Draft rules of procedure of the Council of Ministers of the Preferential Trade Area for Eastern and Southern African States

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Distr..

LIMITED

EOVMULP0C/Lusaka/PTA/ai/II/2 2 Septenber 1982

Original: ENGLISH

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOP. AFRICA

Interim Secretariat of the Preferential

Trade Area for Eastern and Southern Africa (PTA) Second Meeting of the Council of flinisters of

the Preferential Trade Area for Eastern and Southern Africa

Lusaka, Zambia, 14-15 December 19B2

Draft Rules of Procedure of the Council of Ministers of The Preferential Trade Area for Eastern

and Southern African States

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fiULES OF P.ttXEDUPS OP TIE COUNCIL OF MIUISTERS OF : ' '

TIU PlffiPEfiEWTIAL TRADE AJREA FOR EASTER* AND !

. - ■ SOUTHERN AFRICAN STATES

Rule 2. In these Rules ti.e expression:

"the Authority- Beans the Authority of the Preferential

• Trade ftroa'established by Article 6' of the Treat""

!' °f ?liniste« Established by Article 7 - ^ember.State" m.ans •■« MeIer State of th. Preferential Trade Area-

Composition

Rule" 4.

Chairman of the_ngetincrs of the Counci 1

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State as.-the Chairman, shall preside at the neeting and in-the absence of such other ne,her of the Council, there shall preside at that noting such ^rtoer of the Council as the rcenbers present

may elect for that purpose. . . ...

Rule 7. If the ten, of office of any rwfter of the Council as Chairman .,

is due to-expi'rfe at any tine when a neeting of the; Council is^e.ng held, that he^er shall continue in office until the conclusion of

tne reetinc For the purpose of this Rule, a meeting of the Council shall he concluded when it is adjourned since die or is adjourned for

a period exceeding .five; days . ....

' S^Soor l»9"the brdei'in which it is requested, suinit natters under

discussion for decision and announce the decision and rule on questions of procedure in accordance with these Rules.

Place and time of ireetinqs Rule 9.

Rule 10.

11

Rule 12.

Rule 13.

provision of Rule 11 of these Rules. , .

-ThPre at the request of a "enber State, the Council■shall decide to

hold a Leting in a -lace other than the headquarters of the Preferential Trade Are"! Sat Mender State shall refund to .the Preferential Trade Sa^'anount in .».s of v^at.it would have cost te Preferential

Trace ?vrea had the meeting been held at its headquarters.

-'•The Council n^ay at a meting decide the date of its next neeting:

Provided that in cases where it is cfesirahle that a feting of the Council should be held prior to the date set down

for its next meeting, a.xaeetlng of the Council may be held ,:

■■ :" after consultaUon betwean the Chairman and the other meirtoers

: ■ ' of the Council." ....

All meet-ings of the Council shall be convened by the Secretary-General ■- by or^r of the Chairr.n after two .months • notice of a meeting has

been given or such period as the Council may determine.

Decisions and quorum

subjection is withdrawn, be referred

-decision. ' * .. ■• :

Authority for: its

nule 15.' ae'decisions of the Council which shall be styled 'Decisions-, shall

be taken by consensus.

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Rule 16V:{: Unless otherwise specificallyprovided for byl.the .Council;: all ■■ ' /Decisions of the-Council :shali; enter Into force on the-date of their

• publications rih. the official- Gazette of the Preferential .Trade; Area.

Rule 17. : The quorum for a- meeting 'of the' Council shall be a majority of the ■'-

-Member States .entitled to,; be-represented oh. the\ Council.. ."■ , ' ' ' "

Secretariat of ;the meetings -of the Couhcii ; : -*■ ■ ■ . ' - - -

Rule 18. The secretarial services of the meetings of the Council shall be

providedvby .the"■ Secretary-General.;he shair.cause-minutes of ;the,meetings ' ofvthe Council to be kept and shall as soonas possible, transmit

■ .copies thereof to^the-. members of the/Council-'and .to'the: Me:nber. States

Rule 19.

