Verdrag tot oprichting van de Associatie van Caraïbische Staten

In this Convention:
“Association" means the Association of Caribbean States established by Article II.
“Convention" means the Convention establishing the Association.
“Meeting of Heads of State or Government" means the Meeting of Heads of State or Government referred to in Article VI.
“Member State" means a State mentioned in Article IV(1) that is a party to this Convention.
“Associate Member" means a political entity mentioned In Arti- cle IV(2).
“Ministerial Council" means the Ministerial Council of the Association established by Article VII.
“Observers" means the entities referred to in Article V and admitted as such to the Association.
“Secretariat" means the Secretariat of the Association established by Article VII.
“Secretary-General" means the Secretary-General of the Association.
“Social Partners" means non-governmental organisations or other entities which are broadly representative of wide interests in the States, Countries and Territories of the region, and which are recognised and accepted as such by the Ministerial Council.

There is hereby established the Association of Caribbean States, an organisation of States, Countries and Territories of the Caribbean having the nature, purposes and functions set out in this Convention.

1. The Association is an organisation for consultation, cooperation and concerted action, whose purpose is to identify and promote the implementation of policies and programmes designed to:
a) harness, utilise and develop the collective capabilities of the Caribbean Region to achieve sustained cultural, economic, social, scientific and technological advancement;
b) develop the potential of the Caribbean Sea through interaction among Member States and with third parties;
c) promote an enhanced economic space for trade and investment with opportunities for cooperation and concerted action, in order to increase the benefits which accrue to the peoples of the Caribbean from their resources and assets, including the Caribbean Sea;
d) establish, consolidate and augment, as appropriate, institutional structures and cooperative arrangements responsive to the various cultural identities, developmental needs and normative systems within the region.
2. In pursuit and fulfilment of the purposes set out in paragraph 1 of this Article, the Association shall promote gradually and progressively among its members the following activities:
a) economic integration, including the liberalisation of trade, investment, transportation and other related areas;
b) discussion on matters of common interest for the purpose of facilitating active and coordinated participation by the region in the various multilateral fora;
c) the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes for functional cooperation in the fields mentioned in paragraph 1a) of this Article;
d) the preservation of the environment and conservation of the natural resources of the region and especially of the Caribbean Sea;
e) the strengthening of friendly relationships among the Governments and peoples of the Caribbean;
f) consultation, cooperation and concerted action in such other areas as may be agreed upon.

1. Membership of the Association shall be open to the States of the Caribbean listed in Annex I to this Convention. These States shall have the right to participate in discussions and to vote at meetings of the Ministerial Council and Special Committees of the Association.
2. Associate Membership shall be open to the States, Countries and Territories of the Caribbean listed in Annex II of this Convention. Associate Members shall have the right to intervene in discussions and vote at meetings of the Ministerial Council and Special Committees on matters which affect them directly, falling within their constitutional competence. The Council shall conclude relationship agreements with the respective State, Country or Territory which agreements shall set out the terms and conditions and the manner in which the Associate Member may participate in, and vote at meetings of the Ministerial Council and Special Committees.
3. States mentioned in paragraph 1 of this Article, which sign and ratify this Convention prior to its entry into force or within one year thereafter, shall be Founding Members of the Association.

Consistent with the functions and activities of the Association set out in Article III (2) of the Convention, the Ministerial Council shall:
a) define courses of action, policies and programmes of the Association;
b) consider and approve the biennial Work Programme and Budget of the Association;
c) consider and determine applications for membership, associate membership of, or observer status with, the Association;
d) determine the Social Partners which it recognises and accepts and define their roles;
e) appoint the Secretary-General and such other senior officials of the Secretariat as it may deem appropriate;
f) establish Rules of Procedure and guidelines governing the functioning of the Association;
g) approve the regulations governing the operations of the Secretariat;
h) authorise the negotiation and conclusion, by the Secretary-General, of agreements with third parties, institutions or groups of states or other entities as may be required for the advancement of the work of the Association;
i) recommend and/or adopt amendments to the Convention proposed by Member States in accordance with Article XXVIII;
j) decide on the interpretation of this Convention;
k) perform such other functions as may be determined by the Meeting of Heads of State or Government.

Observers may be admitted to the Association on terms and conditions as may be determined by the Ministerial Council. Observers may be admitted from among the States, Countries and Territories listed in Annexes I and II of this Convention. Additionally, any other State, Country, Territory, or an organisation applying for observer status in the Association may be accorded such status, provided that the Ministerial Council so decides.

