Article 5

1. The General Assembly shall be the supreme organ of the O.I.V. It shall discuss and adopt regulations relating to the organisation and working of the O.I.V and draft resolutions of a general, scientific, technical, economic or legal nature, as well as for the creation or discontinuance of Commissions and Sub-Commissions. It shall decide the budget for receipts and expenditures within the limit of existing appropriations, and shall audit and approve the accounts. The General Assembly shall adopt co-operation and collaboration protocols on matters relating to vine and wine products that the O.I.V may conclude with international organisations. It shall meet once a year. Extraordinary sessions may be convened at the request of one-third of O.I.V members.

2. Delegates from one-third of the members representing at least half the weighted votes must be present for sessions to be quorate. A member may be represented by the delegation of another member, but a delegation may not represent more than one member.

3. a) Consensus shall be the normal method whereby the General Assembly shall adopt draft resolutions of a general, scientific, technical, economic or legal nature, and for the creation or discontinuance of Commissions and Sub-Commissions. The same shall be true for the Executive Committee when it exercises its functions on these issues.

b) Consensus shall not be required for the election of the President of the O.I.V, the Presidents of Commissions and Sub-Commissions or for the Director General, nor shall it apply to the budget or to memberʼs financial contributions. Moreover it shall not apply to other financial decisions as determined in the Internal Rules.

c) In cases where the General Assembly or Executive Committee do not reach a consensus at the first instance on a draft resolution or decision, the President shall take all initiatives to consult members in the intervening period before the next General Assembly or Executive Committee, in order to bring the points of view together. When all such efforts to achieve consensus have been exhausted, the President shall take a vote on the basis of a qualified majority, that being a vote of two thirds plus one of members present or represented, on a one member one vote basis. Nevertheless, the vote shall be postponed for a period of one year if a member considers that its essential national interests are at risk. If the opposition is subsequently confirmed in writing by the Minister of Foreign Affairs or any other competent political authority of the member concerned, the vote shall not be taken.