1. VENUE AND DATE

1.1. The International Philatelic Exhibition BALKANFILA XIX continues to consolidate and develop the friendship between the philatelists from the Balkan Region. The exhibition will be held in Belgrade.
1.2. BALKANFILA XIX will be held from October 12th to 14th 2023.
1.3. Participating countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey.
Invited countries: Cyprus and Hungary.
1.4. Official hotel - to be decided.

2. ORGANIZATION AND SUPPORT

2.1. BALKANFILA XIX is organized by the Union of Philatelist of Serbia.
2.2. BALKANFILA XIX will be held under the recognition of the Federation of European Philatelic Associations /FEPA/.
2.3. The exhibition is under the Honorary Patronage of his Excellency Mr. Aleksandar Vucic, the President of the Republic of Serbia.
2.4. The Post of Serbia is a main sponsor of BALKANFILA XIX.
2.5. The official language of the exhibition is English language.

3. REGULATIONS

3.1. For BALKANFILA XIX the following regulations of International Federation of Philately /FIP/ apply:
   a) General Regulations for the Evaluation of Competitive Exhibits at FIP Exhibitions /GREV/
   b) Special Regulations for the Evaluation of Competitive Exhibits at FIP Exhibitions /SREVs/
   c) FEPA Regulations for Exhibitions /FREGEX/
   d) The “1-frame”, “2-Frames” and “3-Frames” exhibits will be subject of the Guidelines for judging in their assigned class.
   e) Exhibits in "Open Philately" will be subject of Guidelines on judging Open Philately.
   f) Balkanfila Working group Exhibition regulations (BWGER).
   g) Special Regulations for BALKANFILA XIX.

4. RANK AND CLASSES OF THE EXHIBITION

The BALKANFILA XIX International Stamp Exhibition is an Rank I. Exhibition, where the exhibits may be presented in the following classes:
A. Non-Competitive Classes:
    A.1 Official Class
             a) Official Class (for postal administrations and museums)
             b) Court of Honour (for invited persons and jury-members).
    A.2 Other non-competitive classes

B. Competitive classes:
          B.1. Traditional Philately
          B.2. Postal History
          B.3. Postal Stationery
          B.4. Aerophilately
          B.5. Astrophilately
          B.6. Thematic Philately
          B.7. Maximaphily
          B.8. Revenue Stamp
          B.9. Picture Postcard
          B.10. One-Frame, Two-Frames and Three-Frames Class *
* Exhibits in this class should be based on a narrow subject that is best treated as One/Two/Three Frame(s). Exhibits will be classified under: B.1 – B.9
An extract from a past National/International award winning multiple frame exhibits (5 to 8 frames) to One/Two/Three Frame(s) is not allowed.
Awards are presented by Points (60 points to 100 points) and awarded by certificates only. No medals will be awarded. Certificate of Participation will be given to exhibits attaining less than 60 points.
          L.1 Philatelic Literature – Books and special studies
          L.2 Philatelic Literature – Catalogues
          L.3 Philatelic Literature – Periodicals
          L.4 Philatelic Literature – Articles of general nature.

5. PARTICIPANTS

5.1. All philatelists with permanent residence in one of countries included in Balkanfila Working Group and foreign philatelists who are members of respective Societies in this Group;
Invited countries/Federations as guest.
Philatelists from all over the world whose exhibits correspond to the Balkan region.
5.2. Exhibits in the competitive classes must have achieved a minimum of 75 points or awarded with Vermeil medal at an exhibition of national level. The commissioner confirms the quality of the new/ first times exhibits.
5.3. No more than two exhibits at the exhibition per person. If an exhibitor has two exhibits, they have to be in different classes. For the "Literature" class there are no restrictions. In philatelic Literature class the exhibits must have been published/issued after 1st January, 2016 for classes L1, L2, L3 and L4.
5.4. The Exhibition does not have a Championship Class, exhibits that have won G - LG at FIP/Continental exhibitions are not admitted in the competitive classes. At the request of the exhibitor and with the agreement of the Organizing Committee, they may be placed in class A.2. non-competitive class.
5.5. All exhibits must have been the property of the exhibitor for at least 2 years before the exhibition.
5.6. Collections/exhibits with Balkan themes, from any FEPA member federation can be accepted.
5.7. The decisions regarding the applications of the exhibits and their acceptance will be the subject to Article 9-19 of the FIP General Regulations for Exhibitions /GREX/.

