General Information — Memberships and Payment Policies

Memberships and Payment Policies

Supporting Independent Journalism, Press Freedom and Media Diversity

The European Association of Pakistani Journalists Global (EAPJG) e.V. welcomes journalists, individuals, organizations and businesses that support its statutory objectives, including professional journalism, press freedom, media diversity, media literacy and international cooperation.

Membership fees, voluntary donations and sponsorship contributions are separate types of payment and are administered according to their respective terms.

1. Membership Categories and Fees

Journalist Membership

• First-year membership: €90

• Annual renewal: €60

Corporate Membership — Up to 15 Employees

• First-year membership: €500

• Annual renewal: €300

Corporate Membership — More Than 15 Employees

• First-year membership: €1,000

• Annual renewal: €600

Honorary Membership

• Membership fee: €0

Honorary membership is granted in accordance with the Satzung and the decision-making procedure applicable to honorary appointments.

The published fee amounts must be consistent with the fee schedule duly established under §§ 6 and 14 of the Satzung.

2. Applications and Admission

Membership applications are submitted in writing and reviewed by the Vorstand under § 3(2) of the Satzung.

Payment alone does not guarantee admission or establish membership.

Applicants will be informed of the admission decision. Under § 4(5), an appeal against a rejected application may be submitted to the Mitgliederversammlung within three months.

3. Advance Membership Payments and Refunds

Where an applicant pays a membership fee before their application has been approved, the payment is treated as an advance membership payment.

Application approved

The payment will be credited towards the applicable membership fee.

Application rejected

If EAPJG rejects an application before membership is established, an advance payment made solely for that membership will be refunded in full.

Administrative deduction for rejected applications: €0 (0%).

No flat administrative fee or percentage deduction will be made solely because an application is rejected.

Application withdrawn before a decision

Applicants may withdraw a pending application in writing. Where membership has not been established, any advance payment will be refunded in accordance with the applicable legal requirements and any valid, applicable agreement.

Duplicate or excess payments

Verified duplicate or excess payments will be refunded or corrected, as appropriate.

Refund procedure

Refunds will normally be made to the original payer using the original payment method, where practicable and legally permissible.

EAPJG may request reasonable information to verify the payment and the appropriate recipient.

Nothing in this policy excludes or restricts mandatory rights available under German or European Union law.

4. Resignation and Membership Termination

The refund policy for rejected applications is separate from the rules governing the resignation of an existing member.

Under § 4(2) of the EAPJG Satzung:

• Resignation must be submitted in writing.

• Three months' notice must be given to the end of the calendar year.

• Membership contributions already paid are not refunded upon ordinary resignation.

Under § 4(3), the Vorstand may exclude a member for a serious violation of the Satzung or the interests of the association.

Members should contact EAPJG in writing if they require clarification concerning their membership status or resignation.

5. Administrative and Application Fees

Under §§ 6(1) and 14(b), the membership meeting determines membership contributions and the applicable fee schedule.

Section 4(4) specifically provides for fees in connection with readmission to membership.

No general application-processing fee for new membership applications is specified in this policy.

Any future general application-processing fee must be properly approved through the applicable association procedures, have a valid legal basis and be clearly disclosed before payment.

No percentage deduction or non-refundable administrative charge will automatically be applied to an advance membership payment because an application is rejected.

6. Voluntary Donations

Individuals and organizations may support EAPJG through voluntary contributions in amounts of their choice.

Donations are separate from membership fees and do not guarantee admission, membership, press credentials, voting rights or other membership benefits.

Unless a specific purpose has been agreed upon and accepted by EAPJG, donations will be used for the association's statutory objectives in accordance with its Satzung and applicable law.

A donation is not an advance membership payment. Any request for a donation refund will be considered according to the circumstances, the terms of the contribution and applicable law.

Suggested payment reference: Donation – EAPJG

7. Corporate Sponsorship and Partnerships

Businesses, media organizations, foundations and institutional partners may contact EAPJG to discuss sponsorship and cooperation opportunities.

Corporate membership fees are separate from sponsorship contributions.

Any sponsorship agreement should identify the amount, purpose, duration, benefits and applicable cancellation or refund conditions before payment.

Sponsorship arrangements must be consistent with the association's statutory objectives and applicable legal requirements.

Suggested payment reference: Corporate Sponsorship – EAPJG

8. Official Bank Account

Account Holder:
Europäischer Verband Pakistanischer Journalisten Global (EAPJG) e.V.

Banking Service: FYRST

IBAN:
DE42 3907 0210 0081 7841 00

BIC: Please verify the current BIC with your bank before publishing it.

Recommended Payment References

• Journalist Membership – First Year

• Journalist Membership Renewal

• Corporate Membership – Up to 15 Employees

• Corporate Membership – More Than 15 Employees

• Donation – EAPJG

• Corporate Sponsorship – EAPJG

Please include your name or organization name in the payment reference where appropriate. Verify the recipient details before making an international transfer.

9. Donation Receipts and Tax Information

The tax treatment of membership fees, sponsorships and donations depends on the nature of the payment and EAPJG's applicable tax status.

The charitable-purpose wording in the Satzung does not by itself establish that the Finanzamt has granted tax-privileged status.

EAPJG does not guarantee tax deductibility or promise a tax-deductible donation receipt unless it is legally entitled to issue one.

For information about donation receipts or the association's current tax status, please contact EAPJG before making a contribution.

10. Relevant Legal and Statutory Provisions

The following provisions may be relevant, depending on the circumstances:

• BGB § 38: Membership in associations.

• BGB § 307: Control of standard business terms.

• BGB §§ 312c and 312g: Distance contracts and statutory withdrawal rights, where applicable.

• BGB § 355: Exercise and effects of statutory withdrawal rights.

• BGB § 812: Restitution of payments made without a valid legal basis.

• AO §§ 51–68: Requirements concerning tax-privileged purposes.

Relevant provisions of the EAPJG Satzung include:

• § 3 — Membership and admission.

• § 4 — Termination, resignation and readmission.

• § 6 — Membership contributions and fees.

• § 14 — Responsibilities of the membership meeting.

• § 18 — Financing of the association.

Official German legislation is available at https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/. European Union legislation is available at https://eur-lex.europa.eu/.

The applicability of individual provisions depends on the payment, the applicant's status, the Satzung and the circumstances of the transaction. This information does not replace individual legal advice.

11. Contact EAPJG

Email: info@eapjg.press

Telephone / WhatsApp: +49 177 1306924

Registered Association:
Europäischer Verband Pakistanischer Journalisten Global (EAPJG) e.V.

Franz-Böckle-Straße 16
53125 Bonn, Germany

Register Court: Amtsgericht Bonn
Registration Number: VR 12850

For questions concerning membership applications, fees, refunds, donations or sponsorship, please contact EAPJG by email.

Thank You for Supporting EAPJG

Your support helps EAPJG pursue its statutory objectives and promote responsible journalism, press freedom, media diversity, professional development and cooperation among journalists across Europe and internationally.