Introduction

The "Red Book" contains the basic information about the EPF, its structure and activities. It is called and known to member as the "Red Book" just because it was originally produced in a red folder. The basic information provided is:

 

  • the general scientific schedule of events of the EPF
  • the general scientific schedule of National European Societies
  • the EPF's constitution and Bye-Laws
  • the EPF's basic financial regulations
  • information about the EPF's activities:
    • Council Meetings
    • Main Conference
    • Seminar for Associated Members
    • EPF NAIPAG
    • East European Seminar
    • East European Summer School

 

A general outline for each scientific activity is provided together with a summary of the S.O.P. (Standard Operational Procedure) for the organization of the event.

 

The EPF Secretary is responsible for updating the "Red Book".

 

The Treasurer is responsible for information on financial issues.

 

The Liaison Member of the Executive provides any update on the event, which is his/her responsibility.

 

Constitution and by-laws

CONSTITUTION OF THE EUROPEAN PSYCHOANALYTICAL FEDERATION

 

ARTICLE 1 – NAME

The name of the association shall be "The European Psychoanalytical Federation", hereafter referred to as "the Federation".

 

ARTICLE 2 – LEGAL STATUS

The Federation is an association with a written Constitution. It shall have such legal standing and liabilities as defined by Articles 60-79 of the Swiss Civil Code.

 

ARTICLE 3 – OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

The English text of the Constitution of the Federation shall be the official text. The official languages of the Federation shall be English, French and German.

 

ARTICLE 4 – SEAT OF THE FEDERATION

The legal seat of the Federation shall be in Zürich, Switzerland. The location of the Executive Office shall be at Eva Schmid-Gloor, Hambergersteig 23, 8008 Zürich.

 

ARTICLE 5 – PSYCHOANALYSIS

According to Freud's definition in his 1923 paper “Two Encyclopaedia Articles, (A) Psycho-analysis”:

 

Psycho-analysis is the name (1) of a procedure for the investigation of unconscious mental processes which are almost inaccessible in any other way, (2) of a method (based upon that investigation) for the treatment of neurotic and not-neurotic disorders and (3) of a collection of psychological information obtained along those lines, which is gradually being accumulated into a scientific discipline.

 

ARTICLE 6 – AIMS OF THE FEDERATION

  1. The aims of the Federation are
    • to foster the growth of psychoanalysis;
    • to maintain and improve standards of psychoanalytical practice, education and teaching.
  2. The Federation is a non-profit organization. It pursues its aims in favour of the general public.
  3. In order to achieve its aims the Federation
    • promotes research in psychoanalysis and disseminates information on the theory and practice of psychoanalysis;
    • facilitates further communication among psychoanalysts by means of publications, newsletters, scientific conferences and other meetings;
    • provides a forum for the discussion of allied scientific topics and other matters of concern to psychoanalysts;
    • encourages contact between psychoanalysis and other disciplines.

 

ARTICLE 7 – MEMBERSHIP AND COMPOSITION OF THE FEDERATION

The Federation is composed of Psychoanalytical Societies. Full members

  1. Component Societies and Provisional Societies of the International Psychoanalytical Association ("IPA") located in Europe or certain other countries may become members of the Federation ("Member Societies"), as specified in the By-laws.
  2. Each Member Society shall be represented on the Council of the Federation.
  3. Member Societies retain their autonomy in respect of their business affairs, scientific research and training policy and procedures.

Study Groups

  1. Study Groups of the IPA may apply or be invited to be associated with the work of the Federation ("Associated Study Group"). Associated Study Groups may participate in all activities of the Federation and receive its publications. One representative of each Associated Study Group may attend Council Meetings of the Federation. Such representatives have no voting rights at Council Meetings.

Termination of the Membership

  1. Any Member may resign by registered letter from the Federation subject to six months’ written notice expiring at the end of the calendar year.
  2. A Member Society losing membership of the IPA immediately loses membership of the Federation.
  3. Failure to pay the annual subscription for two consecutive years may result in loss of membership of the Federation.
  4. No Member shall be expelled from the Federation unless it fails to comply with the Constitution.

 

ARTICLE 8 – FINANCES

The Federation shall be supported by the subscription of its Member Societies and Associated Study Groups as well as by donations and legacies.

Subscriptions

  1. Each Member Society or Associated Study Group shall pay an annual subscription which is calculated on a per capita basis by reference to its total membership.
  2. The amount of the per capita subscription shall be determined by the Council of the Federation.
  3. In certain circumstances a Society or Associated Study Group may temporarily be exempted from the whole or part of its subscription or arrears of such subscriptions.

