Yaoundé — Free movement of persons and goods is the most essential point of regional integration, "but this does not mean that security concerns are not taken on board", recently remarked the Chairperson of the Steering Committee for the Restructuring of Regional Economic Communities in Central Africa (COPIL/CER), Mr. Emmanuel NGANOU DJOUMESSI, who also doubles as Cameroon's Minister for the Economy, Planning and Regional Development.
This was during the third session of COPIL/CER devoted to review of draft instruments covering five of the twelve priority areas of harmonisation in a bid to materialise the process of rationalisation of Regional Economic Communities in Central Africa, namely ECCAS and CEMAC.
During their meeting, ministers from nine countries of the sub-region, notably Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sao Tomé and Principe and Chad, as well as officials of ECCAS, CEMAC, the ECA, ADB, BDEAC and BEAC, adopted without amendment, two draft instruments prepared by experts. The first one relates to the consultation and coordination framework between ECCAS and CEMAC and the second concerns the decision on the organisation and functioning of the COPIL/CER Technical Secretariat.
Draft instruments on trade issues, notably in respect of the preferential tariff in the sub-region, were adopted on the condition that a few suggested amendments be reflected in the final texts.
Due to lack of consensus on the draft instruments relating to security, the integration funding mechanism and the free movement of persons and goods, the ministers and members of COPIL/CER decided to postpone their review pending precise instructions from member States.
On the issue of free movement of persons and goods, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) proposed to member States to draw on experiences in other parts of Africa for the effective implementation of this critical component for integration in Central Africa.
