EAC heads of state meet in Dar-es-Salaam Saturday

The 18th Ordinary East African Community (EAC) Heads of State Summit has been set for May 20, 2017 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Top on the agenda is the consideration of European Union (EU)-EAC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and Sustainable Financing Mechanism for the Community, the EAC Secretariat has said.

The summit will also consider the status of the EAC Political Federation, the appointment of a Deputy Secretary General from the Tanzania, the appointment of a Judge from South Sudan to the First Instance Division of the East African Court of Justice.

The summit will also receive a report on the roadmap for the accelerated integration of South Sudan into the EAC, and consider progress report on the implementation framework for the EAC Institutional Review.

Also on the agenda are: a progress report on the verification exercise for the admission of the Republic of Somalia into the EAC; a report on the modalities for promotion of motor vehicle assembly in the region and to reduce the importation of used motor vehicles from outside the Community, and; a report on the review on the textile and leather sector with a view to phasing out importation of used textiles and footwear.

The summit will consider assenting to Bills passed by the East African Legislative Assembly and will also present awards to the winners of the EAC Students Essay, 2016. The summit will also declare the transformation of the EAC into a Common Higher Education Area.