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Constitution

The Complete Constitution of the European Hip Society.

The Constitution of the European Hip Society was updated in 2026 and is available in .pdf format HERE. 

Our new constitution is accompanied by the EHS Bylaws, also available to download, HERE.

Preamble

The European Hip Society is established to advance excellence in the science and practice of hip surgery, to promote education and research, and to improve patient outcomes across Europe and internationally.

a. The Association shall be known as the European Hip Society (EHS).
b. The Association is registered with the competent authority for associations in Innsbruck, Austria, under registration number 313285504 (ZVR-Zahl). The registered office of the Association is Grabenweg 72, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
c. The activities of the Association shall extend throughout Europe and internationally.

a. The purpose of the Association is to provide a forum for the discussion of research, advances in clinical practice, and the outcomes of all forms of treatment relating to the hip joint, with particular emphasis on surgical procedures.
b. The Association shall operate exclusively and directly for the public benefit in accordance with Austrian law governing non-profit organisations.
c. The Association shall primarily pursue scientific objectives. It shall not pursue commercial purposes as its primary aim and shall remain politically neutral.
d. No individual shall benefit from payments contrary to the purposes of the Association.
e. In the event of dissolution of the Association, or loss of its non-profit status, its assets shall be transferred to a non-profit organisation pursuing similar objectives.

The Association shall pursue its objectives through scientific meetings, congresses, publications, fellowships, educational activities, research collaboration, social media, and digital dissemination.
Financial resources shall be derived from subscriptions, congress income, grants, donations, public funding, legacies, and investment income.

Membership shall be unlimited.
Membership categories shall include Full Members, International Members, Young Members, Emeritus Members, Honorary Members, and Companion Members.
Only Full Members shall have voting rights. Membership shall become effective upon approval and payment of the applicable subscription fee.

All members shall be entitled to participate in the activities of the Association and benefit from its services.
Members shall support the aims of the Association, comply with this Constitution, and refrain from conduct that may harm the Association’s reputation.

The annual subscription fee shall be determined by the Executive Committee.
Membership shall not take effect until the applicable subscription fee has been paid.
Subscriptions shall be payable annually and no later than 1 May of the relevant year.

Membership may terminate by resignation, non-payment of fees, or expulsion.
Expulsion shall require due process, including written notice sent from the Executive Committee to the member, an opportunity to respond, and a two-thirds majority decision of the Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee shall exercise ultimate authority over the governance, management, and strategic direction of the Association.
It shall consist of the President, Past President, Vice-President (President-Elect), Vice-President Elect, Secretary General, and Treasurer.
The Executive Committee shall oversee all committees and bodies established under this Constitution.

The National Representatives Forum shall be chaired by the President of the Association.
It shall advise the Executive Committee and support engagement and collaboration across member countries. The Forum shall have no independent decision-making authority.

The President shall represent the Association and oversee its activities.
The Secretary General shall maintain records and documentation.
The Treasurer shall oversee the finances of the Association.

An Annual General Assembly shall be held each year no later than 31 December.
The Assembly shall receive reports, approve accounts, appoint Auditors, elect Officers, and consider resolutions.

A Special General Assembly may be convened by the Executive Committee or upon written request signed by at least one-tenth of the membership.

Notice of any General Assembly shall be given at least 28 days in advance.
The quorum shall consist of the Full Members present.
Resolutions shall be passed by simple majority unless otherwise specified in this Constitution.

This Constitution may be amended only by a two-thirds majority of Full Members present and voting at a duly convened General Assembly, or by an equivalent majority in a postal or electronic ballot.

The Executive Committee shall have the authority to adopt, amend, and repeal byelaws as necessary for the effective operation of the Association.

All funds of the Association shall be held in accounts in the name of the Association.
The Treasurer shall have primary signatory authority. Transactions exceeding EUR 10,000 shall require a second written confirmation (either by electronical mail or by post) from the President, Vice-President (President-Elect), or Secretary General.

The financial year shall correspond to the calendar year.
Annual accounts shall be prepared within the first five months of the following year.

The Executive Committee may borrow funds on behalf of the Association for its general purposes.
Borrowing arrangements exceeding one year in duration shall require approval by a General Assembly.

Disputes arising within the Association shall be resolved by an internal arbitral tribunal composed of three Full Members.
Its decisions shall be final and binding.

The Association may be dissolved only by a two-thirds majority in a postal or electronic ballot.
The Executive Committee shall oversee the winding up of the Association’s affairs.

If the Association is dissolved or loses its non-profit status, its remaining assets shall be used exclusively for non-profit purposes in accordance with Austrian law.
Where possible, such assets shall be transferred to EFORT or another organisation pursuing similar objectives.

The Educational Committee shall support educational programmes, fellowships, webinars, and training initiatives.

The Scientific Committee shall support congress programmes, research activities, publications, and collaborative studies.

The Early Career Committee shall support mentorship, early-career engagement, leadership development, and participation in Association activities.

Committee Term Provisions Clarification

For the avoidance of doubt, the following term provisions apply to the Educational Committee, Scientific Committee, and Early Career Committee:
Committee members shall serve a term of four years and may be reappointed once only.
Accordingly, no individual may serve for more than eight consecutive years on the same committee.
The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of each committee shall likewise serve four-year terms and may be reappointed once only.