The General Assembly is the highest body and is the assembly of all members of the association who are present. A regular general meeting must be convened once a year. In order to enable as many members as possible to participate in the General Assembly without barriers, the General Assembly should generally be held by means of electronic communication (e.g. by telephone or video conference) or in a mixed meeting of those present and video conference/other media/telephone. The Board decides on exceptions. In the case of Online participation, member rights (voting rights, participation in discussions, right to submit motions, etc.) can be exercised by means of electronic communication. The date of the General Assembly will be announced in writing, electronically or via the association’s publication at least eight weeks before the General Assembly, stating the provisional agenda. It will be convened by the president. The meeting will be convened in writing, electronically or via the association’s publication at least four weeks before the meeting, stating the final agenda. The president chairs the meeting. He/she can appoint another person to chair the meeting. Any properly convened General Assembly shall have a quorum.

The General Assembly is responsible in particular for the following tasks:

 

• Receipt and approval of the annual report and the annual accounts for the previous financial year;
• Receipt and approval of the auditors’ report with discussion;
• Discharge of the Board of Directors and the Managing Directors;
• Adoption of the budget for the coming year;
• Approval of the contribution regulations;
• Resolution on a levy for one-off special expenses upon recommendation of the Board of Directors;
• Election of the members of the electoral committee for the board election;
• Election of the members of the Court of Honour upon proposal of the Board of Directors;
• Election of the auditors. They must be full members of the company and may not belong to a body of the company or be employed by it;
• Resolution on the appointment of honorary members upon proposal of the Board.

Each member can be represented at the General Assembly by another member or can represent one and only one other member. A power of attorney in text form is required for this. The power of attorney must be issued separately for each General Assembly .

Decisions of the General Assembly are made by a simple majority of the votes cast by the members present, unless the law or statutes provide otherwise. A tie vote is deemed to be a rejection.

A report must be drawn up on the General Assembly , which must be signed by the President or his/her deputy and the person taking the minutes.

The General Assembly is not public. The chairperson may admit guests.

Extraordinary general meetings will be convened:

 

• if the Board considers it necessary;
• if at least one tenth of the members request it in writing.

The extraordinary General Assembly must be held within eight weeks of receipt of the application. The members must be invited in writing at least ten days in advance, stating the agenda.