Collections
African Union
Protocol on Relations between the African Union (AU) and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs)
- Published
- Commencement date unknown
- [This is the version of this document at 27 January 2008.]
Chapter One
Preliminary provisions
Article 1 – Definitions
In this Protocol, unless the context otherwise requires:“African Union” or “Union” means the African Union established under Article 2 of the Constitutive Act;"Assembly" means the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Union;“Bureau of the Assembly” means the Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons of the Assembly;“Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Commission of the Union;“Chief Executive” means the Chief Executive Officer of a Regional Economic Community;“Commission” means the Commission of the Union established under Article 5.1 (e) of the Constitutive Act of the African Union“Commissioner” means a Commissioner of the Union appointed by the Assembly under Article 9.1 (i) of the Constitutive Act;“Community” means the African Economic Community (AEC) established by Article 2 of the Treaty defined infra;“Committee on Co-ordination” means the Committee established by Article 6 (a) of this Protocol;“Committee of secretariat Officials” (CSO) means the Committee set out in Article 6 (b) of this Protocol;“Constitutive Act” means the Constitutive Act of the Union adopted in Lome, Togo, on 11th July 2000;"Executive Council" means the Executive Council of the Union;“Parties” means the Parties to this Protocol namely the Union and the Regional Economic Communities“Policy organs” means the decision-making organs established by the legal instruments of the Union and the RECs;“Treaty” means the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community;"Treaties" means the treaties establishing the Regional Economic Communities;“Protocol” means the present Protocol;“Regional Economic Community (REC)” means a regional grouping of African states organized into a legal entity by treaty, with economic and social integration as main objective; and“Specialized Technical Committees”(STCs) means the Specialized Technical Committees of the Union established under Article 5 of the Constitutive Act.Article 2 – Scope of application
This Protocol shall apply to the mechanism established by the Parties in the implementation of measures in the economic, social, political and cultural fields including gender, peace and security, intended to fulfil the responsibilities placed on them by the Constitutive Act, Treaty and this Protocol.Article 3 – Objectives
The objectives of this Protocol are to:Article 4 – General undertakings
The Parties undertake, in conformity with the Constitutive Act, the Treaty and this Protocol to co-ordinate their policies, measures, programmes and activities with a view to avoiding duplication thereof. To this end, the Parties shall:Article 5 – Specific undertakings
Chapter Two
Institutional framework
Article 6 – Establishment of institutional organs
The following organs for co-ordinating policies, measures, programmes and activities of RECs and ensuring the implementation of this Protocol are hereby established:Article 7 – The Committee on Co-ordination
Composition and functionsArticle 8 – Meetings of the Committee on Co-ordination
Article 9 – The Committee of Secretariat Officials
Composition and functionsArticle 10 – Meetings of the Committee of Secretariat Officials
Chapter Three
Implementation benchmarks for the Union
Article 11 – Immediate priority activities by the Union
Chapter Four
Implementation benchmarks for the Regional Economic Communities
Article 12 – The general benchmarks
The RECs shall comply with the provisions of Articles 4 (2) and 6 (2) of the Treaty which envisages, inter alia, the following outputs:Article 13 – Specific benchmarks
Chapter Five
Cooperation among the RECs and with the Union
Article 14 – Co-ordination of activities
The Chairperson and the Chief Executives may, prior to a meeting of the Committee on Co-ordination, meet informally to discuss the modalities of co-ordinating their activities.Article 15 – Joint programmes and closer cooperation
Article 16 – Participation in meetings and exchange of expertise, experience and information among RECS
Chapter Six
Participation in meetings and the binding nature of decisions
Article 17 – Participation in Union meetings
Article 18 – Status of the RECs at Union meetings
The Chief Executives or their representatives shall enjoy the same rights as the Chairperson or his or her representative and shall, accordingly, participate in the deliberations of the Union.Article 19 – Participation in meetings of RECs
Article 20 – Status of the Commission at meetings of RECs
The Chairperson or his or her representative shall enjoy the same rights as the Chief Executives and shall, accordingly, participate in the deliberations of the RECs.Article 21 – Permanent representations
Article 22 – Binding Union decisions on RECs
Chapter Seven
Financial provisions
Article 23 – Budget
Article 24 – Accounts and financial regulations
The RECs shall account for any financial resources provided by the Union in accordance with the provisions of Article 85 of the Treaty.Article 25 – Financial and technical support
Chapter Eight
General and final provisions
Article 26 – Working languages
For the purposes of this Protocol, the working languages shall be English and French.Article 27 – Administrative arrangements
Article 28 – External relations
Article 29 – Coordinating Ministries or Authorities
For the purposes of the implementation of the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 88 of the Treaty and of Article 4 of this Protocol, the Parties agree to invite their Member States to designate the same coordinating Ministry for the implementation of the Treaty and the treaties.Article 30 – Harmonization of mechanisms for promotion of peace, security and stability
Article 31 – Amendments
Article 32 – Dispute resolution
Article 33 – Entry into force and accession
Article 34 – Termination of the Protocol on Relations between the AEC and the RECs
The operation of the Protocol on Relations between the African Economic Community and RECs, which entered into force on 25 February 1998 shall terminate upon the entry into force of this Protocol.Article 35 – Depository
This Protocol prepared in six original texts in English, French, Arabic Portuguese, Spanish and Swahili languages, the six texts being equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Chairperson, who shall transmit certified copies thereof to the Parties and to their Member States.History of this document
27 January 2008 this version
Consolidation