CHAPTER IIIBOARD OF DIRECTORSArticle 111.The Board of Directors shall meet not less than six times per year and shall decide, on each occasion, the date of its next meeting.2.The Chairman shall convene the Board of Directors before the scheduled date, should one third of the voting members so require or the Chairman think necessary.3.A Committee on Staff Remuneration and Budget shall be established within the Board of Directors, as part of its responsibilities and in accordance with Article 18 of these Rules, charged with matters identified in advance, in order to give non-binding opinions to the Board of Directors so as to facilitate the decision making procedure.As part of its responsibilities and in accordance with Article 18 of these Rules, the Board of Directors may decide to create a Risk Policy Committee and an Equity Participation Policy Committee, whose members shall be appointed and whose rules of procedure shall be adopted upon their constitution. These Committees may hold joint meetings when appropriate and invite the Audit Committee to a meeting. They shall issue recommendations and give non-binding opinions to the Board of Directors so as to facilitate the decision-making procedure.The Committees referred to in this paragraph shall be composed of some of the directors or their alternates.The President shall chair and be entitled to delegate the chairmanship of the above Committees to a member of the Board of Directors or to a Vice-President. The Secretary-General shall provide secretarial services for the above Committees.4.An Ethics and Compliance Committee shall be established, composed of the four longest-serving directors who have volunteered to participate in it, plus the Chairman of the Audit Committee. The Committee shall be chaired by the longest-serving director and the term of office as Chairman of the Committee shall be 3 years and shall be renewable in accordance with the terms laid down in the operating rules of the Committee. The Ethics and Compliance Committee shall:
It shall apply the legal provisions concerning incompatibility with duties adopted by the Board of Governors. The Committee shall inform the Board of Directors and the Board of Governors of the decisions adopted.The Chief Compliance Officer shall participate in the meetings of the Committee without the right to vote.The Inspector General shall participate in the meetings of the Committee when fraud related matters, such as matters related to the EIB anti-fraud policy as amended from time to time, are discussed without the right to vote.The Board of Governors shall adopt the operating rules of the Ethics and Compliance Committee.Article 121.Notice of meetings of the Board of Directors together with details of the agenda must, normally, be issued not less than 15 days before the date set for each meeting.2.The members of the Board of Directors shall have access to the documents not less than 10 working days before the meeting. The Bank may employ electronic means.3.Each member of the Board of Directors may require the inclusion of items on the agenda for a meeting of the Board, provided that he conveys his requirement in writing to the Chairman of the Board of Directors not less than 5 days before the meeting.4.In cases of emergency, the Chairman may convene the Board immediately. Decisions may also be put to the vote by written or electronic correspondence. The Chairman may also use the tacit procedure on the terms laid down by the Board of Directors.Article 13Each member of the Board of Directors shall be entitled to avail himself of one of the official languages of the Union. He may require that any document for consideration by the Board be drawn up in the language of his choice.Article 141.Alternates may take part in the meetings of the Board of Directors. Alternates nominated by a State, or by common accord of several States, or by the Commission, may replace directors nominated by that State, by one of those States or by the Commission respectively. Alternates shall not be entitled to vote, except where they replace one or more directors or where they have been delegated to do so in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 5 of this article.2.Where Article 9(2) of the Statute provides that a State shall nominate one director and two alternates, the director shall indicate which alternate, in order of priority, is to represent him when he is prevented from attending, failing which the rules laid down in the following paragraph shall apply.3.Where Article 9(2) of the Statute provides that several Member States shall each nominate one director and jointly nominate several alternates, the alternate called upon to perform the duties of a director when he is prevented from attending shall be determined, in the absence of an express delegation, in accordance with the following order:4.If a director ceases to perform