Resolution on the African Economic Community (AEC)

CM/Res.1494 (LIX)

RESOLUTION ON THE AFRICAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY (AEC)

The Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity, meeting in its Fifty-ninth Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 31 January to 4 February, 1994,

Having considered the provisions of the Charter of the OAU, the Lagos Plan of Action and the Final Act of Lagos and especially the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community,

Recalling further resolutions AHG/Res.206 (XXVIII) of 29 June to 1 July, 1992 in Dakar, Senegal and AHG/Res.218 (XXIX) of 28 – 30 June, 1993 in Cairo, Egypt on the African Economic Community,

Mindful of the urgent need to start the implementation of the provisions of the African Economic Community at national, regional and continental levels,

Having considered the introductory report of the Secretary-General on recent economic developments on the continent and the progress on the establishment of the African Economic Community as well as the status of the implementation of the AEC Treaty:

1. COMMENDS those Member States which have already ratified and deposited the instruments of ratification of the AEC Treaty and URGES those which have not yet ratified it to do so as expeditiously as possible;

2. REAFFIRMS its commitment to the full implementation of the AEC Treaty especially during the early stages of its taking off by providing resources to the OAU/AEC Secretariat in order to enable it fulfill its new mandate as provided for in the AEC Treaty;

3. REQUESTS the Secretary-General to intensify his efforts with a view to submitting to Member States the draft protocols required to be annexed to the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community;

4. REQUESTS FURTHER the Secretary-General to finalize the new structures of the OAU/AEC Secretariat in order to enable the Council to take decision with a view to facilitating the implementation of the AEC Treaty;

5. REQUESTS ALSO the Secretary-General of the OAU to convene the meetings of the AEC Policy Organs as soon as possible and particularly the Economic and Social Council as provided for in Article 15 of the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community;

6. URGES the Secretariat of the ECA and ADB to provide within the framework of the Joint Secretariat the necessary technical support to the OAU/AEC in the implementation of the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community;