The Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), Dr Richard Sezibera, yesterday received credentials from the Belgian and European Union ambassadors who have been accredited to the East African Community.

While presenting his credentials to Sezibera, Belgian Ambassador to Tanzania and the EAC, Paul Cartier, said his country was keen on strengthening her relations with the Community.

According to a statement, the envoy said Belgium wants to be part of the solution to various challenges facing the EAC.

In his remarks, Sezibera thanked the Belgian government for her offer of additional support to the EAC, adding that a framework of agreement for cooperation will be developed between Belgium and the Community.

"The Secretary General hailed Belgium for her contribution to the Partnership Fund, which has enabled the EAC to undertake programmes and projects in various sectors,” reads the statement in part.

The Head of the EU Delegation to Tanzania and to the EAC, Roeland van de Geer, also presented his credentials to the Secretary General.

Van de Geer noted that the EU's assistance to the EAC was broad covering almost all sectors of the integration agenda, reaffirming that the EU would continue providing this support.

He urged the EAC to identify and prioritize the areas in which it would require increased support from the EU.

Sezibera and Van de Geer agreed to hold bilateral talks to re-examine the cooperation framework between the EAC and the EU with the goal of making improvements, with technical teams from both sides exploring areas for future cooperation.

The EU envoy convoy extended condolences to the EAC and the family of the late Isabelle Wafubbwa, the Principal Political Affairs Officer, at the EAC who passed on earlier this month.

He described Wafubbwa as having been instrumental in cooperation between the two regional economic communities especially in the field of political integration.