1. Any Head of State or Government of a Member State may propose the convening of a Meeting of Heads of State or Government. The Secretary-General shall convene the Meeting after consultation with the Member States.
2. The Ministerial Council may, as it considers appropriate, propose the convening of a Meeting of Heads of State or Government.
3. Where a Meeting of the Heads of State or Government is to be convened, the Ministerial Council shall convene preparatory meetings.

There are hereby established the following Permanent Organs of the Association:
a) the Ministerial Council; and
b) the Secretariat.

1. The Ministerial Council, comprising representatives of Member States, as set out in Article X, shall be the principal organ for policymaking and direction of the Association within the purposes and functions set out in Article III of this Convention.
2. The Ministerial Council may, in accordance with its Rules of Procedure established under Article XI, convene at its discretion, special meetings of the Ministerial Council to consider the subject areas or issues proposed for its consideration.
3. The Ministerial Council may, initially on an ad hoc basis, establish the Special Committees that it considers necessary to assist it in the performance of its functions. The Ministerial Council shall establish and determine the composition and terms of reference of:
a) the Committee on Trade Development and External Economic Relations;
b) the Committee for the Protection and Conservation of the Environment and of the Caribbean Sea;
c) the Committee on Natural Resources,
d) the Committee on Science, Technology, Health, Education and Culture; and
e) the Committee on Budget and Administration.
4. In their work, the Special Committees referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article may request and take into account the opinions of the Social Partners recognised under Article IX(d).

1. Each Member State shall designate a Minister and an alternate to represent it on the Ministerial Council. The Minister or alternate so designated may be assisted by advisers.
2. Each Member State shall notify the Secretariat of the Minister designated to represent it on the Ministerial Council and of the name of the person appointed as his alternate. An alternate shall stand in all aspects in place of the designated Minister during the latter's absence.

1. Subject to the provisions of this Article, the Ministerial Council shall establish its own Rules of Procedure.
2. Meetings shall be presided over by a Chairman who shall be elected from among the representatives of Member States. The first Chairman shall be elected at the first meeting of the Ministerial Council and shall hold office for one year. Thereafter, the chairmanship shall rotate in accordance with the Rules of Procedure established pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article.
3. The Ministerial Council shall hold an annual regular meeting which will normally take place at the Headquarters of the Association. The Chairman of the Council shall convene special meetings if requested to do so by not less than two-thirds of the Member States.
4. Subject to this paragraph and the provisions of Article XII (2), the Council of Ministers shall decide by consensus on the substantive matters submitted to it for consideration. Procedural matters shall be determined by a two-thirds majority of the Members present and voting. The delegates present shall decide by a two-thirds majority vote on the classification of matters as either substantive or procedural. In any event, any issue that has a bearing on a decision relating to substantive matters will not be considered a procedural issue.

1. The Ministerial Council shall examine and approve with such modifications, as it deems necessary, the draft Budget of the Association submitted by the committee on Budget and Administration.
2. Voting on the total figure of the Budget shall be preceded by a vote on each budget head. Each budget head shall be approved by a three-quarters majority of the votes of delegates present and voting. The total of the Budget of the Association shall be approved by consensus of delegates present.
3. The Budget of the Association shall be prepared on a biennial basis, subject to an annual review. Where in any year, the Budget of the Association is not approved, the Budget of the Association voted for the previous biennium shall remain in force and Member States, and Associate Members shall continue to make the same contributions as for the preceding biennium.
4. Contributions by Member States to the Budget of the Association shall be made in such proportions as the Ministerial Council may decide.

The Ministerial Council shall also establish a special fund for the purpose of financing programmes of technical cooperation and related research consistent with the purpose and functions of the Association. The Ministerial Council shall determine the general framework of the programmes to be supported out of the Special Fund. Specific activities within this framework shall be elaborated by the Committee on Trade Development and External Economic Relations with the assistance of the Secretariat. The Special Fund shall be made up of resources that on a voluntary basis can be contributed by Member States, non-Members or other entities.

1. The Secretariat shall comprise a Secretary-General and such other staff as the Ministerial Council may determine. In addition to any powers conferred on the Secretary-General by or under this Convention, the Secretary-General shall be the Chief Administrative Officer of the Association.
2. The Secretary-General shall be elected on the basis of rotation for a period of four years on such terms and conditions, as may be determined by the Ministerial Council.
3. The Secretary-General shall act in that capacity in all Meetings of the Ministerial Council and Special Committees of the Association and shall make an annual report to the Ministerial Council on the work of the Association.
4. In the performance of their duties the Secretary-General and the staff of the Secretariat shall neither seek nor receive instructions from any Government of a Member State or from any other authority external to the Association. They shall refrain from any action which may reflect adversely on their position as officials of the Association and shall be responsible only to the Association.
5. The Staff of the Secretariat shall be appointed by the Secretary-General in accordance with regulations established by the Ministerial Council. The paramount consideration in the appointment of the staff shall be the need to secure the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity. In the recruitment of Staff, due regard shall be paid to the principles of equitable geographical distribution and linguistic representation.
6. Member States undertake to respect the international character of the responsibilities of the Secretary-General and the staff and shall not seek to influence them in the discharge of their responsibilities.
7. The Ministerial Council shall approve the Regulations governing the operations of the Secretariat.

