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Legal Responsibilities

Last updated: 21.08.2026

Community governance and legal responsibility are connected, but they are not the same thing.

The key principles are:

Community governance operates within the legal responsibilities of Vihreä Pourusmäki ry.

Legal responsibility does not create general authority over community governance.

Vihreä Pourusmäki ry is not an additional governance layer above the Network Circle.

Vihreä Pourusmäki ry carries the legal responsibilities that belong to the legal entity operating the Permaculture Network.

Community governance is carried through projects, Stewardship Areas, and the Network Circle.

Vihreä Pourusmäki ry retains responsibility for matters that legally belong to the association or its authorised representatives.

These may include:

  • legal representation
  • legally binding contracts
  • statutory accounting and financial obligations
  • taxation
  • official reporting
  • insurance and liability matters
  • legal obligations related to operating the platform
  • statutory data-protection responsibilities
  • other obligations that cannot legally be delegated to community governance

Detailed GDPR, contractual, and financial rules may be covered by the Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, or separate agreements.

Community governance​

The Network Circle and other governance structures may decide matters such as:

  • Purpose
  • Vision
  • Mission
  • governance principles
  • Stewardship Areas
  • community policies
  • strategic direction
  • partnerships in principle
  • use of available EuPN resources
  • other network-wide community decisions

These decisions remain subject to applicable law and the legal responsibilities of Vihreä Pourusmäki ry.

No community decision can require the legal operator to violate applicable law, its statutory duties, or binding legal obligations.

No community decision can require the legal operator to violate applicable law, its statutory duties or binding legal obligations.

If a community decision cannot legally or reasonably be implemented, Vihreä Pourusmäki ry should explain the constraint.

Where a community decision cannot legally or reasonably be implemented by Vihreä Pourusmäki ry, the legal constraint should be explained and the responsible governance body should work with the legal operator to find an alternative that preserves the intention of the decision as far as possible.

A legal objection should identify the actual legal, contractual, financial, or statutory constraint.

It should not be used as a general political veto over community governance.

Legally binding documents​

Legally binding documents are the responsibility of Vihreä Pourusmäki ry.

Legally binding documents are the responsibility of Vihreä Pourusmäki ry.

The Network Circle may approve the intention, direction, or strategic value of a cooperation or partnership.

However, only Vihreä Pourusmäki ry, or a person legally authorised to represent it, may enter into legally binding commitments on behalf of the Permaculture Network where Vihreä Pourusmäki is the legal operator.

Examples include:

  • contracts
  • grant agreements
  • service agreements
  • data-processing agreements
  • insurance agreements
  • rental or venue agreements
  • agreements creating financial liability
  • legally binding partnership agreements
  • legally binding Memoranda of Understanding

The Network Circle may approve the intent and direction of a partnership, but only Vihreä Pourusmäki ry or an authorised representative may enter into legally binding commitments on behalf of the Permaculture Network.

Memoranda of Understanding​

Memoranda of Understanding may be used to document cooperation, shared intentions, and responsibilities.

Non-binding Memoranda of Understanding may be used to document shared intentions and cooperation.

If an MoU creates legal obligations, it falls under the legal responsibility of Vihreä Pourusmäki ry.

The title "Memorandum of Understanding" alone does not determine whether a document is legally binding.

Where legal obligations are intended, the agreement should be handled as a legal document by Vihreä Pourusmäki ry.

Authority follows responsibility​

The relationship between legal and community authority follows the wider governance model:

Authority follows responsibility.

Vihreä Pourusmäki ry has legal authority where it carries legal responsibility.

The Network Circle has community governance authority where it carries network-wide governance responsibility.

Projects and Stewardship Areas retain authority over their own work.

These forms of authority may overlap where necessary, but they should not be treated as a hierarchy.

Key principles​

  • Community governance operates within the legal responsibilities of Vihreä Pourusmäki ry.
  • Legal responsibility does not create general authority over community governance.
  • Vihreä Pourusmäki ry is not an additional governance layer above the Network Circle.
  • No community decision can require the legal operator to violate applicable law, its statutory duties, or binding legal obligations.
  • Legally binding documents are the responsibility of Vihreä Pourusmäki ry.
  • The Network Circle may approve the intent and direction of a partnership, but only Vihreä Pourusmäki ry or an authorised representative may enter into legally binding commitments on behalf of the Permaculture Network.
  • Non-binding Memoranda of Understanding may be used to document shared intentions and cooperation.
  • If an MoU creates legal obligations, it falls under the legal responsibility of Vihreä Pourusmäki ry.