EAC Secretary General Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera, currently on an official visit to the European Commission of the European Union, met with the Commissioner for Development Mr. Andris Piebalgs in Brussels.
Amb. Sezibera and Commissioner Piebalgs’ discussions centered on the negotiations of the EU-EAC Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), as well as funding for Community projects through the European Development Fund (EDF).
The Secretary General also briefed the Commissioner on the latest developments in the EAC integration process.
On EPAs, the Secretary General reiterated the commitment of the EAC bloc to finalize the negotiations this year but added that this would only be achievable if the focus is on issues under the interim EPA signed in 2007.
Amb. Sezibera emphasized the importance of signing an EPA that would be acceptable to Partner States.
On funding, Commissioner Piebalgs informed the Secretary General that the instruments of EDF11 will be available as a seven-year support program and that local EU delegations would play a bigger role in facilitating access to funds as a means of expediting approval processes for projects.
The EDF, created in 1959, is the main instrument for providing EU development aid in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and the overseas countries and territories (OCTs).
Amb. Sezibera was accompanied by the EAC Principal Resources Mobilization Officer, Dr. James Njagu; Principal Civil Aviation Officer, Eng. Ladislaus Matindi and Senior Energy Officer, Mr. Peter Kinuthia.
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