Integration is a School of Thought

Press Release—No country can on its own, successfully address the multiple issues faced by the world today as a result of globalisation; Hence, the need for the continent to speedup the process of regional integration with the view of establishing stronger African Economic Communities with greater impact.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr. Jean Ping, was speaking during the opening ceremony of the 35th Summit of the Heads of States and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that took place on 19 December 2008, in Abuja, Nigeria.

The Chairperson of the Commission emphasised on the persistent global economic crises, which he said has caused so many set backs in the world economy, all through the year. He underscored the need for both the small and big economic structures to combine efforts and work together to develop strategies that can help face the political and economic challenges of today’s world.

According to Mr. Ping, the issue is no longer at the level of a State vis-à-vis an external enemy, but it has to do with humanity, which is now faced with new challenges affecting everybody. « No State, regardless of its capacity and strength can in isolation, successfully face the new cross-cutting challenges that has transcended African boundaries », he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Jean Ping explained that the creation of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) was in response to the need of opening African markets for broader trade opportunities. He said it is also aimed at enhancing the integration of the continent.

The Chairperson however lauded the initiative of the ECOWAS, which he said constitutes a forum for African community to consider the political stability and the economic growth at long and short term, with the view of creating a sub regional market open to all and where a common currency is used. It is an institutional organisation.
He further expressed satisfaction to the structures put in place to ensure the elaboration, the evaluation and the implementation of the community projects as well as its effective functioning in connection with the free movement of persons and goods, the cooperation on the common currency, the regional sectorial policies (infrastructure, e.g, transport and energy respectively) as well as conflict management and the maintenance of peace in the sub region. (See complete speech on the AU Website: http://www.africa-union.org).

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