The Council of Ministers is the Group´s main decision-making body.
It is the supreme body responsible for implementing the guidelines laid down by the Summit. Ministerial sectoral meetings are held regularly, namely, Meeting of Trade Ministers, Meeting of Ministers of Culture.

The Council is composed of a member of Government from each ACP State
or a government-designated representative.

It outlines the terms and conditions for implementing the Group´s objectives as set out in its general policy, and periodically checks to see whether these objectives have been attained.

The Council meets twice annually in ordinary sessions. It may also meet, when necessary, in special session, on the advice of the President, after consultation with all the members of the Bureau.

Council Presidency

The Council of Ministers elects its Bureau - headed by a President - at the end of each of its ordinary sessions. A system of rotation has been established to ensure that representatives from the six ACP regions have the opportunity to preside over the Council.

The Bureau is composed of nine members :

• Six regional representatives (one per region)
• A President
• The outgoing and incoming Presidents as full members.

The acts of the Council of Ministers may take the form of decisions, resolutions or recommendations.

Rules of Procedure of the Council of Ministers
Other ACP ministerial meetings :

The Council of Ministers convenes meetings of Ministers responsible for different areas included among the Group´s objectives.

Ministerial Trade Committee (MTC)
The Ministerial Trade Committee is a task force of Trade Ministers (a total of 18, three per region) responsible for conducting, coordinating and monitoring certain trade negotiations.

Meeting of Ministers of Culture
The 1st meeting of ACP Ministers of Culture took place in Dakar (Senegal) in May 2003. At the end of the meeting, a declaration and plan of action were adopted with the primary aim of implementing a development strategy based on culture and cultural industries, as expressed by the Summit of ACP Heads of State and Government.
The process of setting up an ACP Cultural Foundation was also begun and Haiti selected as the venue for the 1st ACP Cultural Festival scheduled for summer 2004.

Dakar Plan of Action for the promotion of ACP cultures and cultural industries

Meeting of National and Regional Authorising Officers
These meetings are attended mainly by Ministers in charge of cooperation with the European Union.

Other meetings : Ministers of the Environment, Education, Science, etc.