The Secretary-General shall, in consultation with the Chairman of the

Council, prepare ths provisional agenda of the meetings: of the Council

and shalj, ensure their receipt by the members; pf the:Council and Member States at least two months before the meetings to which;they'relate.

Rule 20.

nf^r;? *** at my time ^V oral..or written .statements

meetings of the Council concerning any,question under consideration

Disptach of business at meetings of the Council

Rule 22.

S f u f, 2^ rSOlU^°n& ^ ^^^eratiohat a: feting of *he _- , .****** in writing and circulated by the Secretary-

T tl cln VanCS °f ^ ^etin^ to ambers of "the.'Council.and to the

nember States: ;- ■. ■,.■ -; ;..'

. - ' - _■ , ... :■..-.. ■'"'■..■' ."■-..■' .'•." '■' ■ ■ - '■ . \ .'. ... ,'.-..

' " / ■■■ Provided, however, that'the Coun-cil: may,-.if '.''"'["' '.'! "V

•'■■;.•.. ..-■• it deems it expedient or desirable,- consider at ■ : ' ■

■-.■■• .-•; ■ a^roee,ting a: proposalj.or .^raft resolution in" respect'W "-

=■ ;'of which no text has been circulated in,'advance of ■', -

;a meeting;. .'■■■• • ....,; . _. ; ;_ ...: •.'..;. ■.,;■" ■ ., *'..'-■:,...

» Proposal or draft resolution my be withdrawn by the ners'on by

whom it is sponsored. " ■ . .

g. the: cohsideraition of 'any.',matter' "at a meeting of the Council -

w ^ CTCi^ ^i6e- a ^"t °f order an'd the^ChSn sh

g ■1™dlafally "P0" the

^"ised. ^{An appeal}

the ^

Rule 24.

S^irL^^ f °" °f a"y ™"er at a meetin5 of the Council, the

Chairman my read out a list of speakers and with the consent'of the

1 i"6 the Ust Cl°Sed- The ^^i^an may. however! qrant

Se uftelfs ^ COUncil,the ri*' °f ^V « a speech mde after

tne list of speakers is closed, justifies it.

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Rule 25. When a matter.has. been adequately considered, any member.of the Council , may move that the consideration of the matter.be closed, whereupon the

" meeting, of the. Council shall immediately, .take, a decision on the motion.

Rule 26. During the consideration .of, any'matter, a member of the Council may , , move" that the consideration of the matter be postponed. .One., member of the Council may speak in support of the proposal and another against it where upon the meeting of the Council,shall, immediately, take a.

decision on the motion.

Rule 27. During the [consideration of :any.matter at a meeting of the Council,

; -1-' any member of the Council may move that the meeting be .suspended-or .,.,. adjourned whereupon the,meeting, of. the Council, shall .immediately take

a decision on the motion. v .

Rule 28. The following;mptions shall take precedence, in the order in whid}

..; .' they, are set.out hereunder over, any pther. proposals or motions that may be'made or/moved at a meeting of the Council:

(a), .to suspend the meeting, ... .- ■■

~(b) tb adjourn the" meeting, ■

(c) to postpone consideration of a matter, and

(d) to end the consideration- 6-f a matter.

Dispatch of business at times when the Council is not meeting , ...

Rule 29. The Council may make' provisions for the dispatch of business- at times

■ when it ;is' not meeting'.- ■■■:-■

Rule 30. The provisions that the Council may make under Rule 29 of these Rules for the dispatch of business at times when the Council is not meeting may, if it so determines-, include, arrangements, under which the exercise of any function of the Council under the. Treaty which may be properly delegated,, is delegated, subject to such, conditions,.as the Council may specify, to the Chairman or a member of the Counqil. or ,to the

Secretary-General.

Miscellaneous

Rule 31. If there is any doubt as to the procedure to be followed in any particular dase, or if ho procedure is prescribed by or under the Treaty or these - Rules/ the procedure to be followed may be determinedly the Council.

Rule 32. These Rules may'be amended at; a: meeting of 'the- Council: