Article XII

Decisions of the Commission on matters of substance shall be taken by consensus. The question of whether a matter is one of substance shall be treated as a matter of substance.

Decisions on matters other than those referred to in paragraph 1 above shall be taken by a simple majority of the members of the Commission present and voting.

In Commission consideration of any item requiring a decision, it shall be made dear whether a regional economic integration organization will participate in the taking of the decision and, if so, whether any of its member States will also participate. The number of Contracting Parties so participating shall not exceed the number of member States of the regional economic integration organization which are members of the Commission.

In the taking of decisions pursuant to this Article, a regional economic integration organization shall have only one vote.