as the supreme decision-making body of the organization. However, while decision-making
remains primarily based on consultation and consensus, if consensus cannot be achieved, the
ASEAN Summit may decide how a specific decision can be made, or joint actions among
members may not be reached. Reviewing the current ASEAN structure, the ASEAN Coordinating
Council, composed of Foreign Ministers from the Member States, coordinates the implementation
of agreements and decisions of the ASEAN Summit.59 It originally took place in the
ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, and was held at least once a year. The Charter has provided that
the ministerial bodies may maintain the senior officials’ forums, working groups and technical
bodies currently operating under their respective jurisdictions and set up new ones if necessary.
The signing and ongoing ratification process of the ASEAN Charter institutionalizes ASEAN’s
Vision 2020. Pursuant to this vision, ASEAN leaders resolved in 2003 to facilitate the creation
of the ASEAN Community through three “pillar communities” including the ASEAN Security
Community, the AEC and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. With three pillar communities,
ASEAN Community Councils composed of the ASEAN Political-Security Community
Council, the ASEAN Economic Community Council and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community
Council continue the work of the ASEAN pillar communities and submit recommendations
and reports to the ASEAN Summit for decision.