Brief Description

The Legal Affairs Department began activities at the same time as the Executive Secretariat in February 1977.

Duties

The Department plays the role of Legal Advisor to the Community;

• It formulates and proposes Community legal and judicial policies and assists in implementing them.

Responsibilities and Tasks

The Department has the following responsibilities and tasks:

Gives advice on all legal and judicial matters

• Formulates draft Community texts
• Assists in the interpretation of Community texts and contributes to decision-making
• Conceives and initiates Community legal and judicial programmes
• Plays the role of the custodian of Community acts
• Participates in negotiations and in other agreement conclusion and dispute settlement procedures.