Migration issues a top priority in common market talks: EAC
The Citizen, Tanzania
Migration issues a top priority in common market talks: EAC
By The Citizen Reporter, Arusha
12 February 2009
The on-going East African Common Market Protocol negotiations give migration issues priority, East African Community secretary-general Juma Mwapachi has said.
"Migration issues lie at the heart of the current negotiations on the EAC Common Market negotiations," he told the EU Delegation during a visit to the EAC headquarters.
Negotiations for the Common Market Protocol kicked off in Kigali, Rwanda in April last year and were initially scheduled to be completed early this year.
However, differences among EAC member states on a number of issues have delayed their conclusion. The EAC partner states are Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi and Rwanda.
The head of the EU Delegation, Mr Tim Clarke, was accompanied by the First Secretary (Natural Resources), Ms Anne-Claire Leon, while EAC was represented by its chief executive, the principal resource mobilisation officer, Dr James Njagu, the principal environment and natural resources officer, Ms Wivine Ntamubano, and the senior public relations officer, Mr Owora Richard Othieno.
Discussions also centred on the current global financial crisis and its possible impact on the EAC partner states, climate change, and progress in the ongoing Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and Common Market negotiations.
They also discussed the current status of agro forestry, land use, agriculture and natural resources in the region, and the role of the Civil Society in the regional integration process.
They discussed on the forthcoming political dialogue with ambassadors of member countries of EU with the EAC, scheduled for March 5 in Dar es Salaam.
The dialogue will address regional integration issues, the proposed amendments of the EAC Treaty, good governance and Common Market.
Mr Clarke informed Mr Mwapachu that 2009 is the European Year of Creativity and Innovations and invited the EAC to join the EU in the celebrations, which will be held in Dar es Salaam with a series of activities to involve the private sector, university students and other stakeholders.
