STATEMENT BY RT. HON. ERIYA KATEGAYA, MP,FIRST DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER/MINISTER OF EAST AFRICAN AFFAIRS AND CHAIRPERSON OF THE EAC COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

By Leo Odera Omolo

I wish to welcome you to this 14th Ordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers convened following the 5th Extra-Ordinary Summit of June 18, 2007 and the 6th Extra-Ordinary Summit of August 20, 2007 which made important decisions on the strategic direction of the EAC.

This Meeting will consider implementation of decisions of the Summit , previous decisions of the Council, Sectoral Council Reports, Reports on the performance of EAC Organs and Institutions, as well as EAC contact and outreach activities, among other items. I am pleased to note that a lot of progress has been made in all the sectors since we last met for the 13th Ordinary Council.

The challenge is to ensure that these achievements are publicised widely in all the Partner States. The Ministries responsible for EAC affairs, the sector Ministries and the EAC Secretariat must do more in this regard.

As you are aware, the Summit decided to expedite the establishment of Common Market and a Monetary Union by 2012 as the EAC moves on to a Political Federation.

The Council will note that the negotiations on the Common Market Protocol are due to begin in October 2007. Partner States should therefore ensure that the negotiations are conducted in a comprehensive but expeditious manner so as to be finalised by the December 2008 deadline.

This Council is also expected to provide guidance on the necessary steps in the process of establishing a Monetary Union by 2012.

Honourable Ministers,
Let me take this opportunity to reiterate the collective need to focus on the greater interests of the East African Community, as we seek to surmount any challenges before us. The East African Community is now a bigger economic and political entity with enormous potential for enhanced leverage in regional and international affairs, if we act as a bloc.

As the EAC moves to the next critical levels of integration, Partner States will, more than ever before, be called upon to commit the requisite resources and political will for the attainment of the Common Market, the Monetary Union, and the ultimate stage of a Political Federation.

The Secretariat will also be called upon to ensure timely and expeditious implementation of all Council decisions, EAC projects and programmes.

In conclusion, let us deliberate on the matters before us with a singular resolve to advance East African integration for the betterment of the standards of living of the East Africans, economic prosperity, development and political unity for the benefit of the present and future generations.

I would like to propose to the Council that in future we should consider reviewing implementation of decisions, projects, and programmes on either half yearly or quarterly basis instead of the current practice of annual reviews that generate big reports.

Secondly, we should focus on the key areas such as infrastructure: energy, roads, railways, waterways, and civil aviation that will facilitate free movement of persons and goods.

Third, there is need to limit the Community?s core focus to a few strategic areas that bring tangible benefits to the people such as the Customs Union, Common Market, harmonisation of monetary and fiscal policy, and cooperation in defence, security, education, foreign policy coordination, and environment.

End

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com