Discharge of the Executive Board

Discharging a board typically refers to releasing board members from potential liability for actions taken during their term.

Each year, the RIPE NCC General Meeting is asked to vote on the discharge of the Executive Board (EB). Here we explain what this means.

What is liability?

Liability is being legally responsible. If the Executive Board does not perform their duties properly, they are exposed to liability. If someone, including the association itself, has damages because the Executive Board did not perform their duties properly, the Board is responsible for these damages.

Discharging the Board - What does it mean?

Discharging the Board releases the Board from being legally responsible towards the association for mismanagement or actions that damage the RIPE NCC as a whole (not individual members).

This is only regarding activities as laid out in the Annual Report and Financial Report, and only the Executive Board as a whole and not individual Board members.

Discharging the Board does not include:

Actions or failures to act that are not clearly stated in the Annual/Financial Report
Liability towards external parties (including individual members)

The EB may still be liable for gross negligence or wilful misconduct or absence of good faith in the execution of their duties.

What happens when the Board is discharged?

By discharging the RIPE NCC Executive Board, members “state” that the Board’s actions as described in the Annual Report and Financial Report have not damaged the association.

The EB is then not legally responsible for damages:

Towards the RIPE NCC as an association (not towards individual members)
Caused by actions that are clearly stated in the Annual/Financial Report

Watch the video explainer

The RIPE NCC's Chief Legal Officer, Athina Fragkouli, explains what discharging the Board means. Watch this video recorded at the May GM 2024.