6. APPLICATIONS AND ACCEPTANCE

6.1. The entry form must to be accompanied by a photocopy of the introductory sheet of the exhibit or a Synopsis and sent to the respective national Commissioner.
6.2. The entry form will be sent by the national Commissioner to the Organizing Committee no later than March 15th, 2023.
6.3. Exhibits must be entered under the correct classification. The Jury reserves the right to reassign the incorrectly classified exhibits. No exhibit can be entered in more than one class. The contents of the exhibits must be in accordance with the moral and ethical standards as well as with the Serbian law.
6.4. The Organizing Committee reserves the right to reject any exhibit without assigning any reason for rejection.
6.5. Every exhibit accepted will be listed in the official exhibition catalogue under its given title as stated in the entry form together with a short description.
6.6. The list of accepted exhibits will be sent to the national Commissioners not later than March 30th, 2023.

7. ENTRY FEES

7.1. There is no fee for frames in any class.

8. FRAME ALLOCATION AND SIZES

8.1. There will be approximately 400 hundred frames for the competitive classes measured 970x1200 mm2. One frame holds 16 sheets measured DIN A4/210x297mm2/
8.2. The sheets will be mounted in four rows of four. Each sheet must be placed in a transparent protective cover.
8.3. Multiple size sheets may be accommodated but must be noted on the entry forms and coordinated with the organizers.
8.4. Philatelic literature will be displayed in special exhibition cabinets or in halls to be at visitor's disposal.
8.5. The Organizing Committee will decide on the allocation of frames in the Non-competitive Classes.
8.6. In the competitive classes the allocation of frames is as follows (look at also 5.4):
     - 8 frames to the exhibits awarded a Large Vermeil medal at National exhibitions;
     - 5 frames for exhibits awarded a lower than Large Vermeil medal, including first time international appearance.

9. PRESENTATION OF EXHIBITS

9.1. All exhibits must be mounted on white pages. Exhibits mounted on dark colored or black sheets are not accepted. Sheets must contain genuine objects.
9.2. The Organizing Committee advises exhibitors to enclose in a transparent protective cover their sheets rather rigid to ensure a better presentation of the sheet.

10. ONLINE EXHIBITION

In parallel with the physical exhibition, the organizing committee will also ensure the availability of exhibits online.
10.1. Only the exhibits that participate in the physical exhibition can also be in the online version.
10.2. Online presentation is optional – the exhibitor must agree to the online presentation in the application form.
10.3. The submitted exhibit for online must be in in the jpg format and in the required 300 dpi quality.
10.4. The online format of the exhibition is available via the Internet and in that sense the organizer is not responsible for copying, duplicating or further use of the scanned pages of the exhibition or any part of it.
10.4. The Organizing Committee will save all exhibits in the archives on the website, if the exhibitor agrees with that.

11. COMMISSIONERS

11.1. Every country must appoint a Commissioner for every Balkanfila Exhibition. It would be preferable for the Commissioner to be also a Jury member of the FEPA / FIP.
Responsibilities and privileges of Commissioner are those appointed in articles 25 and 27 of GREX.

