Since its inception in 1981, the Gulf Cooperation Council has been working towards gaining its major objectives: to effect integration and coordination between its member states; strengthen ties between peoples; and formulate similar regulations in such fields as finance, economy, trade, tourism, customs, administration and legislation. The Organization is also committed to fostering technical and scientific progress in industry, agriculture and mining, establishing research centers and setting up joint ventures.
The organizational structure of the Gulf Cooperation Council is composed of the Supreme Council, the Consultative Commission, the Ministerial Council and the Secretariat-General. The highest authority of the Organization is the Supreme Council, formed of the Heads of member states. Its meetings are valid if attended by 2/3 of the member states. The Consultative Commission is formed of 30 citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council, chosen for a period of three years. It is charges with studying matters that were referred to it by the Supreme Council.
The Ministerial Council consists of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and convenes every three month. It is responsible for laying out recommendations, coordinating activities in all fields and proposing policies. It is also charged with arranging meetings of the Supreme Council and preparing agenda. Presidency of the Ministerial Council is generally entrusted with the member state presiding the session of the Supreme Council or with the member state with which it presides.
The Gulf Secretariat-General is composed of a Secretary-General appointed by the Supreme Council for a three-year period, three Assistant Secretaries-General for economic, political and military affairs, Directors-General and the head of GCC delegation to Brussels. Among functions of the Secretariat-General is to prepare studies related to coordination and cooperation programs and plans; to prepare periodic reports on the GCC work; to prepare studies and reports when requested by the Ministerial Council or the Supreme Council; and to follow implementation of the resolutions.
The administrative structure of Gulf Secretariat-General is composed of the following sectors: Economic Affairs, Political Affairs, Human and Environment Affairs, Military Affairs, Finance and Administrative Affairs, Legal Affairs, Office of the Secretary-General, Patent Bureau, Internal Auditing Unit, Administrative Development Unit and Information Center.
The Gulf Cooperation Council provides a number of channels and tools for cooperation and consultation at various levels and in diverse areas, including foreign policy, military cooperation, security cooperation, legal cooperation, economic cooperation, industrial cooperation, commercial cooperation, cooperation in the field of gas and oil, cooperation in water and electricity, cooperation in finance and monetary affairs, cooperation in transportation and communication, cooperation in the field of planning and development, cooperation in the field of science and technology, cooperation in the fields of health and education, environmental cooperation and cooperation in the social field.