The languages of the Association shall be English, French and Spanish.

1. In addition to any duties which may be assigned to it by the Ministerial Council, the Secretariat shall perform the following functions for the achievement of the purposes and functions of the Association:
a) assist the Ministerial Council and the Special Committees of the Association in the development and Implementation of Policies and programmes;
b) maintain contact with other sub-regional, regional and international organisations;
c) initiate, organise and conduct studies on integration issues, and in particular, trade, investment and economic and social development issues;
d) collect, store and disseminate information to Member States, Associate Members, and when the Ministerial Council so decides, to other relevant entities;
e) service Meetings of the Ministerial Council and the Special Committees of the Association and take appropriate action on determinations emanating from such meetings;
f) coordinate, within the framework of the work programme of the Association, the activities of donor agencies, international, regional and national institutions;
g) prepare the draft Budget of the Association for examination by the Committee on Budget and Administration every two years to be submitted for the consideration and approval, as appropriate, by the Ministerial Council.
2. In the discharge of its functions, the Secretariat shall enter into cooperation arrangements with, and draw on, the capacities of the existing integration organisations in the region.

1. The Association shall have full international legal personality.
2. Each member State and Associate Member shall, in its territory accord to the Association the most extensive legal capacity accorded to legal persons under its domestic law. In any legal matters or proceedings the Association shall be represented by the Secretary-General.
3. Each Member State and Associate Member undertake to take such action as may be necessary to make affective in its territory the provisions of this Article, and shall promptly inform the Secretariat of such action.

1. The privileges and immunities to be recognised and granted by Member States and Associate Members in relation to the Association shall be set out in a Protocol to this Convention.
2. The Association shall conclude a Headquarters Agreement with the Government of the Member State where it is located, including provisions on the privileges and immunities recognised and granted.

Member States of the Association shall take all appropriate and pertinent measures to carry out the provisions of this Convention. They shall facilitate the achievement of the purposes of the Association.

1. Nothing in this Convention shall be construed as altering the rights and obligations of Parties which arise from other Agreements. In like manner, the provisions of this Convention shall not affect existing mechanisms for cooperation, concerted action and consultation.
2. Within the scope of this Convention a number of Member States may undertake initiatives and conclude integration agreements among themselves consistent with its purposes and functions. Any such agreement or initiative may be open to any other Member State which is able and willing to participate therein.

This Convention shall be drawn up in the English, French and Spanish languages, each text being equally authentic.

This Convention shall be open for signature from the 24th day of July 1994 by any State, Country or Territory referred to in Article IV.

This Convention shall be subject to ratification by the signatory States, Countries and Territories mentioned in Article IV In accordance with their respective constitutional procedures.

This Convention shall be registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations pursuant to Article 102 of the Charter of that Organisation.

Any question or dispute arising among the Members of the Association, relating to the interpretation or application of this Convention, and which cannot be settled by the parties concerned, shall be settled by the Ministerial Council.

Instruments of Ratification shall be deposited with the Government of the Republic of Colombia, which shall transmit certified true copies to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Member States and to the competent authorities of Associate Members.

This Convention shall enter into force upon deposit of instruments of ratification by two-thirds of the States mentioned in Article IV(1).

After its entry into force, this Convention shall remain open to accession or adhesion by any of the States, Countries and Territories referred to in Article IV. Accession or adhesion shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of accession or adhesion with the Government of the Republic of Colombia which shall inform the Member States and Associate Members. This Convention shall enter into force for the acceding or adhering State, Country and Territory thirty days after the deposit of its instrument of accession or adhesion.

Amendments to this Convention may be made by consensus of the Meeting of Heads of State or Government or of the Ministerial Council. Such amendments shall enter into force thirty days after ratification by two-thirds of the Member States.

1. This Convention shall have indefinite duration.
2. Any Contracting Party may at any time withdraw from this Convention. Such withdrawal shall take effect one year after the date of the receipt by the depository of the formal notification of withdrawal and shall be without prejudice to any obligation incurred by the withdrawing Party by or under this Convention prior to such withdrawal. This Convention shall continue in force thereafter with respect to the other Parties, provided that not less than two-thirds of the States referred to in Article IV(1) continue to be Parties.

No reservations may be made to this Convention.