Accounts

  1. The accounts of the Federation shall be duly audited once every year. The Treasurer shall circulate the auditor's report and the accounts to the Council and present them for acceptance by Council not later than six months after the end of the financial year.

Remuneration

  1. The Federation shall not make any dividend, gift or bonus in money to any individual or group. Individuals belonging to Member Societies or Associated Study Groups may not receive remuneration from the Federation but may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in their work for the Federation.

 

ARTICLE 9 – PUBLICATIONS

The Bulletin is the official publication organ of the Federation.

 

ARTICLE 10 – ORGANISATION AND STRUCTURE OF THE FEDERATION

A. The Council

The Council is the policy-making and administrative body of the Federation. It is composed of:

  1. The Presidents (or their official representatives) of the Member Societies
  2. The Executive
  3. Further individuals may attend Council Meetings upon invitation by the President of the Federation, but do not form part of the Council and have no voting rights.

 

B. The Executive

The Executive is the administrative body of the Federation during the intervals between Council Meetings. It is nominated and elected as a team and is composed of the Officers of the Federation, namely

  1. The President
  2. Two Vice-Presidents
  3. The General Secretary
  4. The Treasurer
  5. The General Editor

C. The Committees

The EPF structure includes standing committees with specific tasks

  1. The Election Committee
  2. The House Committee

 

ARTICLE 11 – THE COUNCIL

  1. The Council is responsible for the administration of the Federation. It shall meet at least twice a year.
  2. The Council is charged with the realisation of the aims of the Federation. It makes policy decisions and initiates and carries out activities of the Federation. Decisions of the Council shall be binding on the Federation.
  3. The Council is the representative of the Federation in all dealings with the IPA and other organisations.
  4. The Council is the agent of communication between the Federation and the Member Societies.
  5. The Council shall receive and take action on reports and recommendations submitted by the Executive or by individual Officers or by Council Members. It shall also consider issues presented by individual members, associate members or candidates of Member Societies or Associated Study Groups.
  6. The Council may call for a general postal referendum on important issues. The results are not binding on the Council.
  7. The admission of Member Societies and Associated Study Groups to the Federation shall be determined by Council in accordance with the procedures laid down in the By- Laws.
  8. The Council has the ultimate responsibility for the finances of the Federation. It receives and acts on the Treasurer's reports and recommendations and it establishes the amount of the annual per capita subscription.
  9. The Council shall receive nominations for the Executive as a team (President, two Vice-Presidents, General Secretary, Treasurer and General Editor) and shall proceed to the election of the Executive in accordance with the procedures specified in the By-laws.
  10. In the case of a vacancy arising on the Executive owing to the resignation or death of a member, the Council and/or Executive shall make arrangements to fill the vacancy, following the procedure specified in the By-laws.
  11. The Council has the power to modify the Constitution in accordance with procedures laid down in Article 15.
  12. The Council shall have the power to terminate the membership of a Member Society if, in its opinion, the Member Society fails to abide by the Constitution. Procedures for this action are laid down in Article 16.
  13. The Council is empowered to dissolve the Federation in accordance with procedures laid down in Article 17.

 

ARTICLE 12 – THE EXECUTIVE

The Officers of the Federation (President, two Vice-Presidents, General Secretary, Treasurer and General Editor) constitute the Executive which is empowered to act on behalf of the Council in the interval between Council Meetings. It implements policies and carries out activities which have been decided on by the Council and delegated to the Executive.

 

ARTICLE 13 – THE ELECTION COMMITTEE

  1. The Election Committee is responsible for collecting applications for the Executive, assessing their conformity with the EPF rules and circulating the final list of candidates.
  2. The mandate, procedures, composition and appointment of the Election Committee are described in the By-Laws.

 

ARTICLE 14 – THE EPF HOUSE

  1. The Federation owns facilities at Rue Gérard 35 in Brussels-Etterbeek, called The EPF House.
  2. The aim of the EPF House is to facilitate and foster the realization of the Federation aims as described in Article 6 while offering a permanent meeting site.
  3. Space permitting, current meetings of the Federation should take place in the EPF House.
  4. All meetings taking place in the EPF House shall be under the responsibility of members of the Federation (psychoanalysts or societies).
  5. The Council is responsible for the EPF House and for the expenses incurred by its management.
  6. The Council delegates its responsibility for the current activities and management of the EPF House to a House Committee (hereinafter "HC") chaired by a House Director.
  7. The mandate, composition, and appointment of the HC are described in the By-Laws.

