Protocol on Approval of the Regulations on the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States

REGULATIONS
on the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. The Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) is the only permanent executive, administrative and coordinating body of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The Committee ensures the organization of the work of the Council of Heads of State, the Council of Heads of Government, the Council of Foreign Ministers, the Economic Council and other bodies of the Commonwealth.

2. The Committee in its activities is guided by the fundamental documents of the Commonwealth of Independent States, treaties concluded between the member states within the Commonwealth, decisions of the Council of Heads of State, the Council of Heads of Government, the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the Economic Council and these Regulations.

The Committee is accountable to the Council of Heads of State, the Council of Heads of Government, and also, within their competence, to the Council of Foreign Ministers and the Economic Council.

3. The Committee organizes its work in close cooperation with the Council of Permanent Plenipotentiary Representatives of the States Members of the Commonwealth to the statutory and other bodies of the Commonwealth (hereinafter referred to as the Council) and the Commission on Economic Issues under the Economic Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States (hereinafter referred to as the Commission).

4. The host states provide the Committee, members of the Council and the Commission with all the facilities necessary for the performance of their functions, ensure the inviolability of the premises, immunities and privileges provided for by the documents adopted within the framework of the Commonwealth. The Committee concludes agreements on the conditions of stay in the territories of the host states.

5. The Committee is a legal entity.

II . MAIN ACTIVITIES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE

6. The main activities of the Committee are:

development, together with the member states of the Commonwealth, of proposals on the prospects for the development of the Commonwealth, the stages of their implementation and the priorities of the CIS;

development together with the member states and bodies of the Commonwealth of proposals, draft documents aimed at developing cooperation between the CIS member states in the political, economic, social and other fields, submitting them in the prescribed manner for consideration by the Council of Heads of State, the Council of Heads of Government, the Council of Ministers of Foreign affairs and the Economic Council in accordance with its competence;

preparation of proposals for deepening versatile economic cooperation within the CIS, the creation and operation of a free trade zone, and the provision of favorable conditions for the transition to higher levels of economic cooperation;

study, together with the member states and Commonwealth bodies, of the course of economic reforms in the CIS member states and the preparation of appropriate proposals;

assistance to interested CIS member states in the development of private entrepreneurship within the CIS, multilateral industrial cooperation, the formation of transport corridors, the establishment of investment cooperation, the development of the agricultural market, joint participation in the implementation of projects for the development of deposits of fuel and energy and raw materials, the joint entry of enterprises into foreign markets for providing technical assistance to third countries in the construction of industrial and transport facilities, solving issues of freedom of transit, especially pipeline, road, rail transport;

preparation of proposals for the development of cooperation in education, health, social protection, culture;

assistance to the CIS member states in the implementation of joint programs and measures to minimize the consequences of environmental disasters of a man-made and natural nature, in resolving migration and humanitarian problems;

assistance to the CIS member states in the implementation of joint programs and activities to combat organized crime and terrorism;

promotion of joint research and development in the economic, scientific and technical field of the interested states – members of the CIS;

development of legal issues of interaction between the CIS member states, including the convergence of economic legislation, improvement of the legal framework for economic cooperation and integration, formation of common information systems of the interested member states of the Commonwealth;

analysis and consideration, together with the Council, of the implementation of international treaties concluded between the member states within the Commonwealth, as well as decisions of the Council of Heads of State, the Council of Heads of Government, the Council of Foreign Ministers, the Economic Council and the preparation of relevant proposals;

facilitating the creation of a modern information space by interested states – members of the Commonwealth;

interaction on behalf of the Council of Heads of State, the Council of Heads of Government and the Council of Foreign Ministers with the working (executive) bodies of international organizations and associations, including those formed within the framework of the CIS, participation in international events;

assistance, on behalf of the Council of Foreign Ministers, in conducting foreign policy consultations on topical international issues, taking into account the national interests of each of the CIS member states;

assistance in accordance with the instructions of the Council of Heads of State, the Council of Heads of Government and the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the implementation of the necessary joint measures for the settlement of armed conflicts taking place on the territories of the member states of the Commonwealth by peaceful means, including using the mechanisms and resources of the UN and the OSCE;

coordination and analysis of the activities of the bodies of sectoral cooperation of the Commonwealth, making proposals together with the Council and the Commission to improve the efficiency of their work;

informing about the activities of the CIS bodies through the media.