his duties or dies, he shall be replaced by the alternate determined in accordance with the rules provided for in points (a), (b) and (c) of the preceding paragraph until such time as a new director is appointed by the Board of Governors.5.Where a director, prevented from attending, is unable to arrange for an alternate to represent him, he may delegate his vote in writing to another member of the Board of Directors.6.No member of the Board of Directors may have more than two votes.Article 151.The quorum provided for in Article 10(2) of the Statute shall be eighteen voting members present.2.Decisions of the Board of Directors shall be taken in accordance with Article 10(2) of the Statute.3.The unanimity stipulated in Article 19(5) and (6) of the Statute means the total number of votes in favour cast by voting members present or represented.Article 161.In accordance with the fourth subparagraph of Article 9(2) of the Statute, the Board of Directors shall co-opt six non-voting experts: three as full members and three as alternates.2.The President shall propose to the Board of Directors the full member candidates and the alternate candidates, for a period expiring at the end of the directors' term of office.3.These candidates shall be chosen from among persons having a qualification and proven experience in a field relating to the Bank's activities.4.The Board of Directors shall approve the President's proposal in accordance with the procedure provided for in the first sentence of Article 10(2) of the Statute.5.The co-opted experts shall enjoy the rights of the non-voting members of the Board of Directors and shall be subject to the same obligations.Article 17Minutes shall be kept of the meetings of the Board of Directors. They shall be signed by the Chairman of the meeting and the Chairman presiding over the meeting during which they are approved as well as by the Secretary of the meeting.Article 181.In accordance with Article 9(1) of the Statute, the Board of Directors shall exercise the following powers:2.In general, it shall ensure that the Bank is properly run in accordance with the Treaty, the Statute, the directives laid down by the Board of Governors and the other texts governing the Bank's activity in the performance of its task under the Treaty. In the exercise of its powers, the Board of Directors may request the Management Committee to take the initiative and to submit proposals.3.It may, on the basis of a decision taken by qualified majority, delegate some of its functions to the Management Committee. It shall determine the terms and conditions for such delegation and shall supervise its execution.4.It shall exercise all other powers provided for in the Statute and shall confer upon the Management Committee, in the rules and decisions that it adopts, the corresponding implementing powers, it being understood that the Management Committee shall, in accordance with Article 11(3) of the Statute, be responsible for the current business of the Bank, under the authority of the President and the supervision of the Board of Directors.Article 191.Members of the Board of Directors shall be entitled to reimbursement of their travel and subsistence expenses when taking part in the meetings of the Board of Directors.2.The Board of Governors shall determine the amount of the attendance allowance for directors and alternates.
CHAPTER IVMANAGEMENT COMMITTEEArticle 201.The Management Committee shall be the permanent representative and decision-making body of the Bank, without prejudice to the provisions of the Statute.2.It shall meet as and when required by the business of the Bank.Article 211.At least five members of the Management Committee must be present for decisions taken and opinions delivered by it to be valid.2.The President shall chair meetings of the Board of Directors, the committees set up in accordance with Article 11(3) of these Rules and the Management Committee. If the President is prevented from attending, is ill or has a conflict of interest, the longest-serving Vice-President shall replace him. Where two or more Vice-Presidents have the same length of service, the Vice-President who is senior in terms of age shall replace the President.3.Decisions shall be taken by simple majority of the votes cast by members present. Each member of the Management Committee shall have one vote. In the event of a tie in the voting by members of the Management Committee, the President shall have the casting vote.4.The Management Committee may delegate the adoption of management or administrative measures to the President or one or more Vice-Presidents, subject to the restrictions and conditions laid down in the decision to delegate. Any decision so adopted shall be notified to the Committee forthwith.The Management Committee may delegate the adoption of other measures jointly to the President and one or more Vice-Presidents, subject