 

ARTICLE 15 – AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

An amendment to the Statutes or By-laws may be proposed by any two members of the Council or ten members of Member Societies. The amendment must be circulated by the Council to Member Societies at least six months in advance of the Council Meeting at which it is to be discussed and voted upon. No amendment to the Constitution shall be valid unless it is passed at a duly convened meeting of the Council. Acceptance of an amendment to the Constitution shall be by two-thirds majority of the voting members present.

 

ARTICLE 16 – EXPULSION OF MEMBERS

A proposal for the expulsion of a Member Society from the Federation shall be considered only when made by at least two Members of the Council. Such a proposal shall be circulated to all the Member Societies at least six months before being placed on the provisional agenda for the Council Meeting at which expulsion is to be considered. The Member Society which might be expelled shall be granted a fair hearing at this Council Meeting. The Member Society may then be expelled by acceptance of the resolution by a majority vote of three quarters of the voting members present. The expelled Member Society may reapply for membership not earlier than 3 years after the expulsion.

 

ARTICLE 17 – DISSOLUTION OF THE FEDERATION

A proposal for the dissolution of the Federation made by a Member of the Council shall be circulated to the Member Societies at least six months before being placed on the provisional agenda for the Council Meeting at which dissolution is to be considered. No vote may be taken unless three quarters of the Council Members entitled to vote are present. The Federation may then be dissolved by acceptance of the resolution by a majority vote of three quarters of the voting members present.

 

If, after the dissolution of the Federation and after payment of all debts and liabilities, there remains any property whatsoever, the same shall not be paid to or distributed among members of the Federation, but is to be given or transferred mandatorily to an institution working in the field of psychoanalysis which is domiciled in Switzerland and exempt from Swiss taxation due to public or charitable purpose. The institution will be determined by the Council at the time of dissolution.

 

*****

 

By-Laws

 

1. MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL

A. Convening

Council Meetings shall be convened by written notice to all members of the Council at least two months before the date of each meeting.

B. Agenda

A provisional agenda shall be sent six weeks before the date of the Council Meeting.

C. Quorum

The quorum for Council Meetings shall be two thirds of its attending members (i.e. the Presidents of Member Societies and the Executive of the Federation), except for decisions taken under Articles 16 and 17 of the Constitution that shall require a quorum of three quarters of the attending Council Members.

D. Conduct of the meeting

The Council Meeting shall be conducted by the President or, in his absence, by one of the Vice-Presidents of the Executive

E. Voting

1. Entitlement to vote

    Officers of the Federation and Presidents (or their official representatives) of the Mem- ber Societies are entitled to vote with one vote.

2. Procedure of voting

  1. Motions to be voted upon in Council must be proposed or seconded by Council Members.

  2. Voting, unless otherwise specified or requested, shall be by show of hands.

  3. With the exception of resolutions concerning:

Amendments to the Constitution (Article 15) and Dissolution of the Federation (Article 17) the decision of the Council shall be determined by a simple majority of votes cast for and against a motion. In the case of a tie the President (or his Deputy) shall have a deciding vote.

 

2. ELECTION OF THE EXECUTIVE

  1. Terms of Office
    1. The Executive (Officers of the Federation) shall be elected as a team for a period of four years. The election shall take place one year before the end of term of the acting Executive.
    2. Further, re-election shall not be possible until a period of four years after relinquishment from office has elapsed. This provision does not apply to members of the Executive who, after having held a different office, are elected as President of the Federation. Notwithstanding prior engagement in the Executive, a President elected in such a way may hold office for a period of four years. If no outgoing member wants to run for Presidency the Council may re-elect one outgoing member, except for the President, in his/her previous charge for continuity reasons.
    3. The same procedure as stated below for the regular election of the Executive applies to the re-election of an outgoing member. The outgoing member shall be re-elected as part of the team of the new Executive and not as an individual.
  2. Eligibility
    1. Any individual who is an IPA member of a Member Society is eligible for nomination to office in the Federation.
    2. No person shall hold more than one office at the same time.
    3. The President of a Member Society may not serve as an Officer of the Federation.
  3. Procedure for nomination
    1. When the Executive is due to be elected the General Secretary shall advise the Member Societies at least six months before the date of the Council Meeting at which elections are to take place.
    2. The nomination shall be for a full team only. No individual shall be entitled to nomination on his/her own.
    3. Nominations for the Executive (President, two Vice-Presidents, General Secretary, Treasurer and General Editor) shall be sent to the Election Committee following the procedure set out in section 3 paragraph B of the Bylaws.
  4. Voting

1. Voting Rights

Each member of the Council present at a Council Meeting shall have the right to vote and have one vote for each team nominated.

2. Procedures

Voting shall be by secret ballot for the entire Executive.

