What You Need To Know about the East African Community - Organs and Functions ...?

What Is The EAC Treaty?

·      In full it is knows as The Treaty for the Establishment of The East African Community.

·      It is a document that was signed on 30^th November 1999 in Arusha Tanzania by five countries namely; Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania.  It took effect on 7^th July 2000 following ratification by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania with the rest Rwanda and Burundi joining later in 2007.

·      Through the document (regional agreement), these countries/states agreed to cooperate commercially and politically for their common good.

·      It is the legal document that establishes an East African Community.

The Treaty Establishes Institutions And Organs Of The EAC

·      The Organs of the EAC are: -

a)    The Summit – Comprises of the Heads of Government of the EAC States. The summit gives general direction for achieving the objectives of the community and reviews annual reports.

b)    Council of Ministers – Comprises of ministers/ Cabinet Secretaries in charge of regional cooperation from each state. The Council gives directives, regulations and decisions that are binding on all partner states.

c)    The Coordination Committee – Consists of principal/ permanent secretaries of the partner states. The submit reports and recommendations for implementing the treaty and implement council decisions.

d)    Sectoral Committees – Are responsible for implementation programmes for their sectors, monitor implementation programs and give reports to the coordination committee.

e)    East African Court of Justice – it is a regional court that ensures adherence to the law, it interprets the treaty, and hears and solves disputes relating to the treaty. It is temporarily based in Arusha and has registries in each partner state.

f)     East African Legislative Assembly – it has 9 members from each country, Ex- officio members e.g. Cabinet Secretaries, the Secretary general and a Counsel to the community (the equivalent of an AG). It makes laws for the region, represents the states at the assembly and give oversight over the process of implementation of the treaty.

g)    The Secretariat – it is the executive organ of the community.

·      The institutions of the Community include: -

a)    Lake Victoria Basin commission

b)    East Africa Development Bank

c)    Lake Victoria fisheries organization

d)    Inter-university council for East Africa, etc.

What Is The EAC Customs Union?

·      It is an agreement that establishes a trade bloc with the aim of having a free trade area in the entire EAC. It is used to increase economic efficiency resulting from agreements to charge a common tariff for the rest of the world. It encourages economic integration.

·      It was established by a Customs Union Protocol signed by the first three EAC States on 2^nd March 2004.

·      The CU helps liberalise trade within the region, promotes efficiency in production, promotes economic development and diversification of industries.

·      Implementation is underway including harmonization of quality standards, increase in EAC trade, cross border investment, pre-budget and post budget consultations.

What Is The EAC Common Market?

·      Involves the free movement of goods, labour, services,  and capital. It is a legal document signed by all state parties and came into force on 1^st July 2010.  It represents the second stage of regional integration process.

·      It is not possible to travel to EAC countries without a VISA and to Uganda, and Rwanda with just an Identification card.

·      There is a lot of work being done to remove non-tariff barriers with a few challenges.

What Is The EAC Monetary Union?

·      The Monetary union provides for a wide scope of cooperation in the monetary and financial sectors among the partner states. This includes a surrender of the monetary and exchange rates policies by the partner states. A single currency will succeed this.

·      The MU is established through an EA Monetary Union Protocol signed by EAC heads on 30^th Novemeber 2013. All countries have ratified the Protocol.

What Is The EAC Political Federation?

·      It is the fourth stage of regional integration.

·      It involves formation of a super-state under a single political authority. 

·      The need for a central authority to coordinate implementation decisions, and for channeling of economic benefits equitably across the region.

What Is The Mandate And Functions Of The East African Legislative Assembly?

Elections

·      National assemblies of each partner state elect members representing the various political parties, gender, interest groups etc. in each partner state.

·      It is an indirect electoral process done by already elected representatives.

Functioning structure & Committees

·      Headed by a Speaker – elected by members from among the members upon being nominated. Speaker maintains order of house, opens sittings, debates and sittings etc.

·      The Clerk is in charge of the day-to-day administration – in charge of the Hansard (Records of assembly and selected committees, security, library and research, and accounting.

·      7 Committees established for carrying out of the Assembly’s functions include: -

a)    Account committee

b)    Legal, rules and privileges committee

c)    Communication, Trade and Investment committee

d)    EALA Commission

e)    Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources Committee

f)     Committee on Regional Affairs and conflict resolution

g)    General-purpose committee.

Representation, legislative and oversight functions of EALA

·      Assembly sits at least once a year in Arusha, Tanzania.

·      Liaise with national assemblies of partner states to ensure state interests are articulated and represented at the assembly and committees.

·      Also ensures that the partner states are implementing the treaty.

·      Representation by EALA MPs reflects both the regional and national interests.

·      Consider annual reports on the Community’s activities, discuss matters pertaining to the Community are recommend to the Council of Ministers on actions to take.

·      Any member can propose a motion or introduce a bill in the Assembly.

·      Once passed, the Speaker submits the bill to the Heads of State.

·      Heads of state assent to the bill making it an act of parliament or return it to the assembly with comments.

·      Acts are published in a gazette so that the public can have access to them.

·      Any discussions by the Assembly are presented to national assemblies. This includes bills to be debated.

·      National assemblies also submit to the Clerk – EALA all debates that touch on the community.

·      EALA protects taxes for EAC citizens by reviewing and scrutinizing expenditures incurred by the EAC secretariat, organs and institutions.

We the people of East Africa ...