Ladies & Gentlemen of the Press, I welcome you all to this press briefing and to thank you for your attendance. I wish to notify you of the 2nd Meeting of the 3rd Session of the 3rd East African Legislative Assembly which takes place here from today until October 30th, 2014.
On behalf of the Assembly and on my own behalf, I wish to salute His Excellency, President Paul Kagame, and the entire Government of the Republic of Rwanda for accepting to host EALA.
We thank our host, the Speaker of the Parliament of Rwanda, Rt. Hon Donatile Mukabalisa for granting us access to the facilities here at the Parliament of Rwanda.
As the 3rd Assembly we are coming back here in Kigali for the second time – but more so, as part of the pursuit of the principle of rotation anchored on EALA’s Strategic objective of enhancing the visibility of the Assembly by taking it nearer to the people. Meetings of the Assembly are now frequently held in all the Partner States as per the Provisions of Article 55 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.
Over the coming two-weeks here, the Assembly will conduct the following notable business for consideration:
• We shall receive the official welcome remarks by Rt. Hon Donatile Mukabalisa, Speaker of the Parliament of Rwanda Chamber of Deputies;
• debate on the EAC Co-operatives Bill, 2014 (2nd & 3rd Reading);
• receive and consider reports from various Committees of the Assembly. Such include the Report of the Committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution and the African Leadership Centre Conference on East Africa Societies and Regional Security and the Report of the Committee on Legal Rules and Privileges on the Capacity Building workshop. The Report of the Committee on the Communications, Trade and Investment on the Implementation of the Single Customs Territory on the Central Corridor shall also be debated.
• consider several Motions and Questions brought before the House.
The Plenary shall be followed by the eighth Inter-Parliamentary Relations Seminar, commonly referred to as the Nanyuki Series. The Seminar themed: Insecurity and Terrorism as threats to EAC integration: How can EAC develop a Common Position? takes place on October 31st, 2014 to November 2, 2014. The Nanyuki Series brings together over 100 Parliamentarians from EALA and the EAC Partner States’ Parliaments.
The EAC is at an important period in the integration dispensation. We appreciate the fact that all Partner States are committed to strengthening the integration process by implementing the provisions of the Protocols.
Perhaps let me inform you quickly about the progress so far. As you may be aware, the Customs Union has attained its full implementation and several phases are at an advanced stage. Hereunder, goods produced in the region enjoy zero taxes but benefit from uniform external benefits, procedures and documentation. The Single Customs Territory regime which is now operationalised is good progress for the EAC since it shall enable the faster movement of goods. At the recent tour of the Dar es Salaam Port, we were pleased to note that efficiencies have been registered in cargo handling. We also witnessed the presence of Revenue Offices (and officers) of the Republics of Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC while Kenya was preparing to follow suit. This means goods can now be cleared faster.
The aim of creating a Single Customs Territory is to enable the Partner States to enjoy economies of scale, with a view to supporting the process of economic development. Here, the establishment of the One Stop Border Post principle which is now operational, backed by the law (OSPB law) is furtherance to the Single Customs Territory and the movement of goods and people.
The Common Market Protocol on its part provides for free movement of goods, services, labour, capital and the rights to establishment among others. Generally, Partner States have shown their willingness to enforce the provisions of the said Protocol which is in its fourth year of implementation. We encourage Partner States to discard national fears and insecurities over jobs and to attain free movement. It is now time for us to leverage on the strengths of each other.
The EAC has also signed the Monetary Union, the third step in the four-tier integration process. We congratulate the Republic of Rwanda for it has passed a law in the Chamber of Deputies approving the ratification of the Monetary Union Protocol. We shall work closely with the Council of Ministers on the envisaged roadmap including consideration of the Bills establishing the East African Monetary Institute, East African Financial Services Commission and the East African Surveillance, Compliance and Enforcement Commission among others.
Real implementation of these Protocols will require various pieces of legislation. As soon as the Council of Ministers brings them to the House, we will expeditiously debate.
Specifically, EALA is making its contribution in the integration process by providing the required Legislative Framework and Oversight to ensure the integration agenda remains on course and a priority. The involvement of East Africans in the process of integration is fundamental given the fact that the Treaty under Article (7) places “a people centred process” as a key principle to integration. This principle is enshrined in our EALA Strategic Plan 2013- 2018, and forms the core of our theme. We shall continue to engage with the citizens of the region, and ensure their opinions and aspirations are taken into account when enacting Legislation.
Despite the notable progress, there are challenges. As previously stated, we need to ensure that Non-Tariff Barriers are effectively addressed. A suitable mechanism should be put in place and enforced and as EALA, we shall appeal to the Summit to speed up the process.
The central and northern corridors are key infrastructures that service the hinterland of the Partner States. We welcome the improvements made on the Corridors – including reducing the roadblocks and standardizing the security checks. Last week, Rwanda, South Sudan, Kenya and Uganda launched the construction of the standard gauge railway line in Kampala and this shall enhance business.
The challenges include the slow-uptake of the agenda of the EAC in the national policy networks. We shall continue collaborating with all the Council of Ministers and other stakeholders and in carrying out of our mandate as stipulated by the Treaty to ensure that our EAC economic bloc is strengthened. I wish again to thank and to welcome the Media to fully cover the EALA Plenary sittings during the two weeks. I thank you for your kind attention. –
