Recent events during the Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists* have generated profound discontent and distrust toward the current Executive Board among members of the association. As these issues were not addressed satisfactorily during the Annual Business Meeting held on 05/09/2025, we are now calling for a Special Meeting of the EAA.
According to the statutes, convening such a meeting requires the support of at least 10% of the membership, according to the figures presented at the Annual Meeting, we require 305 signatures, out of 3049 members. We therefore invite you to add your signature to this document, providing your name, e-mail address, and EAA membership ID. Your support is essential to ensure that members’ concerns are heard, discussed, and addressed in a transparent and democratic manner.
To avoid similar situations in the future, a proposal will be submitted to the Statutes Committee (Article XIV) to amend the statutes and enable the possibility of a vote of confidence against the Board.
*
* In the past days, the EAA organisation reversed the earlier decision of not including
Israeli institutional affiliation and placed the responsibility of policing political statements in sessions on the shoulders of volunteers. These political statements concern not just any topic, but the urgent condemning of the genocide currently happening in Gaza by the hands of the Israeli government.
Therefore the two key lines of discussion concern:
· Recognising the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the boycott of Israeli institutions (not their members)
By reinstating Israeli institutional affiliations, the EAA has effectively endorsed a regime that systematically violates human rights through tactics of repression, violence and mass extermination. Furthermore, the decision is justified under the guise of “political neutrality”, while maintaining a double standard of having Russian and Belarusian institutional affiliations excluded since 2022.
· Addressing the failures of internal management
The call for silencing or removing speakers making statements on this topic is censorship. Having volunteers act as an informant system, putting unjust pressure on the youngest and most vulnerable EAA members, is unacceptable. In addition, the EAA's communications on this topic have been inconsistent and confusing. To avoid similar situations in the future, a proposal will be submitted to amend the statutes and enable the possibility of a vote of confidence.
The EAA has long been a valued platform for exchange, collaboration and the building of international networks. To preserve this spirit, accountability must be taken for the decisions and actions of the past days. As the association has thus far failed to provide a satisfactory explanation or to open a productive democratic discussion of these topics, we believe that a Special Meeting is necessary and urgent.
This form will remain open until 30 September 2025. After this date, the signatures will be submitted to the EAA Secretariat and the list of signatories will be shared with the membership.