7. Functions of the Committee.

The Committee together with representatives of the member states of the Commonwealth:

organizes the consideration of materials received from the member states and bodies of the Commonwealth on the agenda of meetings of the Council of Heads of State, the Council of Heads of Government, the Council of Foreign Ministers, the Economic Council, and other bodies and the preparation of relevant proposals on them;

draws up draft agendas for meetings of the Council of Heads of State, the Council of Heads of Government, the Council of Foreign Ministers, and the Economic Council;

analyzes the implementation of decisions and treaties and systematically informs the Council of Heads of State, the Council of Heads of Government, the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the Economic Council and the member states of the Commonwealth about their implementation;

informs, in accordance with the established procedure, the Council of Heads of State on the compliance of the proposals of the CIS sectoral cooperation bodies with the prospects and stages of development of the Commonwealth;

develops a draft unified budget of the CIS bodies and exercises subsequent control over the execution of the budget;

quarterly submits to the governments of the member states of the Commonwealth a report on the receipt and expenditure of budgetary funds according to the items of the approved budget.

Committee for the implementation of its functions:

carries out, on the basis of comments and proposals of the CIS member states, expert legal study of draft agreements and decisions submitted in the prescribed manner;

interacts with the statutory and other bodies of the CIS;

organizes the activities of the Commonwealth sectoral cooperation bodies, the functions of the working apparatuses of which are transferred to the Committee, promotes interaction and provides organizational and advisory assistance to other Commonwealth bodies;

prepares analytical, reference and other materials necessary for the consideration of issues by the Council of Heads of State, the Council of Heads of Government, the Council of Foreign Ministers, the Economic Council;

sends, in accordance with the established procedure, to the member states of the Commonwealth the preliminary agenda and draft documents submitted for consideration by the upcoming meetings of the Council of Heads of State, the Council of Heads of Government, the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the Economic Council, as well as proposals received from the member states and bodies of the Commonwealth for inclusion in agenda for additional issues;

ensures the timely sending to the member states of the Commonwealth of documents adopted within the framework of the Commonwealth;

sends, on behalf of the Council of Heads of State, the Council of Heads of Government, the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the Economic Council, draft documents requiring special expertise for conclusion to research institutions of the Commonwealth member states;

forms information and analytical databases on issues of cooperation within the CIS;

organizes the accounting of documents adopted by the Council of Heads of State, the Council of Heads of Government, the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the Economic Council, and maintains a current archive;

performs the functions of the depository of documents adopted within the framework of the Commonwealth;

organizes, on behalf of the Chairman of the Council of Heads of State (Council of Heads of Government), voting using the original signature of each of the heads of state (Heads of Government), if it is necessary to take an urgent decision in the intervals between meetings of the Council of Heads of State (Council of Heads of Government);

keeps minutes of the meetings of the Council of Heads of State, the Council of Heads of Government, the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the Economic Council, and, if necessary, of other bodies of the Commonwealth;

publishes the information bulletin of the Council of Heads of State and the Council of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth, the economic bulletin of the Commonwealth and other information publications;

carries out financial and economic activities aimed at fulfilling the functions assigned to the Committee.

III . COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE

8. The Committee consists of the Chairman of the Executive Committee – the Executive Secretary of the CIS (hereinafter referred to as the Chairman of the Committee), his deputies, departments and other structural units.

The Chairman of the Committee is the main administrative person of the Commonwealth, appointed at the proposal of the CIS member state by the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth for a period of 3 years by a decision adopted by consensus. In case of early dismissal of the Chairman of the Committee, the decision is made by a simple majority of votes of the members of the Council of CIS Heads of State.

The Chairman of the Committee has up to four deputies, one of them is the first,

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Paragraph three of paragraph 8 – as amended in accordance with the document Decision on assigning the quota position of the First Deputy Chairman of the Executive Committee – Executive Secretary of the CIS to the Republic of Belarus

Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States dated 07.10.02, Chisinau [01304]

 of which two are the first

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who are appointed on a rotation basis for a period of 3 years and dismissed by the Council of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth at the proposal of the member states of the Commonwealth on the proposal of the Chairman of the Committee. Deputy Chairmen of the Committee cannot be citizens of the same state.

