Please note that on 1 September 2022 the European Parkinson's Disease Association (EPDA) changed its name to Parkinson's Europe.
The documents included in this page have the original name of the organisation as they were produced before this date.
Our Board
You can meet the members of the Board here.
Board responsibilities
All elected officers are volunteers and their positions are honorary. Together, they have a joint responsibility for and are accountable to:
- Parkinson's Europe members for the management of the organisation;
- promote and enhance the ethos of Parkinson's Europe.
The President
Parkinson's Europe President must have been an existing Board member for at least two years including one observatory year and one elected year in order to be appointed.
He/she is responsible for:
- collaborating with the Director General to enable and ensure that the strategic direction, agreed by the Board, continues to enhance Parkinson's Europe ethos;
- being a member of Parkinson's Europe Executive Committee;
- enabling Parkinson's Europe members to be represented and able to participate in the organisation’s work programme, should they wish;
- chairing the Annual General Assembly;
- representing Parkinson's Europe, together with the Director General and other Team members, at relevant major European and international events.
The Vice-President
Parkinson's Europe Vice-President must have been an existing Board member for at least two years including one observatory year and one elected year in order to be appointed.
He/she is responsible for:
- deputising during the President’s absence with regards to Parkinson's Europe activities (as listed above);
- enabling all Board members to fulfil their roles in supporting the Team;
- being a member of Parkinson's Europe Executive Committee.
The Treasurer
Parkinson's Europe Treasurer must have been an existing Board member for at least two years including one observatory year and one elected year in order to be appointed.
He/she is responsible for:
- ensuring that the end of year financial accounts are audited by Parkinson's Europe approved Accountant;
- ensuring that the final annual audited accounts are shared with and authorised by the elected Board members;
- ensuring that the authorised audited annual accounts are shared with Parkinson's Europe membership for their authorisation and approval at the Annual General Assembly which needs to be held at the latest on 30 June each year;
- ensuring that Parkinson's Europe Membership receives the audited annual accounts in accordance with the Statutes timeline to enable them to raise, in writing, any queries that they may have so that these can be resolved prior to the Annual General Assembly;
- supporting the Director General and Parkinson's Europe's Finance Manager to present the previous year’s audited accounts, the current year’s budget and the current financial position to the General Assembly.
Parkinson's Europe's Executive Committee
The Executive Committee (EXCOM) is made up of the President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Director-General (DG).
They will meet as and when the Committee believes it is necessary.
The purpose of their meetings is to:
- provide support and guidance to the DG and the Team;
- review any political and sensitive issues before presenting them for discussion to the full Board;
- review the Treasurer’s report before it is circulated to the Board and to the General Assembly;
- offer advice in relation to streamlining workload as and when necessary, given the limited number and time of Board meetings.
It should be noted that the EXCOM provides guidance and support and is in no way a decision-making body – this is the Board.
What does the Board do?
- It represents the agreed ethos, aims and objectives of Parkinson's Europe at a European level.
- It is responsible for ensuring the governance of Parkinson's Europe is maintained and reviewed regularly.
- It provides Parkinson’s expertise to a variety of organisations, including the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
- It acts as ambassadors, advocating for positive, proactive dialogue and partnership between all Parkinson's Europe stakeholders, with the goal of improving the lives of people with Parkinson’s and their families across Europe.
- Over the course of one year, Board members should be able to provide a minimum of 12 days of work for Parkinson's Europe, free of charge. These 12 days will be allocated as follows:
- participation in either face-to-face and our virtual meetings/calls of the Board;
- participation in Members' Meeting and Annual General Assembly;
- time to review papers, e-mails and other documents, as well as to respond to any questions and to provide input to the Board and the Team;
- participating in other support activities, such as attending ad-hoc meetings, joining conference calls or representing Parkinson's Europe at important events if required;
- heading up the implementation of one of Parkinson's Europe's strategy pillars.
In light of their additional responsibilities, it is expected that Parkinson's Europe President and Vice-President will have to provide up to three days of work per year, in addition to the above. They will be required to join Executive Committee meetings/calls as and when they need to be held.
It is paramount that Board members attend the Board meetings, as well as the Annual General Assembly, and that they ensure their active presence and collaboration where possible.
Board nominations and election criteria
Parkinson's Europe is a highly respected and well-known European umbrella organisation. We are committed and energetic and, therefore, require a committed and energetic Board. We welcome nominations for potential candidates from enthusiastic people who are familiar with Parkinson's Europe and/or familiar with Parkinson's through the daily activities.
Duration
Board members are elected by the General Assembly for a one-year observership role, followed by a three-year term and may be re-elected for one further term of office. A total of seven years.
Verification Task Force
In order to select potential Parkinson's Europe Board nominees (both elected and co-opted), the existing Board must appoint a Verification Task Force (VTF).
The VTF will be made up of 5+1 (five plus one) representatives:
- 2 (two) from the current Board, 1 (one) of which should be a person with Parkinson’s;
- 3 (three) members from the Member Organisations;
- the Director General, who will have no power to vote but will be responsible for the management of the VTF.
The existing Board
It is the existing Board’s responsibility to:
- confirm that Parkinson's Europe budget can support the full participation of the proposed number of Board members;
- strive for the widest possible geographic representation by its Board members;
- submit successful nominations to the General Assembly for ratification by the delegates.
Nominations to the Board
Patient organisations representatives
Nominees must:
- be enthusiastic and committed individuals who are familiar with and support Parkinson's Europe's work
- understand the importance of Parkinson's Europe's aims and objectives, and commit to furthering these during their term of office for the benefit of the members and those individuals that they represent
- be either a person with Parkinson’s, caregiver, patient organisation representative or healthcare professional
- reflect the geographic spread of Parkinson's Europe
- have been actively involved in pursuing their respective organisation’s initiatives, achievements and goals
- confirm that the national organisation they may represent has fully paid its Parkinson's Europe membership fees in the current year and for the previous two years
- participate in Board meetings as an observer (in the year of the election).
Nominees need to:
- have the ability to work and communicate well in English
- demonstrate good communication skills with a variety of people from different cultural backgrounds
- be a good team player and appreciate the importance of partnership and working together
- act as an ambassador and advocate for Parkinson's Europe
- have the willingness to accept and handle responsibility within the Board structure, if required
- show motivation and commitment
- be available to attend Parkinson's Europe meetings in person, if required
- be willing to devote the time required to participate in Parkinson's Europe meetings
- have flexible working arrangements and be able to fit in mid-week meetings and conference calls
- provide an up-to-date CV and photograph.
Co-opted representatives
Nominees must:
- be enthusiastic and committed individuals who are familiar with and support Parkinson's Europe's work
- understand the importance of Parkinson's Europe's aims and objectives, and commit to furthering these during their term of office
- be either a person with Parkinson’s, caregiver or healthcare professional
- reflect the geographic spread of Parkinson's Europe
- participate in Board meetings as an observer (in the year of the election).
Nominees need to:
- have the ability to work and communicate well in English
- demonstrate good communication skills with a variety of people from different cultural backgrounds
- be a good team player and appreciate the importance of partnership and working together
- act as an ambassador and advocate for Parkinson's Europe
- have the willingness to accept and handle responsibility within the Board structure, if required
- show motivation and commitment
- be available to attend Parkinson's Europe meetings in person, if required
- be willing to devote the time required to participate in Parkinson's Europe meetings
- have flexible working arrangements and be able to fit in mid-week meetings and conference calls
- provide an up-to-date CV and photograph.
Board mandate
At the 2012 Annual General Assembly, the General Assembly voted unanimously that, in order to safeguard the continuation of Parkinson's Europe and its aims and objectives, the Board Mandate should be linked to the Board nominations and Verification Task Force criteria as follows.
Board members are to be:
- elected for one year as an Observer
- elected for a term of three years
- with one further term of office.
Statutes
Belgium AISBL Statutes
Parkinson's Europe is a charitable organisation registered in Bruxelles (Numéro de l'association: 8727/2000, No. d'entreprise: 465299201) and governed by the Belgian law of 25 October 1919, modified by the Law of 6 December 1954.
Some amendments to Parkinson's Europe Statutes were voted upon and ratified by Parkinson's Europe membership on 7 September 2020, 15 January 2021 and 29 June 2021.
Parkinson's Europe is working with the Belgian Notary and Authorities to amend the Statutes current text which, we understand, will be published in the Belgian Moniteur Belge in 2023, due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whilst awaiting publication, it is important that the current Parkinson's Europe Belgian Statutes are read in conjunction with the Amendments to the Belgium statutes (2020 - 2021) to obtain a full and comprehensive picture of Parkinson's Europe. Both documents can be downloaded below.
UK Statutes
Parkinson's Europe is a charitable organisation registered in England and Wales (registered Charity Number 1163211). Constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation with voting members other than its charity trustees. Date of constitution (last amended): 19 August 2015
Sources of funding
Parkinson's Europe receives on average approximately €23,000 a year from its membership fees. The other forms of funding we currently receive is from partnership agreements with the treatment industry, general donations, legacies and grants.
Our partners are companies and organisations of high standing and reputation, all of whom agree with Parkinson's Europe's overall strategic direction and help support the integrity of the organisation. Parkinson's Europe is guided by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) codes of practice, and partnership is established on shared interest, transparency, trust and mutual benefit.
For more information, please contact [email protected].
Financial reports
Parkinson's Europe prides itself on being a transparent organisation. Here, our audited accounts can be viewed as far back as 2004.
Note: PDI (Parkinson’s Disease International Ltd) was a UK-registered company that was closed in 2011.
Download our financial reports below.
