The Assembly is the supreme body of the HANSE, and all member cities can send their delegates to it. The Assembly is quorate regardless of the number of towns and cities represented at its meetings. Each town or city has one vote. The resolutions of the Assembly are passed by a majority of members present and eligible to vote. It deliberates on all questions and problems raised by the members of the HANSE.
DIE HANSE today
Organisation and Membership
MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the HANSE is open to any town or city that belonged to the historic Hanseatic League, or was associated with it, or where there was a Hanseatic office or trading post for a considerable period of time. This must be evidenced by historical documents or deeds from the respective town/city archives. Application for acceptance in DIE HANSE is to be made in writing through the responsible bodies of the city/town to the Commission. Decision on acceptance is vested in the Assembly, following proposal by the Commission. DIE HANSE charges no membership fee
ASSEMBLY
The powers of the Assembly include in particular:
- Acceptance of new member towns and cities
- Exclusion of member towns and cities
- Amendments to the Statutes, and dissolution of the HANSE
- Election of the Council at the proposal of the Commission
- Election of the President at the proposal of the Commission
- Designation of member towns/cities to hold the Hansa Conventions, at the proposal of the Commission
- Acceptance of HANSE projects at the proposal of the Commission
- Control of the Commission and Council
- Moral and financial support of the Youth Hansa
COMMISSION
The Hanseatic cities in each of the countries having members shall
elect one of their Hanseatic cities (or in the case of Germany:
five of their Hanseatic cities) to represent them in the
Commission. Seats and votes in the Commission shall be allocated to
the following countries, where active member cities are currently
represented, and to the Youth Hansa and the Council, as follows:
Germany five seats, Belgium, England, Estonia, Finnland, France,
Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Belarus, Russia, Scotland and Sweden.
The Commission shall automatically be enlarged by one seat with the
addition of any country not previously represented.
In addition, invitations to attend meetings of the Commission as
consultative members shall be issued both to the city which
organised the last Hansa Convention and to the three cities which
are to organise the next three Hansa Conventions. The HANSE-Gilde
(Hanseatic Guild) shall likewise have the right to attend meetings
of the Commission in a consultative role, with one delegate.
The members of the Commission shall be elected for a term of three
years. In good time before expiry of said term, the countries shall
hold further elections to choose the Hanseatic cities by which they
wish to be represented in the Commission. Re-election of Commission
members is admissible.
The Commission shall meet at least twice a year, chaired by the
President. He/she shall have the support of two Vice-Presidents.
The Commission shall in particular have the following tasks:
- Right of proposal to the Assembly for election of the Council
- Preparation of the next Hansa Convention
- Preparation of the Assembly
- Elaboration of concrete proposals to be put to the Assembly with respect to the policy and organisation of DIE HANSE
- Supervision of policy decisions and of further development of policy
- Consultation and coordination of project work of DIE HANSE after prior deliberation by the Council
- Submission to the Assembly of recommendations for implementation of projects.