Chairman of the Committee:

manages the activities of the Committee and is responsible for the fulfillment of the tasks assigned to it;

organizes the preparation and holding of meetings of the Council of Heads of State, the Council of Heads of Government, the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the Economic Council of the CIS;

coordinates the work of the CIS sectoral cooperation bodies in matters of deepening economic cooperation within the CIS, the phased formation and functioning of a free trade zone, and the development of integration processes in the Commonwealth;

participates in the work of the Economic Council with the right of an advisory vote;

submits draft documents for consideration by the Council of Heads of State, the Council of Heads of Government, the Council of Foreign Ministers and the Economic Council, signs the minutes of the meetings;

informs the member states of the Commonwealth, the Council of Heads of State, the Council of Heads of Government, the Council of Foreign Ministers, the Economic Council, and, if necessary, other CIS bodies on the implementation of decisions and agreements adopted within the Commonwealth;

maintains and develops contacts with international organizations at the level of their working (executive) bodies within its competence;

approves, after agreement in the Council, the structure, staffing of the Committee within the limits of the total number of staff and the cost of its maintenance, approved by the Council of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth;

determines the functions of the structural subdivisions of the Committee; promotes interaction between Commonwealth bodies;

submits for approval by the Council of CIS Heads of Government a draft unified budget of the Commonwealth bodies for the coming year and a report on budget execution for the previous year after discussion in the Council;

issues orders on issues within its competence;

is the main manager of the funds of the common budget of the Commonwealth bodies and is accountable to the Council of Heads of Government of the CIS;

brings to the attention of the heads of state, heads of government, ministers of foreign affairs of the member states of the Commonwealth, the Council of Heads of State, the Council of Heads of Government, the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the Economic Council, as well as the heads of other bodies of the Commonwealth, information that is of interest from the point of view of the development of the Commonwealth of Independent States; submit appropriate proposals for their consideration;

performs other functions assigned to it by the Council of Heads of State and the Council of Heads of Government of the CIS.

9. The quotas in the Committee are the positions of Deputy Chairmen of the Committee, as well as directors of departments and their deputies, appointed by the Chairman of the Committee at the suggestion of the Commonwealth member states.

The remaining employees are appointed by the Chairman of the Committee, as a rule, on a competitive basis.

10. A person presented for appointment to a quota position must:

be a citizen of the corresponding state – a member of the Commonwealth;

have, as a rule, the status of an employee of the state apparatus of the corresponding state – a member of the CIS;

have professional training (qualification) that meets the requirements of a specific quota position.

11. The duration of work in a quota position, as a rule, should not exceed 3 years.

12. Occupation of a quota position is terminated:

after the expiration of the established period of work;

before the expiration of the established period at the proposal of the relevant state – a member of the Commonwealth;

at the employee’s own request;

in connection with liquidation, reorganization, downsizing of the Committee;

in other cases provided for by the labor legislation of the host state.

13. The Committee concludes an employment agreement (contract) with the staff of the apparatus.

The procedure for concluding, amending, prolonging and terminating an employment contract (contract) is governed by the legislation of the host state, unless otherwise provided by international treaties concluded within the Commonwealth, or by decisions of the Council of Heads of State or the Council of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth.

14. Employees of the Committee’s apparatus (except for technical and service personnel) under the legislation of the member states of the Commonwealth are equated with the relevant categories of civil servants of the states of which they are citizens, with the extension to them of the benefits that they enjoy in matters of social, medical care and pensions civil servants.

The period of work in the Committee for the said persons shall be counted in the length of service as civil servants of that state – a member of the Commonwealth, of which they are citizens.

15. Employees of the Committee’s apparatus (except for technical and service personnel) are equated with international officials and, in the performance of their official duties, are independent of state bodies and officials of their states, and also cannot combine work in the Committee’s apparatus with other work or engage in activities that are not compatible with the performance of their official duties, except for teaching, scientific or other creative activities.

IV . FINAL PROVISIONS

16. Financing of the Committee is carried out at the expense of the budgetary funds of the CIS member states from the single budget of the Commonwealth bodies. The order of financing is determined by the decision of the Council of Heads of Government.

17. The member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States contribute funds to the maintenance of the Committee in the manner prescribed by the decisions of the Council of Heads of Government.

18. On the proposal of the Chairman of the Committee, the cost estimates agreed with the Council, the report on the implementation of the estimate and the number of staff of the Committee are approved by the Council of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth.

19. An audit of the economic and financial activities of the Committee is carried out once a year by a commission composed of auditors from each state – a member of the CIS.

20. The working language of the Committee is Russian.

21. The location of the Committee is the Republic of Belarus, the city of Minsk.

The Committee may have its own structures and representations in the member states of the Commonwealth in accordance with the decision of the Council of Heads of Government of the CIS.

22. The Committee is the assignee of the Executive Secretariat of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Interstate Economic Committee of the Economic Union.

REGISTER:
Protocol on approval of the Regulations on the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States
Registration number: 01063
Date of signing: 06/21/2000
Body of adoption: Council of Heads of State of the CIS
Place of signing: Moscow