Comittee of Italians Abroad (COMITES)

Cav. Vincenzo Papandrea, President

Office:
398B Payneham Road
Glynde, S.A. 5070

Tel. 08 83657555
Fax. 08 83372111
comites@chariot.net.au

What is COM.IT.ES.?

COMITES members were elected in Australia for the first time on 26 March 2004.

These are representative bodies for Italian communities, directly elected by Italians resident in countries outside Italy.

The representative bodies and their members 12 members are elected to each branch of COMITES, all must be Italian citizens. These members are complemented by appointed members chosen directly by the elected members from a short list of candidates presented by the local Italian associations, and must be foreign citizens of Italian origin.
All members of COMITES remain in their positions for five years & may be re-elected for an additional term.

COMITES responsibilities and functions

• promoting (in collaboration with relevant consular offices, associations, committees and bodies which operate within a particular consular zone) appropriate initiatives in the areas of social -cultural life, social welfare and education, professional training, recreation, sport and leisure of the Italian community resident within a particular consular zone.

•  puts forward opinions, proposals and suggestions for initiatives for the relevant consular office to take up which are of benefit to the local Italian community.

• consultative functions in relation to requests for financial support from Italian welfare associations operating within a given consular zone.

• obliged at all times to cooperate with the local consular office to safeguard the rights and interests of Italian migrant citizens in relation to local legislation as well as international and EC law.

• COMITES is also obliged to advise Italian consular offices of any violations of conventions and international laws relating to Italian workers.

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