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This Charter setting out the internal regulations of the North Sea Commission (NSC) is set within the provisions of the Charter of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR). Only regions, which are members of the CPMR, may be members of the NSC.

The North Sea Commission brings together the Presidents or delegates appointed by the Regional Authorities immediately below the level of - Government which border the North Sea or which in some way have strong links to the North Sea.

The North Sea Commission is established to further partnerships between Regional authorities which face the challenges and opportunities presented by the North Sea. Through dialogue and formal partnerships it will seek to promote common interests, especially in relation to the Institutions of the European Union, the national governments and other organisations dealing with issues, which are relevant to the North Sea.

The North Sea Commission will be organised through the institutions of:

• an Annual General Assembly
• a President and two Vice-Presidents
• an Executive Committee
• Thematic Groups
• an Executive Secretary

4.1 A General Assembly of all Member Regions will be held once a year, or more frequently if required. The General Assembly shall elect a President and two Vice-Presidents and appoint an Executive Committee.

4.2 The President of the North Sea Commission will normally be the President or political leader of their respective authority.

4.3 The members of the Executive Committee will consist of the President, 2 Vice Presidents and the national elected regional representatives from each member country of the North Sea Commission. The member countries so defined are Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Belgium, France, England and Scotland. Each member country shall nominate one representative and one substitute representative. Unless the nominated national representatives cease to hold office in their own region, they shall retain NSC office for two years. If a member of the Executive Committee ceases to hold local office in mid-term, the nominated substitute will act as full member of the Executive Committee until the next General Assembly. The Executive Committee will meet at least three times per year. Each member of the Executive Committee may be a chair of a thematic group.

4.4 A number of Thematic Groups will be established to progress key issues identified by the North Sea Commission. Each group will have a Co-ordinator, who is appointed by the NSC Executive Committee. The Co-ordinator is responsible for the daily running of the group and should provide a report on the activities of the group at every Executive Committee meeting and present the Annual Report to the General Assembly. Each Thematic Group will have a Chair, who is a member or ex-officio member of the Executive Committee and two other elected politicians from a regional authority will be appointed vice-chairs. The Chair of the thematic group need not necessarily be drawn from the Executive Committee However on taking up the chair they will be granted ex-officio Executive Committee membership during the period of their tenure. It would normally be the case for one of the vice-chairs of a thematic group to progress to the position of chair when it is vacated.

4.5 On the recommendation of the Executive Committee, the General Assembly shall nominate an Executive Secretary who will be responsible for supporting the administration of the North Sea Commission.

5.1 The activities of the North Sea Commission will be funded through an annual subscription payable by each Member Authority, this annual subscription being determined by the Executive Committee and approved by the General Assembly. The subscription is levied in December each year covering the following year.

5.2 Application for the use of funds will be made to the Executive Secretary of the North Sea Commission and will be determined by the Executive Committee. Accounts and a budget will be presented by the Executive Secretary to the annual General Assembly and monitored at meetings of the Executive Committee.

The North Sea Commission will seek to work in partnership with the other organisations or institutions whose aims are complementary to the objectives of the North Sea Commission. To this end the North Sea Commission and its Thematic Groups may enter into co-operation agreements with relevant local agencies, organisations or institutions.

Amendments to the North Sea Commission Charter can only be made by the General Assembly and will normally be based on the recommendations of the Executive Committee.