Decisions of the Council
Article 12
1. The Council shall endeavour to take all decisions and to make all recommendations by consensus. If consensus cannot be reached, the Council shall take decisions and make recommendations by a special vote, according to the following procedures: (a) If the majority required by the special vote is not obtained because of the negative vote of more than three exporting or more than three importing Members, the proposal shall be considered as rejected; (b) If the majority required by the special vote is not obtained because of the negative vote of three or less exporting or three or less importing Members, the proposal shall be put to a vote again within 48 hours; and (c) If the majority required by the special vote is again not obtained, the proposal shall be considered as rejected. 2. In arriving at the number of votes necessary for any of the decisions or recommendations of the Council, votes of Members abstaining shall not be taken into consideration. 3. Members are committed to accept as binding all decisions of the Council under the provisions of this Agreement.