Membership of the Council
The Council consists of the Ministers responsible for regional co-operation of each Partner State and such other Ministers of the Partner States as each Partner State may determine.

Meetings of the Council

1. The Council meets twice in each year, one meeting of which is held immediately preceding a meeting of the Summit. Extraordinary meetings of the Council may be held at the request of a Partner State or the Chairperson of the Council.
2. The Council determines its own procedure including that for convening its meetings, for the conduct of business thereat and at other times, and for the rotation of the office of Chairperson among its members who are Ministers responsible for regional co-operation in the Partner States.
3. A member of the Council who is the leader of his or her Partner State's delegation to a meeting of the Council, may record his or her objection to a proposal submitted for the decision of the Council and, if any such objection is recorded, the Council does not proceed with the proposal and, unless the objection is withdrawn refers the matter to the Summit for decision.
4. Subject to a protocol on decision-making, the decisions of the Council shall be by consensus.
5. The protocol referred to in paragraph 4 shall be concluded within a period of six months from the entry into force of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.

Effects of regulations, directives, decisions and recommendations of the Council
Subject to the provisions of the Treaty, the regulations, directives and decisions of the Council taken or given in pursuance of the provisions of the Treaty are binding on the Partner States, on all organs and institutions of the Community other than the Summit, the Court and the Assembly within their jurisdictions, and on those to whom they may under the Treaty be addressed.