P R O T O C O L
on Co-operation between the Baltic Assembly and
the Baltic Council of Ministers
In conformity with the Agreement on Parliamentary and
Governmental Co-operation between the Republic of Estonia, the
Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania,
seeking to achieve more efficient co-ordination of
activities,
The Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers
determine the following order of co-operation:
1. The Baltic Council, a joint meeting that is summoned once
a year during the spring session of the Baltic Assembly, is the
highest form of co-operation between the Baltic Assembly and the
Baltic Council of Ministers. Extraordinary meetings of the Baltic
Council can be summoned according to the agreement between the
Presidium of the Baltic Assembly and the Heads of Government of
the Baltic States.
2. Time, place and agenda of the Baltic Council are co-
ordinated by the respective Secretariats of the Baltic Assembly
and the Baltic Council of Ministers.
3. The Baltic Council is authorised to consider the issues
on co-operation if not less than 2/3 of the members of the Baltic
Assembly of each country together with the representatives of
Governments from all of the Baltic States, with the necessary
credentials, are present. The Prime Ministers of the Baltic
States or the Ministers for Baltic Co-operation shall participate
at the joint session.
4. At the Baltic Council a representative of the chairing
country reports on the work carried out by the Baltic Council of
Ministers during the previous year.
5. The members of the Baltic Assembly may submit questions
on Baltic co-operation to the Baltic Council of Ministers not
later than one month before the Baltic Council. Additional
questions on the relevant subject may be asked during the
meeting.
6. The Baltic Council adopts declarations according to the
principle of consensus.
7. The business of the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic
Council of Ministers between the Baltic Council sessions takes
the following forms:
1) Joint meetings of the Presidium of the Baltic Assembly
and the Heads of Government of the Baltic States or the Ministers
for Baltic Co-operation.
2) Work between the related Committees of the Baltic
Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers.
3) Regular contacts between the Secretariats of the Baltic
Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers.
8. Meetings of the Presidium of the Baltic Assembly and the
Heads of Government or Ministers for Co-operation of the Baltic
States are held to consider the strategic issues of the Baltic
co-operation. In these meetings the representatives of the Baltic
Co-operation Committee may take part.
9. The related Committees of the Baltic Assembly and the
Baltic Council of Ministers hold joint meetings to discuss and
agree on the common tactics and co-ordinated activities for the
joint work in the related fields. The representatives of the
Baltic Co-operation Committee may participate in these meetings.
10. The related Committees of the Baltic Assembly and the
Baltic Council of Ministers, when preparing recommendations and
documents on issues to be solved in the related fields, co-
ordinate the views, submit and discuss proposals.
11. The Secretariats of the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic
Council of Ministers ensure the exchange of necessary
information, co-ordinate their activities and preparation of
documents, and assist the related structures of the Baltic
Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers in ensuring their
co-operation.
Chairman of the Presidium of Chairman of the Baltic
the Baltic Assembly Council of Ministers
Ivars Kezbers Laurynas Mindaugas
Stankevičius
Vilnius, 14 April 1996