PRESS RELEASE

 

East African Community

 

PRESS RELEASE

17^TH MEETING OF THE SECTORAL COUNCIL OF MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR EAC AFFAIRS AND PLANNING CONCLUDES IN KAMPALA

 

Chairperson congratulates President Obama

 

Sectoral Council adopts Consultative Dialogue Framework for Civil Society and Private Sector participation in EAC integration process

 

East African Community Secretariat, Arusha, 9 November 2012: The 17^th meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs and Planning concluded Friday in Kampala, Uganda with the Ministers approving key priority interventions for the FY 2013/14.

 

Topping the list is the establishment of a single customs territory including the necessary legal and administrative framework to manage the Single Customs Territory and complete elimination of customs-related non-tariff barriers.

 

Others include progressive implementation of the Common Market Protocol, by putting in place the necessary legal and institutional frameworks and closely monitoring progress in its implementation; implementation of the East African Monetary Union Protocol; development of cross border infrastructure; operationalization of the EAC Industrialization Strategy and Policy with particular focus on agro-based industries and the implementation of the EAC Food Security and Climate Change Master Plan; and conclusion of negotiations for the establishment of the Tripartite EAC-COMESA-SADC Free Trade Area comprising 28 African countries.

 

Others are implementation of the critical activities of Lake Victoria Basin Commission; peace and security; Trade negotiations (EAC-EU-EPA, EAC–US PATIA); and implementation of the Social Development Framework.

 

Addressing the opening session, the Chairperson of the Council and Minister of East African Community of the Republic of Kenya Hon. Musa Sirma congratulated President Barack Obama on his re-election for a second term as the President of the United States of America. He said President Obama’s re-election was not only a victory for the people of US but also a victory shared by the whole family of African descent all over the world.

 

“The victory further cements the liberation and equal treatment of the mankind,” asserted Hon. Sirma.

 

The Minister informed the delegates that the Sectoral Council for EAC and Planning had an important role of monitoring the integration process in the Community and that significant progress had been made in various sectors, which has contributed towards the integration process.

 

However, the Minister noted that there were a number of areas that still need more attention. “For example, as you will recall, the Council has in the past made decisions regarding the recruitment process in the Community. Years down the line, most of these decisions remain outstanding as they are bogged down by unnecessary semantics. May I point out here that once the Council makes decisions they need to be implemented without undue delays” stated Hon. Sirma.

 

The EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Planning and Infrastructure, Dr. Enos Bukuku expressed great appreciation to the Government and people of Uganda for the warm and cordial hospitality accorded to all the delegations during the meeting.

 

Some of the decisions and directives of the 17^th meeting of the Sectoral Council:

 

The Sectoral Council adopted the consultative Dialogue Framework for Civil Society and Private Sector participation in the EAC integration process; and directed the Partner States which do not have apex bodies of the private sector and civil society to create an enabling environment for the establishment of the apex bodies by December 2013.

 

The Sectoral requested the Council to review its earlier decision on the Rules of Procedure and allow the rules be formulated by the Consultative Forum once operational.

 

Political Matters

 

The Sectoral Council directed the Secretariat to convene a meeting of experts on anti-corruption to review the draft EAC Five-Year Plan of Action on Preventing and Combating Corruption, and that of experts on Human Rights to review the Draft 2^nd EAC Plan of Action on Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.

 

On the EAC Protocol on Good Governance, the Sectoral Council agreed that the Republics of Burundi, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda should proceed with the conclusion of the Protocol on Good Governance and referred the matter to the 26^th Council of Ministers to allow the four Partner States to proceed.

 

In regard to March 2013 Kenya Election, the Sectoral Council recommended to the Council to allow the deployment of an EAC Observer Mission and Diplomatic Mission to Kenya and directed the Secretariat to expedite finalization of the EAC Principles on Election Observation and Evaluation.

 

On the issue of the internationalization of the EAC passport, the Sectoral Council directed the EAC Secretariat to prepare a background paper on the internationalization of the EAC Passport based on previous decisions on this matter and related on-going activities for consideration by the 18^th Meeting of the Sectoral Council responsible for EAC Affairs and Planning.

 

The Secretariat was also directed to adopt a multi-sectoral approach in addressing the issue of the internationalization of the EAC passport; and to invite Chiefs of Immigration to make a presentation on the internationalization of a passport during the 18^th meeting of the Sectoral Council.

 

The Sectoral Council took note of the progress report on the negotiations of the East African Monetary Union Protocol and directed the Secretariat to convene the meeting of the Sectoral Council on Monetary Union on dates to be agreed upon, following consultations with Partner States. The Secretariat was also directed to prepare a Progress Report on EAMU negotiations for submission to the 26^th Meeting of the Council of Ministers.