Minister urges EAC partner States to speed up integration process

By JAMES MBAKA

East African Affairs Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie has urged partner States to cede or pull together part of their sovereignty to expedite the regional integration process.

Ms Kandie, who is also the chairperson of the East African Community Council of Ministers, revealed that consultations were on-going on the revised model structure of EAC Political Federation, which is due for consideration by the Summit to be held in April.

She also asked East African Community (EAC) members to ensure that the  strict timelines for the implementation  of the Single Customs Territory by June 30, 2014, and the ratification of the East African Monetary Union Protocol by July 1 and are adhered to.

The minister, who was making her remarks during the third East African Legislative Assembly in Kampala yesterday, regretted that the slow pace at which EAC partner States were moving towards harmonisation of their national laws to align them with the community posed a great challenge to the realisation of full regional integration.

Allay fears

The CS moved to allay fears that the trilateral co-operation arrangement between Rwanda and Kenya and Uganda were undermining the spirit of regional integration, saying leaders from all the member States were in constant consultation.

“This puts to rest the suspicions that the leaders of the community are working at cross-purposes in the integration process,” she said.

She said in accelerating the implementation of EAC decisions, directives and protocols, ministers responsible for East African Affairs in the respective partner States had been directed to put in place structured, regular and enhanced follow-up mechanisms to ensure decisions are effected.

“We have to continuously review and strengthen the working relations between the Assembly and the Council, not just at the regional level but also through the co-ordination of EALA activities at the country levels,” she said.

The minister cited free movement of goods across the region, the reduction of non-tariff barriers (NTBs) and use of valid national ID cards as valid travel document as some of the significant achievements achieved so far.

 The assembly is in Uganda for rotational sittings in a move aimed at taking the assembly closer to the people.