Representatives of governments in the East African Community (EAC) and Civil Society are meeting in Kigali to discuss regional development. Organised by Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, a German political foundation, the meeting is expected to act as a platform through which participants will discuss among others how the EAC member countries can easily get access to European markets as well as the progress of the EAC regional integration process.“Our meeting brings together representatives who we believe have the capacity to report to their respective governments our concerns. With this, we are sure that our input on issues of how the region can simplify or promote trade in the region as well as integration issues will be channelled to those responsible and considered,” said Prudence Sebayizi, the national coordinator of EAC Civil Society Organisation Rwanda Chapter.He said since the beginning of the EAC integration process, a lot has been done but that there are gaps that should be linked to have the push for integration succeed. Sebayizi said as the integration process takes shape, it is equally important to determine the channels through which members will conduct business not only amongst themselves, but also with the outside world as a mechanism to regional development and prosperity.Also to be discussed is the status of economic partnership agreement negotiations between EAC and EU. The European Union representative, Bernd Schneider, said the coming together of the key parties is a great step towards positive outcome of the negotiations.“Negotiations have been going on, but it’s equally important to make consultations if we are to have fruitful deliberations; and I am confident that our meeting will yield so that both parties reach the desired agreement,” he said.He said the agreement is important to one party as it is to the other, arguing that a common ground is to reach the way forward. Jane Narunga, the country director of Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiation Institute in Uganda, said the meeting would also look at why the negotiations have taken long to conclude.
