The European Union (EU) and the East African Community (EAC) have launched three significant projects aimed at strengthening regional integration, enhancing trade, and promoting inclusive economic growth. These initiatives will assist the EAC in liberalizing services, enforcing competition policies, and improving institutional capacity with a strong focus on empowering women and youth.
The launch event, held at the EAC headquarters, was officiated by Marc Stalmans, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Tanzania, and Annette Mutaawe Ssemuwemba, the EAC Deputy Secretary General for Customs, Trade, and Monetary Affairs, who represented EAC Secretary General Veronica Nduva.
The event also served as part of the EU-EAC cooperation portfolio review, which assesses the progress and challenges of EU-funded regional programs.
Key Projects Focus on Trade, Competition, and Capacity Building
The three projects come with a total EU contribution of EUR 8 million, aiming to enhance economic integration and facilitate cross-border trade within the EAC region.
The first project, titled Leveraging Integration Frameworks for Trade in Services and Civil Society Organizations (LIFTED), seeks to address barriers to trade in services by simplifying tourism regulations and advancing mutual recognition of academic and professional qualifications.
Additionally, lifted will engage civil society organizations to ensure active participation from youth and women in the economic integration process, reinforcing their roles in shaping the future of the region.
Christine Grau, the EU Ambassador to Tanzania and the EAC, expressed the EU's long-standing partnership with the EAC, emphasizing the shared goals of economic integration and sustainable growth.
She said, "These projects reinforce our commitment to this collaboration and will contribute to a more competitive and inclusive regional economy."
A second project will focus on strengthening the East African Competition Authority (EACCA) to improve the enforcement of competition laws, harmonize regulations, and build institutional capacity.
Through targeted technical assistance, this project will enhance the skills of EAC judges, EACCA commissioners, and other key stakeholders to ensure a fair and competitive business environment across the region.
The third project, EU-EAC Technical Assistance, aims to bolster the EAC's capacity to manage projects effectively and improve public finance governance.
By upgrading administrative and operational systems in line with internal policies, this project will enhance the EAC’s ability to oversee development programs and manage resources efficiently.
Strengthening Regional Cooperation
Annette Mutaawe Ssemuwemba, speaking on behalf of EAC Secretary General Veronica Nduva, thanked the EU for its continued support and expanded partnership, particularly with the EAC Competition Authority.
She noted that this collaboration would help promote fair competition, ultimately benefiting consumers by providing them with a wider range of goods and services at lower costs.
The EAC’s Deputy Secretary General also highlighted the ongoing development of the EAC’s 7th Development Strategy, which focuses on infrastructure development, agricultural productivity, industrialization, sustainable resource management, and regional peace and security.
She shared that an upcoming Development Partners Forum would help assess how cooperation with development partners, including the EU, has enhanced regional integration.
A Proud Partnership
Marc Stalmans, the EU’s Head of Cooperation in Tanzania, underscored the importance of the event and the new projects, stating that this partnership between the EU and the EAC was one of the most successful in Sub-Saharan Africa.
"We should not be shy about telling the success stories of our joint work," Stalmans added, emphasizing that the EU-EAC relationship was mature and beneficial for the entire region.
He praised the focus of the three new projects, particularly the technical assistance program, which is aimed at improving the EAC's ability to deliver on its mandates effectively.
“We should be very proud of our common work,” he stated, reinforcing the significance of these programs for the region’s economic future.
Looking Ahead
As the EAC continues to work on integrating its economies and improving regional governance, these projects will play a critical role in ensuring that the EAC’s institutions are more capable, competitive, and inclusive.
The EU's ongoing commitment to the region supports the broader vision of a stronger and more integrated East African Community.
The launch marks the beginning of the implementation phase of these projects, with EAC officials expressing their anticipation for the tangible benefits that will result from this collaboration.
With technical assistance, enhanced competition laws, and improved institutional capacity, the EAC is poised for further growth and success in the coming years.
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