Organization

The Council of the Organization is one of the legal instruments that governs the work of the Organization. It is composed of the ministers responsible for environmental affairs in the Member States.

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Council Meetings

Council meetings are held in accordance with Paragraph (a) of Article 18 and Paragraph (b) of Article 30.

The Council convenes in regular sessions once a year. However, pursuant to Executive Committee Decision 4/7, it was decided that regular Council meetings would be held every two years. This decision was endorsed by the Sixth Council of the Organization in April 1988.

Extraordinary sessions of the Council may be convened upon a request submitted by at least one Member State and supported by at least one other Contracting State, or upon a request by the Executive Secretary supported by at least two Contracting States.

Council meetings are held at the headquarters of the Organization or at any other location agreed upon in consultation with the Contracting States. A quorum is constituted by three-quarters of the Contracting States.

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Presidency

The presidency of the Council is assigned to each Contracting State in rotation, following the alphabetical order of their names in English.

The President serves for a term of two years and may not act as a representative of their State during their presidency. In the event of a vacancy, the Contracting State next in line shall assume the presidency for the remainder of the term.

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Voting Procedures

Voting procedures in the Council are conducted as follows:

• Each Contracting State has one vote.
• Decisions on substantive matters are adopted by unanimous vote of the Contracting States present and participating in the vote.
• Decisions on procedural matters are adopted by a three-quarters majority of the Contracting States present and participating in the vote.

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Functions of the Council

Governance

• Overseeing the implementation of the Convention, its Protocols, and the Action Plan referred to in Paragraph (e) of Article 1.
• Reviewing and evaluating the state of marine pollution and its impacts in the marine area, based on reports submitted by Contracting States and relevant international and regional organizations.

Policies and Decisions

• Approving, reviewing, and amending the annexes of the Convention and its Protocols, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedures set out in Article 21.
• Receiving and examining reports submitted by Contracting States pursuant to Articles 9 and 23.
• Reviewing reports prepared by the Secretariat on matters related to the Convention and the administration of the Organization.
• Issuing recommendations regarding the adoption of additional protocols or amendments to the Convention or its Protocols, in accordance with Articles 19 and 20.

Administration

• Establishing subsidiary bodies and forming ad hoc working groups, as necessary, to examine matters related to the Convention, its Protocols, and their annexes.
• Appointing an Executive Secretary and taking the necessary measures to enable the Executive Secretary to appoint additional staff as required.
• Considering and implementing any additional tasks necessary to achieve the objectives of the Convention and its Protocols.
• Periodically monitoring the work of the Secretariat.

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National Focal Points