THE European Union (EU) and the East African Community (EAC) have launched three projects designed to strengthen regional integration, enhance trade and foster inclusive economic growth.

Christine Grau, the EU resident envoy to the EAC zone, said at the signing ceremony over the weekend that the projects are intended to support EAC efforts to liberalize trade in services.

They are also geared to reinforce competition policies and improve institutional capacity, with a strong focus on empowering women and youth, she said.

With an EU contribution of euro 8m, the projects will significantly enhance regional integration and facilitate cross-border trade, she said. 

In the first project, ’leveraging integration frameworks for trade in services and civil society organizations (LIFTED), barriers to trade in services will be addressed.

The project will focus on streamlining tourism regulations and advancing the mutual recognition of academic and professional qualifications across the region, she affirmed. 

Critically, LIFTED will enhance civil society engagement in the economic integration process, ensuring that youth and women play an active role in shaping the region’s future, she explained.

“The EU has a longstanding and valued partnership with the EAC, built on shared goals of economic integration and sustainable growth,” the envoy noted.

“These projects reinforce our commitment to this collaboration and will contribute to a more competitive and inclusive regional economy,” she asserted.

Complementing LIFTED, a second project is designed to strengthen the EAC Competition Authority (EACCA) by improving compliance with competition procedures, harmonizing regulations and building institutional capacity. 

Through targeted technical assistance, project implementation will enhance skills among EAC judicial officials, EACCA commissioners, and other key stakeholders, to ascertain a fair and competitive business environment across the region.

The third project, EU-EAC technical assistance is geared to bolster the capacity of EAC organs and institution to effectively manage projects with a view to improving public finance governance.

With an eye to strengthening institutional frameworks and aligning with international best practices, this project is expected to enhance EAC ability to oversee development programmes and manage resources efficiently, the covering statement asserted.

Annette Ssemuwemba, the EAC deputy secretary general for Customs, Trade and Monetary Affairs, paid gratitude to the EU for longstanding partnership.

EAC capacity will he boosted to carry out its mandate in promoting fair competition, ultimately providing consumers with greater choice and lower costs for goods and services, she stated.

The EAC secretariat is in the process of developing the 7th EAC development strategy, focusing on key priorities such as regional infrastructure development.

It is similarly directed at boosting agricultural productivity, industrialization, sustainable natural resource management and promoting peace and security across the EAC partner states, she elaborated. 

The EAC Development Partners Forum slated in the coming months will be focused on strengthening cooperation to support integration initiatives, enhancing effective use of resources, she stated. 

The three projects are aligned with the broader strategy of supporting regional integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Team Europe Initiative, she said.

The wide ranging effort serves to advance the shared vision of the EU and EAC for a stronger, more integrated and resilient East African region, she further noted. 

The launch event was held alongside an annual EU-EAC cooperation portfolio review assessing implementation progress, challenges and opportunities across various regional programs funded by the EU, officials said.