he East African Community comprising the five Partner States of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda are committed to developing policies and programmes for the widening and deepening of cooperation among the Partner States in the political, economic, social, and cultural fields, research and technology, defence and security, and legal and judicial affairs, for their mutual benefit.
The Partner States are further committed to establish an effective Common Market in order to strengthen and regulate the industrial, commercial, infrastructural, cultural, social, political and other relations of the Partner States to the end that there shall be accelerated, harmonious and balanced development and sustained expansion of economic activities, the benefit of which shall be equitably shared.
The East African Legislative Assembly heartily congratulates the EAC Heads of Summit for signing the EAC Common Market Protocol. In line with this commitment, all Partner States have already ratified the Common Market Protocol.
This action has paved the way for the progressive implementation of the EAC Common Market starting on 1 July 2010. The Common Market cements operations of the Customs Union and will facilitate free movement of labour, goods, services, capital, and the right of establishment in the EAC region.
Establishment of the Common Market shall be progressive and in accordance with schedules approved by the EAC Council of Ministers. The Protocol further empowers the Council to confer powers and authority upon institutions as it may deem necessary to administer the Common Market. In line with this, Partner States have adopted detailed annexure for purposes of implementing the Common Market Protocol.
It should be clear to all that 1 July 2010 marks the beginning of the process of the Common Market stage of integration. It should also be noted that the implementation of the Common Market Protocol for the free movement of labour, goods, services, capital and the right of establishment will be in a progressive manner from 1 July 2010. More needs to be done in order to actualise the Common Market Protocol; consequently, the East African Legislative Assembly urges EAC Partner States to:
1. Inform the citizens of the Community on the process of implementation of EAC Common Market;
2. Amend relevant policies and laws to facilitate operationalization of the Common Market Protocol;
3. Establish requisite structures for implementing the free movement of labour, goods, services, capital and the right of establishment.
The East African Legislative Assembly reiterates its commitment to executing its legislative, oversight and representative role at this stage of integration for the good and benefit of all the people of East Africa.
Office of the Speaker
East African Legislative Assembly
Arusha, Tanzania
https://www.eala.org
