ANNOTATED AGENDA | ISSUE PAPER | PRESS RELEASE |CONCEPT PAPER| LIST OF PARTICIPANTS | SPEECHES
AFRICAN UNION : THE COMMISSION
MOVING TOWARDS
A FOUR-YEAR PRIORITY PROGRAMME
Pursuing its prospect for “Which Africa for the 21st Century?”, the Commission
of the African Union is organising from 21 to 23 November 2003 at its Headquarters
in Addis Ababa a Brainstorming and Dialogue on the problem of the continental
and regional integration. The objective is to pave the way for cooperation
between the AU Commission and the major African regional political or financial
institutions. The action is in line for a better coordination and harmonization
of economic policies and programmes of the continent in conformity with the
Abuja Treaty establishing the African Economic Community and the Sirte Declaration.
The Brainstorming will focus on issues of strategic importance for Africa including free movement of goods and persons, the harmonization of local legislations, the financial and monetary implications of integration as well as the role of the African private sector and the support of external partners.
This Brainstorming is the second of its kind since the inauguration in September 2003 of the first Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union, Mr Alpha Oumar Konaré. This follows the Meeting of October 2003 which specified the vision of the Commission, identified the priority activities of departments and expand their executive capacity.
The Brainstorming, initiated by the new Chairperson of the Commission, contributes to the internal dynamics of consultation. It takes into account the achievements of the OAU and of the transitional period towards the African Union but also associates resource persons of the continent to provide the Commission with the basis for a four-year priority programme in conformity with the resolutions of the various AU Assemblies.
More precisely the Brainstorming and dialogue on regional and continental integration, in addition to the internal competencies of the AU Commission, will witness the contribution of eminent personalities from the continent and with different background: parliaments, monetary and banking institutions, private and public sectors, civil society, university academics and so on.
The Commission intends to have the outcome of the Brainstorming validated by the decision-making organs of the African Union towards the end of the year. Until then and from 25 November onwards, the Chairperson of the Commission will meet with the African Ambassadors accredited to the Ethiopian capital. On 29 November, still within the same spirit, he will meet with the financial partners of the Commission.
Addis Ababa, 20 November 2003.