3. Quorum

  1. When only one or two teams are nominated for Executive, a simple majority shall be decisive.
  2. When three or more teams are nominated for Executive, unless one team obtains more than 50% of the votes cast, a second ballot shall follow between the two teams with the most votes. The team receiving a simple majority of votes cast is elected.

4. Election of the Executive-Elect

  1. The Executive shall be elected one year before the end of term of the acting Executive.
  2. The President-Elect shall serve on the Executive after his election. The other Officers-Elect will become members of the Executive only when taking up their office. They may be invited to the Executive Meetings when necessary.

 

3. THE ELECTION COMMITTEE

A. Mandate

  1. The Election Committee is responsible for the collecting of all applications for the Executive.
  2. The Election Committee shall assess the conformity of the applications with the EPF rules. To comply with that task, the Committee’s members may undertake all verifications they deem necessary.
  3. The Election Committee is responsible for sending to the Executive and to the Presidents of EPF Societies the final list of candidates including their statements and further documents.
  4. The members of the Election Committee hold office for six years.
  5. To assure continuity, one of the members retires every two years with a new member joining the Committee at the same time.

 

B. Procedures

  1. The Election Committee shall receive only applications for the Executive as a team (President, two Vice-Presidents, General Secretary, Treasurer and General Editor).
  2. The applicants – being the members of the applying team as set out in paragraph B.1 above – shall send to the Chair of the Election Committee detailed statements of their professional standards and state why they see themselves as eligible for the specific office they are running for.
    Furthermore, each applicant shall send the Chair of the Election Committee a letter signed by the Chair of their Society’s Ethics Committee certifying that he or she has never been the subject of any ethical complaint that has been upheld. In case there is no Ethics Committee in the Society, the current President of the EPF has to consult three senior analysts of the Society, who are preferably former Presidents of the Society.
  3. To be eligible, the applications shall be received by the Chair of the Election Committee at the latest three months before the date of the election.
  4. The final list of candidates including their statements and letters of their Societies shall be sent to the Executive and to the Presidents of EPF Societies one month before the date of the election.
  5. Once the procedure of assessment of the applications is open – which is three months before the date of election –, no applicant shall contact the Election Committee whatever the matter. Any applications or other documents the Election Committee receives after the assessment is open, shall not be taken into account and shall be returned to the submitter without any comment.

 

C. Composition

  1. The Election Committee is composed of one Chair and two members.
  2. To be eligible, their members should neither be members of the Council nor of the Executive.

 

D. Appointment

  1. The members of the Election Committee are appointed by the Executive.
  2. The Chair of the Election Committee is appointed by the Executive in agreement with all members of the Committee.

 

 

4. VACANCIES OF THE EXECUTIVE OCCURRING BEFORE THE END OF THE TERM OF OFFICE

A. President

In the case of the President, the President-Elect shall become President. During a time when there is no President-Elect, one of the Vice-Presidents shall be designated by the Council to act as President until a new election can be held.

B. Vice-Presidents

       In the case of a Vice President the Vice President Elect shall become Vice President. During a time when there is no Vice President Elect the Executive shall designate someone to carry on the functions of the Vice President until the Council can hold a new election.

C. Treasurer

       In the case of the Treasurer, the Treasurer-Elect shall become Treasurer. During a time when there is no Treasurer-Elect, the Executive shall designate someone to carry on the functions of the Treasurer until the Council can hold a new election.

D. General Editor

       In the case of the General Editor of the Bulletin, the General Editor-Elect shall become General Editor. During a time when there is no General Editor-Elect, the Executive shall designate someone to carry on the functions of the General Editor until the Council can hold a new election.

E. General Secretary

       In case of the General Secretary, the General Secretary-Elect shall become General Secretary. During a time when there is no General Secretary-Elect, the Executive shall designate someone to carry on the functions of the General Secretary until the Council can hold a new election.

 

5. ACCEPTING A SOCIETY AS A MEMBER SOCIETY OR A STUDY GROUP   AS AN ASSOCIATED STUDY GROUP

  1. When the Council receives an application from a Society, Provisional Society or Study Group of the IPA requesting membership or Study Group status in the Federation, the Council shall circulate such an application to Member Societies at least three months before the date of the Council Meeting at which a decision on the application is to be taken.
  2. A proposal to accept a Society as a Member Society or a Study Group as an Associated Study Group of the Federation must be moved and seconded by members of the Council at the Council Meeting at which the vote is to be taken.
  3. Acceptance shall be by simple majority of the members present.

 

6. STATUS AND RIGHTS OF AN ASSOCIATED STUDY GROUP

  1. A Study Group of the IPA may be associated with the Federation in accordance with By-law 5.
  2. An Associated Study Group is entitled to send its President (or his official representative) to Council Meetings. At such meetings he will have the status of an observer and can participate freely in the discussions of Council but shall not have the right to vote.

