SECTION 9

Powers 1. The Conference shall be responsible for implementing the aims of the Community. 2. The Conference shall accordingly: a) define the general policy and major guidelines of the Community and direct and harmonize the socio-economic policies of Member States; b) take any action under this Treaty for achieving the aims of the Community; c) oversee the functioning of Community institutions; d) establish its rules of procedures and approve the rules of procedure of the Council of Ministers; e) approve the organization chart of the General Secretariat of the Community; f) appoint the Secretary-General, the Deputy-Secretaries-General, the Financial Controller and the Accountant; g) determine the staff regulations of the General Secretariat; h) appoint a Board of Auditors on the proposal of the Council of Ministers; i) prepare the Community budget and determine the annual contribution of each Member State on the proposal of the Council of Ministers; j) delegate to the Council of Ministers, if it wishes, the authority to take decisions and issue directives on matters within its competence; k) refer a matter to the Court of Justice when it confirms by a two-thirds majority vote that a Member State has not met one or more of its obligations arising from this Treaty, from a decision or a directive of the Conference or from a regulation of the Council of Ministers; l) request the Court of Justice, if it wishes, to give an advisory opinion on any legal question. 3. The Conference shall exercise any other powers granted to it under this Treaty. 4. The Conference shall be assisted by the Council of Ministers in the performance of its duties.