12. JURY

13.1. Awards will be given in accordance with the FIP General Regulations for Exhibitions /GREX/, the General Regulations for the Evaluation of Competitive Exhibits at FIP Exhibitions /GREV/ and the Special Regulations for the Evaluation of the Competitive Exhibits at FIP Exhibitions /SREV/.
13.2. Awards for the exhibits from Competitive Classes:
     • Large Gold medal (95 - 100 points)
     • Gold medal (90 - 94 points)
     • Large Vermeil medal (85 - 89 points)
     • Vermeil medal (80 - 84 points)
     • Large Silver medal (75 - 79 points)
     • Silver medal (70 - 74 points)
     • Silver Bronze medal (65 - 69 points)
     • Bronze medal (60- 64 points)
     • Diploma (≤ 59 points)
The exhibitor that does not attain the medal degree will be provided with a Diploma of participation.
The awards will be accompanied by Diplomas.
13.3. Each Federation is welcome to donate a Special Award that will be made available to the jury and given to the exhibits as Special Prizes.
13.4. The Organizing Committee will nominate the BALKANFILA XIX Grand Prix, Grand Prix International and Grand Prix National. The special prize will be awarded by the jury's decision during the Palmares ceremony by the President of the Balkanfila Working Group.

14. DELIVERY AND RETURN OF THE EXHIBITS

14.1. All exhibits must be sent in envelopes, each sheet must be numbered and enclosed in a transparent protective cover closed by three sides. The numbering will be continuous and placed in any of the frontal lower corners.
14.2. Exhibits in the “Literature” Class must be provided in advance in duplicate by August 20th 2023. Exhibits in the Class “Literature” will not be returned. They will be dispatched to the Organizing Committee by the exhibitor at the address indicated on the registration form.
14.3. All expenses in connection with sending the exhibit shall be paid by the exhibitor. The exhibits will be returned to the exhibitors by the way they are sent (Art.51.1 GREX).
14.4. The Organizing Committee recommends the exhibits to be delivered and returned by the national commissioners.
14.5. The exhibits of the Serbian exhibitors will be delivered personally or by delegate..

15. INSURANCE AND SECURITY

15.1. Every exhibitor must insure at his own expense the exhibit presented to BALKANFILA XIX.
15.2. The Organizing Committee of BALKANFILA XIX will take the appropriate measures to safeguard the handling and display of exhibits, from their arrival until their return.
15.3. The Organizing Committee of BALKANFILA XIX and their employees, whether they are paid or voluntary, will not be liable for any loss or damage to an exhibit from the time of receipt to its return.
15.4. For all legal questions arising between the Organizing Committee of BALKANFILA XIX and the exhibitors, the Laws of the Serbia shall apply exclusively.

16. CUSTOMS

16.1. Special instructions concerning Customs regulations for export and import of exhibits coming from abroad shall be sent to the national Commissioners.
16.2. Exhibitors must deliver to their national Commissioners, before sending entries, a list or inventory, indicating in every sheet the number of stamps or postal items, and their estimated value.

17. ABOUT THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

17.1. The Organizing Committee of BALKANFILA XIX reserves the right to change the present regulations. In such case exhibitors will be informed of any modification at once.
17.2. By signing the final entry form, every exhibitor accepts these Special Regulations for BALKANFILA XIX.
17.3. The interpretation and solution of the issues not included in the present Regulations are up to the Organizing Committee of BALKANFILA XIX to decide and those decisions are final.
17.4. In case of discrepancy or disagreement which could not be solved in a friendly way between the parties, the place of jurisdiction is the Belgrade Local Court.

Addresses for correspondence:

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE OF BALKANFILA XIX
UNION OF PHILATELIST OF SERBIA
Kosovska 47, 11000 Belgrade, SERBIA
Phone & Fax: +381 11 32 30 929
e-mail: balkanfila2023@gmail.com
========= • =========
CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEEr
Nikola Ljubicic
Tel: +381 63 839 3893
e-mail: balkanfila2023@gmail.com
========= • ==========
GENERAL COMMISSIONER
Aleksandar Krstic
Tel: +381 63 201 018
e-mail: sfkaukcija@gmail.com
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BALKANFILA WORKING GROUP CONSULTANT
Igor Pirc
Tel: +38 641 683 470
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ADDRESS FOR DELIVERY OF THE MATERIALS IN THE LITERATURE CLASS
UNION OF PHILATELIST OF SERBIA
Kosovska 47, 11000 Belgrade, SERBIA
Phone & Fax: +381 11 32 30 929
NOTE: In the event of deviations attributable to differences in the various language versions of this Special Regulations of BALKANFILA XIX, the Serbian version is binding.