Article 1: Name, registered address

1.2 N.E.P.E.S. is a non-registered organisation under the umbrella of the European Federation of Psychologists Associations (EFPA).
Its address is: EFPA Head Office, Galerie Agora, Rue Marché aux Herbes, 105/18 Brussels, Belgium.

Article 2: Definitions

2.1 A member of N.E.P.E.S. is a representative of a National Association that is member of EFPA.

2.2 A psychologist is a person who has graduated in psychology from a university and has fulfilled the criteria for professional status prescribed by the National Association of the country where the psychologist works.

2.3 In countries where there is legal recognition of psychologists, psychologists are those who are entitled, by law or through registration, to call themselves psychologists and to practise professionally as such.

Article 3: Aims of N.E.P.E.S.

The network strives for the following aims:

• to promote psychology as a science and profession in the educational system in co-operation with EFPA and ISPA (International School Psychology Association)
• to promote communication and co-operation between psychologists and their organisations working in the educational system.
• to strengthen psychology in research, application, and practice, and to further adequate dissemination of the psychological knowledge in the educational system.
• to promote ethical thinking and commitment to national ethical codes among psychologists
• to promote the application of psychology as a means of improving the well being of those to whom psychologists in the educational system offer services.
• to promote children’s rights
• to support Member Organisations in promoting the interests of psychology and psychologists in the educational system in their own countries
• to support the professional status and working conditions of psychologists in the educational system
• to facilitate contacts with international bodies of psychology and related disciplines
• to be an important source of advice to European institutions, governments and to political, social, consumer or other relevant organisations.
• to promote the reputation of psychology and psychologists in the educational system as well as the protection of their interests.

Article 4: Promotion of the aims of N.E.P.E.S.

The aims of the network shall be promoted especially by :

4.1 Arranging contacts with the EFPA member associations, ISPA, and among European Psychologists in the Educational System with various means.

4.2 Establishing relations with relevant national and international organisations and administrative bodies concerning the educational system in Europe

4.3 Collating and disseminating information concerning professional matters for European psychologists in the educational system (training, research programs, ethics, professional organisation)

Article 5: Membership

5.1 Each national association that is member of EFPA has the right to send a psychologist as representative to N.E.P.E.S.. This representative has to be a psychologist who is qualified in his own country to work as a psychologist in the educational system.

5.2 National member associations of EFPA can also delegate the right to nominate a psychologist as representative for the network to their substructure (division, section, or committee) or to a sister organisation.

5.3 Each European country can be represented in N.E.P.E.S. by one representative only. In countries where there is more than one organisation of psychologists in the educational system the formation of a national federation is recommended.

5.4 In addition to European national associations the International School Psychology Association (ISPA) is entitled to full membership of the network.

Article 6: Functioning of N.E.P.E.S.

6.1 All members of N.E.P.E.S. meet in a General Meeting once a year.

6.2 A Steering Group operates the Network between the annual meetings of all members. This N.E.P.E.S. Steering Group consists of 5-10 representatives of the member associations who all must be psychologists. The members of the Steering Group are elected among the representatives of the Member associations.

6.3 N.E.P.E.S. can establish an Expert Group or groups for certain purposes, e.g. for a project to give advice to European bodies and authorities on matters relevant to educational and school psychology. An Expert Group reports to the Network Steering Group.

Article 7: The Network Meeting

7.1 The Meeting of all N.E.P.E.S. members takes place once a year. Every 2 years usually during the European Congress of Psychology, the other year during the ISPA conference or another international conference of psychology.

7.2 Announcement of a Network Meeting has to be made at least four months before the meeting and should contain preliminary information concerning the agenda and the place and the date of the meeting.

7.3 The members of N.E.P.E.S. elect the Steering Group for the following two years.

7.4 The members of N.E.P.E.S. consider the report of the Steering Group for approval.

7.5 The members of N.E.P.E.S. decide upon the activity plan for the next period.

7.6 The Network Meeting can include any other item on the agenda.

7.7 The minutes of the Network General Meeting should be submitted for confirmation to the Steering Group and for information to the EFPA Executive Council.

Article 8: The Steering Group


8.1 The members of the Steering Group are elected for two years by the Network meeting. The elections have to be confirmed by the EFPA Executive Council. The Steering Group elects a chairperson and a secretary among its members.

8.2 The Steering Group meets whenever the interest of the Network requires it or when 2 of its members ask for it. The quorum is 2 of its members. Votes are by simple majority.

8.3 The Steering Group shall meet at least once a year.

8.4 No member can serve on the Steering Board for more than ten (10) years.

8.5 The Steering Group has the following duties and powers:

• to prepare an activity plan for the next year (or two years) to each Network Meeting
• to present an activity report to each Network Meeting
• in general, subject to the superior authority of EFPA Executive Council, to make all decisions necessary for the operation of the Network and the realisation of its aims in the intervals between Network Meetings
• to make available the minutes of the meetings of the Steering Group to the member associations and EFPA Executive Council

Article 9: Finances of the Network

9.1 The Network will carry no membership fees.

9.2 Its activities are funded by
• Member associations who are responsible for the costs of their representatives in the Network activities and by
• possible project funding which will be agreed upon separately

Article 10: Change of Regulations

Change of regulations is subject to the majority vote in the general Network Meeting and approval by EFPA Executive Council.

Brussels, January 2008