Executive Council of the African Union

According to the Constitutive Act, the Executive Council is subordinate to the Assembly of the African Union. Somewhat akin to the European Council, the Council elects members to the Commission of the African Union, which is the Union's executive branch. Despite its name, the Executive Council has no executive power. Instead, the Council executes its policy through the Commission and various executive branches of its members states.

The Executive Council is constitutionally responsible for the following policy areas.

• foreign trade;
• energy, industry and mineral resources;
• food, agricultural and animal resources, livestock production
• forestry;
• water resources and irrigation;
• environmental protection, humanitarian action and disaster response and relief;
• transport and communications;
• insurance;
• education, culture, health and human resources development;
• science and technology;
• nationality, residency and immigration matters;
• social security, including the formulation of mother and child care policies, as well as policies relating to the disabled and
• the handicapped;
• establishment of a system of African awards, medals and prizes.

Functions

The Executive Council’s core functions include:

• Preparing the Assembly session agendas and drafting decisions for its consideration,
• Electing the Members of the Commission for appointment by the Assembly,
• Promoting cooperation and coordination with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), African ,Development Bank (AfDB), other African institutions and the UN Economic Commission for Africa,(UNECA),
• Determining policies for cooperation between the AU and Africa’s partners,
• Considering and making recommendations to the Assembly on the Commission’s structure, functions and statutes,
• Ensuring the promotion of gender equality in all AU programmes.