EAC
Sunday, May 10, 2015
EU hands over 85m euro to Secretariat
ARUSHA, Tanzania – The European Union (EU) and the East Africa Community (EAC) will sign a grant agreement in June 2015 – worth a total of 85 million euro.
The money will go towards to enhancing peace, security, stability and development in the East Africa region.
“The agreement will be signed in Brussels, together with four other regional blocs,” Filiberto Sebregondi, the EU’s head of delegation to Tanzania and the EAC, announced here last week.
Amb. Sebregondi reiterated on the importance of peace and prosperity for East Africa during the celebration of the European Union (EU) day held at the EAC Secretariat. He believes the support will go a long way towards fostering sustainable economic growth in the EAC.
Sebregondi said : “It is a constant work in progress, something that must be nurtured and protected. The spreading of terrorist attacks from Europe to Nigeria and the Sahel and most recently the heinous killing of innocent Kenyan students in Garissa district, are part of a growing international challenge that we must face together.”
He further stressed on the role of EAC in fighting against terrorism and cross-border/transnational crime, through dialogue and political negotiation processes, therefore contributing to the peace in the region, basic precondition for a sustainable economic growth.
“The agreement is part of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Regional Indicative Program for EAC, Southern African Development Community (SADC); the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA); the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD); and the Indian Ocean Commission,” Sebregondi added.
The grant is also aimed at contributing to inclusive and sustainable economic development by promoting integrated markets and development investment.
Under this year’s theme, ‘Free Circulation of People: the EAC and EU Experience,’ the EAC Secretariat and EU held joint plenary discussions with 200 Arusha-based university students, where Amb. Sebregondi emphasized on “the right to free movement as one of the most visible and cherished advantages of the EU for individual citizens.”
He further stated that, “EU citizenship and free circulation of people for both workers and economically non-active persons contributed to the emancipation of the European project from its market-oriented background, demonstrating the political will to go beyond just an area of free trade between nations.”
In commemorating the historical declaration by the visionary politician Robert Schuman, Dr. Enos Bukuku, East African Community (EAC) Deputy Secretary General in charge of Planning and Infrastructure during the EU day, recognized on the 20 year support that EAC has received from EU, in which it has enabled the EAC to implement projects that have benefited and changed the livelihoods of the East African citizens.
“As we celebrate European Day, it is important for us to reflect on the progress of integration process made by the EU,” said Dr. Bukuku.
“We look forward to learning from EU lessons of experience and the best practices and we commend the support from the EU which enables the region to realize its great potential to turn into an epicenter around which a wider Community could be built,” he said.
The EU has disbursed 1.5 million euros to Tanzania, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to help refugees from Burundi.
“The Burundi situation is of great concern to the EU,” said Sebregondi. Burundi has been rocked by protest since late April, when the ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) named incumbent President Pierre Nkurunziza – in power since 2005 – its candidate for June presidential polls.
By Elisha Mayallah, Sunday, May 10th, 2015