to the restrictions and conditions laid down in the decision to delegate, if it is not possible, given the circumstances, to take a decision in the meeting. Any decision so adopted shall be notified to the Committee forthwith.5.The Management Committee may vote on and adopt decisions via written or electronic correspondence. The Management Committee may also use the tacit procedure and, in exceptional circumstances, have recourse to teleconferencing on terms that it shall lay down.Article 22The proceedings of the Management Committee shall be summarised by the Secretary in minutes approved by the Management Committee and signed by the President of the Bank and the Secretary-General.Article 231.In accordance with Article 11(3) and (7) of the Statute, the Management Committee shall be competent to adopt and implement the administrative rules relating to the organisation and operation of the Bank's departments, including as regards staff management, the Staff Rules and the corresponding rights and obligations, without prejudice to the Staff Regulations. It shall inform the Board of Directors thereof.2.The Management Committee shall also be competent, under the same terms and conditions, to conclude all agreements with the Bank's staff.3.In the framework of the foregoing, the President shall have the power to decide on all individual staff matters, effect compromises, reconcile differences, conclude agreements and, in general, do everything that is useful and necessary in the Bank's interest, in accordance with Article 11(7) of the Statute.Article 23.a1.Members of the Management Committee shall be persons of independence, competence and have experience in financial, banking and/or European Union matters. They shall, at all times:
The overall composition of the Management Committee shall aim to reflect an adequately broad range of expertise as well as gender diversity.2.An Appointment Advisory Committee shall be set up in order to give a non-binding opinion on candidates' suitability to perform the duties of a member of the Management Committee in light of the criteria set out in the foregoing paragraph and specified further in the operating rules of this Committee before the Board of Governors makes the appointments referred to in Article 11.1 of the Statute.The Committee shall comprise five members external to the Bank, appointed by the Board of Governors upon proposal of the President, having independence, competence, high integrity and high reputation. Members of the Committee shall possess relevant professional experience, in particular banking expertise, including banking supervisory and/or financial expertise, in the private or public sector and/or thorough knowledge of European Union matters. The overall composition of the Committee shall aim to reflect an adequately broad range of expertise as well as gender diversity. Members of the Committee shall be appointed for a period of up to 6 years and may be reappointed once.The Bank shall organize secretarial services for the Committee. The Board of Governors shall adopt the operating rules of the CommitteeArticle 23.b1.In the event of serious or alleged serious misconduct of a member of the Management Committee, whether through a serious failure to honour his/her professional obligations, an infringement of the law or any other event that may seriously affect the reputation of the Bank and/or have the consequence that the member concerned is no longer in a position to exercise his/her duties properly, the President, with the agreement of the Chairman of the Board of Governors, may suspend the concerned member of the Management Committee in accordance with the provisions of this Article 23.b.In cases concerning the President, the Chairman of the Board of Governors may suspend the President.2.Any suspension decision:3.Should the Board of Governors within 3 months decide to confirm the suspension for an additional period, the member of the Management Committee concerned will be suspended until the end of such additional suspension period unless:4.Should the Board of Governors within 3 months not decide to confirm the suspension for an additional period, the member of the Management Committee concerned will be automatically reinstated.5.Upon expiration of the suspension period, the concerned member of the Management Committee shall be automatically reinstated unless s/he is subject to a compulsory retirement decision pursuant to Article 11.2 of the Statute.6.In the event of a compulsory retirement procedure pursuant to Article 11.2 of the Statute, the Ethics and Compliance Committee shall be consulted. The ECC opinion will be transmitted to the Board of Directors together with the related observations of the concerned Member of the Management Committee.7.The Board of Directors shall lay down the details of the suspension and of the compulsory retirement procedures.
