Article 15 Economic and Social Commission Composition and Participation 1. The Commission shall be the Economic and Social Commission of the OAU. 2. The Commission shall comprise Ministers responsible for economic development, planning and integration of each Member States. They may be assisted, as and when necessary, by other Ministers. 3. Representatives of regional economic communities shall participate in meetings of the Commission and its subsidiary organs. The modalities and conditions of their participation shall be prescribed in the protocol concerning relations between the Community and African regional and sub-regional organisations and Third States. Representatives of other organisations may also be invited to participate as observers in the deliberations of the Commission. Article 16 Functions The Commission shall carry out the following functions: (a) Prepare, in accordance with the Lagos Plan of Action and the Final Act of Lagos, programmes, policies and strategies for co-operation in the fields of economic and social development among African countries on the on hand, and between Africa and the International community on the other, and make appropriate recommendations to the Assembly, through the Council; (b) Coordinate, harmonize, supervise and follow-up the economic, social, cultural, scientific and technical activities of the Secretariat, of the Committees and any other subsidiary body; (c) Examine the reports and recommendations to the Assembly, through the Council, and ensure their follow-up; (d) Make recommendations to the Assembly, through the Council with a view of co-ordinating and harmonising the activities of the different regional economic communities; (e) Supervise the preparation of international negotiations, assess the results thereof and report thereon to the Assembly through the Council; and 17