and their Deputy. Each is authorized to represent the Association solely. Internally, it is determined that the Deputy of the Chairperson is only entitled to represent the Association if the Chairperson is prevented.

IV. Duties: The Board executes the resolutions of the General Meeting and conducts business in accordance with the Statutes.

V. Term of Office: The Board is elected by the General Meeting for a period of three years; it remains in office even after the expiry of the term until a new Board is elected.

VI. Quorum: The Board is quorate if half of its members are present, not counting Honorary Chairpersons.

VII. Minutes of Board Resolutions: Minutes are to be kept of the resolutions of the Board. The minutes must contain at least:

• a. Date and place of the meeting
• b. Names of the Board members present
• c. Resolutions passed with voting results

The minutes must be signed by the meeting leader and a Board member and kept for at least 3 years. Association members may inspect the minutes upon request, provided that no confidential or personal data are affected.

VIII. Remuneration: Remuneration for Board members is permissible taking into account § 4 (Finances and Remuneration).

§ 8 Accounting and Auditing

1. The Board appoints at least one treasurer and defines their scope of duties.

2. The General Meeting elects two auditors for the duration of the Board's term of office. Re-election is permissible. The auditors may not be members of the Board nor be in an employment relationship with the Association.

3. The auditors examine the bookkeeping, the use of Association funds, as well as salary payments and remunerations to Board members, Association members, or other persons at least once a year.

4. In the case of payments to Board members, the auditors check in particular whether these are in accordance with the resolutions of the General Meeting and legal requirements.

5. The auditors submit a written audit report to the General Meeting and make a recommendation for the discharge of the Board.

§ 9 Amendments to the Statutes

I. Amendments to the Statutes require a majority of two-thirds of the voting members present at the General Meeting. Abstentions are not taken into account.

II. Amendments to the Statutes due to official requirements are made by the Board and must be confirmed at the next General Meeting.

§ 10 Fiscal Year, Accounting

I. The fiscal year is the calendar year.

II. The treasurer is responsible for cash and accounting.

III. The audit is carried out by two auditors elected by the General Meeting.

§ 11 Dissolution of the Society

I. The dissolution of the DUG is decided by the General Meeting, which was informed about this in writing at least four weeks in advance, by secret ballot with at least three-quarters of the voting members present.

II. In the event of the dissolution of the Association or if tax-privileged purposes cease to apply, the assets of the Association fall to a legal entity under public law or another tax-privileged corporation for use for the promotion of international attitude, tolerance in all areas of culture and the idea of international understanding, the promotion of popular and vocational education, as well as the promotion of aid for war victims. The use should, if possible, have a reference to Ukraine.

§ 12 Entry into Force of the Statutes

The amended Statutes were adopted at the General Meeting on July 12, 2025. They enter into force upon their entry in the Register of Associations at the District Court of Mannheim. At the same time, the old Statutes of December 11, 2021, lose their validity.