CHAPTER VAUDIT COMMITTEEArticle 241.Pursuant to Article 12 of the Statute, an Audit Committee (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Committee’) shall annually verify that the operations of the Bank have been conducted and its books kept in a proper manner.2.It shall be responsible for the auditing of the Bank's accounts.3.It shall verify that the activities of the Bank conform to best banking practice applicable to it.Article 251.The Committee shall hold a meeting at least once a year with the Management Committee in order to discuss the results of its work during the preceding financial year as well as its work programme for the current financial year.2.At the end of each financial year and not later than 2 weeks before the submission to the Board of Governors, the Committee must receive the draft annual report of the Board of Directors, containing the draft financial statements.3.Within 3 weeks of receiving these documents, the Committee, having carried out the tasks deemed necessary, having received assurance from the Management Committee concerning the effectiveness of the internal control systems, risk management and internal administration, and after having examined the report of the external auditors, must forward to the President of the Bank a statement confirming that, to the best of its knowledge and judgement:
4.Should the Committee consider that it is unable to confirm the foregoing, it must deliver to the President of the Bank within the same time limit a statement containing a reasoned explanation.5.The Committee's statement shall be communicated to the Board of Governors as an annex to the annual report of the Board of Directors.6.The Committee shall address to the Board of Governors a detailed report on the results of its work during the preceding financial year, including verification that the activities of the Bank conform to best banking practice applicable to it, a copy of which shall be sent to the members of the Board of Directors and the Management Committee. The Committee's report shall be sent to the Board of Governors together with the annual report of the Board of Directors.Article 261.The Committee shall have access to all the Bank's books and vouchers and may request sight of any other document which it finds necessary to examine in the discharge of its duties. The departments of the Bank shall be at its disposal for any assistance.2.The Committee shall also have recourse to external auditors which it shall designate after consultation with the Management Committee, and to whom it is empowered to delegate day-to-day work concerning the audit of the Bank's financial statements. To this end, it shall review each year the nature and the scope of the proposed external audit and the audit procedures to be utilised. It shall also review the results and conclusions of such audit, including any comments or recommendations. The external auditors' engagement letter shall be drawn up forthwith by the Bank in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Committee.3.The Committee shall also review each year the work programme, the scope and the results of the Bank's internal audit.4.It shall ensure that there is adequate coordination between the internal and external auditors. If need be, the Committee may call on other experts.5.The proceedings of the Committee shall be valid only if the majority of its members are present. Apart from the statement and the report referred to in Article 25 of these Rules of Procedure, which can only be adopted unanimously, all decisions of the Committee shall require the assent of the majority of its members. In the event of a tie in the voting by the members of the Committee, the Chairman shall have the casting vote.6.The Chairman of the Committee may put decisions to the vote by written or electronic correspondence.7.The Committee itself shall determine all other operating rules.8.Members of the Committee shall not divulge any information or data coming to their knowledge during the performance of their duties to persons or bodies outside the Bank. This obligation shall also apply to the external auditors designated by the Committee in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article.Article 271.The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Governors. Their appointment shall be for 6 consecutive financial years and shall not be renewable. One member of the Committee shall be replaced each year.2.Members shall be chosen from persons having independence, competence and integrity. Members shall possess financial, audit or banking supervisory expertise in the private or public sector, and among themselves should cover the whole range of expertise.3.The terms of office of the members of the Committee shall expire at the end of the day either of the Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors referred to in Article 2(2) of these Rules or of the approval of the financial statements, whichever is the later. The term of office of new members shall commence the following day.4.The Board of Governors, acting by a qualified majority, may compulsorily retire a member of the Committee, if it considers that he is no longer able to discharge his duties.5.The office of Chairman of the Committee shall be held for 1 year in rotation by the member whose appointment is to come to an end at the end of the day either of the Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors referred to in Article 2(2) or of the approval of the financial statements, whichever is the later.6.The Board of Governors, on a joint proposal from the President of the Bank and the Chairman of the Audit Committee, may appoint a maximum of three observers for a non-renewable 6-year term. They shall be appointed on the basis of their particular qualifications, especially with regard to banking supervision. They shall assist the Committee in the execution of its tasks and responsibilities, by participating in its work. The full members of the Committee may entrust the observers with certain specific tasks, in particular studies in preparation for the meetings of the Committee.Article 28In the event of a vacancy arising as a result of death, voluntary resignation, compulsory retirement or for any other reason, the Board of Governors shall, within 3 months, appoint a replacement for the unexpired remainder of the term of office.Article 29The Board of Governors shall determine the emoluments of the members of the Committee and similarly of the observers. Travel and subsistence expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties shall be reimbursed under the conditions applicable to the members of the Board of Directors.