The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) is set to conduct public Hearings on the East African Community (EAC) Common Market on Monday, 22 December 2008 at Prime Holdings, Kimihurura.

According to Aime Uwase, the Director of planning in the Ministry of East African Community, the workshop will among other things hear issues and general concerns of the civil society, private sector, academics, politicians and government officials as representatives of the people of East Africa.

The decision by the regional parliamentarians to conduct the hearings emerged earlier this month during the just-concluded EALA session in Kampala, Uganda.

"They want to gather views of people in different sectors so that they too can contribute to the integration process. So far, we have had different negotiations on the common market issue and reports will help us finalise the protocol,” Uwase said.

The Common Market Protocol is one of the main stages towards the regional integration process and the Public Hearings will gather views of the general public on the salient issues that they would like the Common Market protocol to address.

The realisation of the Common Market – which is expected to be in place by the beginning of 2010 – will pave way for the ultimate East African Political Federation.

The Public Hearings will be conducted simultaneously in all the five partner States of the East African Community by members of the assembly.

In accordance with Article 76 of the treaty, a common market shall be established to ensure the free movement of labour, goods, services, capital and the right of establishment.

As a prerequisite to the establishment of the common market, the protocol needs to be completed. Apparently, negotiations are still underway and there is need for all stakeholders to be involved in the process.

The public hearings therefore identify and explain key issues and policy options that should guide negotiations on the common market protocol.

The EALA comprises of 45 elected members, 9 from each of the five partner States; 10 members who include ministers responsible for EAC Affairs and their Deputies, the Secretary General of the Community and the Counsel to the Community.

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