National Assemblies have a fundamental role to play in ensuring the integration process remains on track, the Speaker of the EALA, the Rt. Hon. Abdirahin Abdi said today when he met with the President of the Senate of Rwanda, His Excellency Dr Vincent Biruta.
The Rt. Hon. Abdi noted the need for the parliaments to work towards passage of laws that would enable the implementation of the Common Market Protocol be realised and said that time had come for the Assemblies to monitor progress of the integration process in general.
”National Assemblies must ensure the Common Market which was entered into force last year, becomes realizable and achievable. To date, there is no single law passed yet in the Partner States to create an avenue for implementation of the Protocol. I urge Partner States to move with haste on this matter,” Hon Abdi said.
On his part, the President of the Senate Dr Biruta challenged parliaments in the region to keep a score-card in terms of progress in smoothening the integration process. He reiterated the Republic of Rwanda’s commitment to the integration process.
“It is important for us as parliaments to know where we are at and where we are going if the integration dispensation is to be strengthened,” Dr Biruta noted.
The talks dwelt on the need for peace and political stability in the region as a precursor to the socio-economic development in the region that will lead to the ultimate prize of Political Federation.
The EALA Speaker briefed Dr Biruta on the proceedings of the ongoing 5th Meeting of the 4th Session, currently taking place in Arusha. The President of the Rwanda Senate hailed EALA for the progress it had achieved in its mandate.
Dr Biruta later visited the EAC Secretariat headquarters where he met the Deputy Secretary General in charge of Finance and Administration Dr Julius T. Rotich. Dr Rotich briefed the Rwanda Senate President on the progress the EAC has made thus far, highlighting the successful operation of a Customs Union since 2005, the commencement of a Common Market since July 2010 and ongoing negotiations to establish a Monetary Union by 2012.
Dr Biruta commended the work of the Secretariat, observing that national parliaments “have a big role to play in pushing for the implementation of decisions” made at the regional level.
He lauded the various initiatives the EAC has embarked on to enhance cooperation, such as coordination of foreign policy which has resulted in Partner States forming a common position on international matters of common concern.
He specifically noted that the Partner States’ cooperation in defence matters was “helping to remove psychological barriers” in the drive towards deeper integration.
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