The Executive Council (the Council) is the executive organ of the OPCW. It is responsible to the Conference of the States Parties (the Conference) and carries out the powers and functions entrusted to it by the Chemical Weapons Convention (the Convention). It promotes the effective implementation of, and compliance with, the Convention and supervises the activities of the Technical Secretariat, cooperates with the National Authority of each State Party and facilitates consultations and cooperation among States Parties at their request.
It consists of 41 States Parties, which are appointed by the Conference on a two-year term. The current practice is three regular sessions per year, however it can meet as often as may be required for the fulfilment of its powers and functions.
According to its Rules of Procedure, the Council, unless otherwise decided, is open to the attendance of an Observer State Party to the Convention which is not a member of the Council. Observers may present their views with the concurrence of the Council without a role in the decision-making when the Council is considering matters of interest to them.