 

7. THE HOUSE COMMITTEE (hereinafter "HC")

A. Mandate

  1. The HC shall take responsibility for the daily management and current activities of the EPF House, including an updated agenda of all meetings.
  2. The HC shall foster the development of new scientific activities.
  3. The HC shall receive all requests from those psychoanalysts and societies wishing to meet in the EPF House and respond in a reasonable delay.
  4. For the daily administrative tasks and practicalities of the EPF House management, the HC is helped by the EPF Administrative Assistant.
  5. Whenever necessary, the HC shall hire temporary employees for specific tasks.
  6. With the help of the member of the Executive responsible for the EPF website, the HC shall develop and keep updated a specific webpage with all information regarding the EPF House.
  7. The HC shall meet in person twice a year, once in autumn and once during the annual EPF Conference. Its members are reimbursed for their travel and accommodation expenses to the autumn meeting.
  8. The HC shall send to the Executive a yearly written report about the EPF House activities and projects. The House Director shall be invited to the Executive and Council meeting discussing the HC’s report.

B. Composition

  1. The HC needs a minimum of seven members and one House Director plus the EPF Treasurer as an ex-officio member of the HC.
  2. The composition should be representative of the diversities of the European psychoanalytical societies and languages.
  3.  
  4. The House Director should reside either in Brussels or close enough in order to assume personally the oversight of the EPF House.

C. Appointment

  1. The members of the HC and the House Director are appointed by the Executive.
  2. They hold office for a period of six years.
  3. Once the first period of six years is over, one half of the HC shall be renewed every three years. With exception of the first period of six years, no member of the HC shall hold office for more than six years.

 

*****

Approved by the EPF Executive and Council in Madrid, Spain, 10th April 2019

 

THE TRIREGIONAL CONFERENCE : EPF - NAPSac - FEPAL

For many years there has been a conference in Europe biannually that has brought together North American and Japanese senior analysts with their colleagues in Europe.

It is usually held in the third weekend of July for up to 60 participants.

We are expanding this model to include colleagues from Latin America from 2012.

The different training and theoretical backgrounds provide us with the opportunity to share clinical knowledge and experience, as well as the similarities and differences of psychoanalytic practice and our different ways of being with our clinical experience, within a confidential setting.

The Conference consists of every participant bringing clinical material from an analysis, that is discussed in turn in small groups. The conference language is English. The intensity of the psychoanalytic work of conference is conducted in a comfortable and friendly setting, with all participants staying in the same hotel. There is an expectation that the relaxed atmosphere of summer enables everyone to learn different analytic styles and clinical techniques in an enjoyable atmosphere close, for many to the holidays. There is a programme for non-participating partners as well as a gala dinner on the Saturday night.

In 2008 the conference was held in Amsterdam and 2010 in Cascais, Portugal. The next conference will take place on the 19-22 July 2012.

Any EPF colleague wishing to attend will need to contact one of the EPF Vice Presidents.

Update on 11 November 2022: This meeting will no longer be organised.

The NEW ANALYST SEMINAR

This seminar meets annually during the second weekend of June.

 

It used to be known as the Associate Members Seminar until it was recognised that in many societies this category of membership no longer existed. For a short while the seminar was titled the Recently Qualified Members Seminar but this has now evolved to a description for whom it is for---namely New Analysts in Europe.

 

Each analyst brings clinical analytic work to present to a group of colleagues from other societies as well as to a training analyst during a weekend. The process is less about supervision and more about listening to how colleagues from different trainings, analytic models and cultures, understand and discuss psychoanalysis. This can allow the possibility of a radical moment of realization – that one’s taught model is but one of many which suggests a much more labyrinthine process of outflow from the unconscious. This EPF tradition has enabled many cohorts of colleagues to meet together from all over Europe, and establish friendships some of which can last throughout their careers.

 

The Seminar takes place in various locations across the region and usually has a local analyst as organizer. It begins on a Thursday evening and ends on Sunday late morning.

The work consists of hearing the work of one analyst, in each session, beginning with a brief history and followed by detailed description of two sessions of analysis of a patient.

The group with a training analyst discuss the material together. Everyone attending presents their clinical work and the language of the conference is in English. Even if one feels that one’s knowledge of English is less than others, the atmosphere is such that there are plenty of ready translators with one’s colleagues.

There is some financial support available for colleagues who work in societies and cultures that require charging low fees . In recent years the seminar has met in Turin (2009), Warsaw(2010) and Mainz(2011).