ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA OFFICE FOR NORTH AFRICA

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA OFFICE FOR NORTH AFRICA Initiatives for Regional integration in North Africa ECA-North Africa Office ECA-NA/ICE/XXIX/3 29 th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (IVE – Rabat, Morocco, 4 -6 March 2014

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA OFFICE FOR NORTH AFRICA » Outline • Context • I. Agenda of the RECs • II. Partnership ECA-UMA – 2013 Activities – Prospects • Conclusion and recommendations 29 th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (IVE – Rabat, Morocco, 4 -6 March 2014

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA OFFICE FOR NORTH AFRICA Context • Significant economic performance… • …But many development challenges including peace and security • Fragmented economies and very low intra-regional Trade • Need for action in three areas: inclusive governance, economic reform and regional integration • Objectives of regional integration even more relevant • Several initiatives for a sustained relaunch process 29 th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (IVE – Rabat, Morocco, 4 -6 March 2014

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA OFFICE FOR NORTH AFRICA I. 2013 Agenda of the regional institutions • Area of peace and security - CEN-SAD Ndjamena Summit (Feb. 2013) and Rabat Conference of ministers (Oct. 2013): Strengthening cooperation - Revision of programs and cooperation mechanisms - UMA Conference of Home Affairs ministers (April 2013; Rabat): adoption of a Maghreb common security strategy - UMA Conference of ministers on Youth policies, in light of new security challenges 29 th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (IVE – Rabat, Morocco, 4 -6 March 2014

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA I… OFFICE FOR NORTH AFRICA I… 2013 Agenda of the regional institutions • Economic cooperation - UMA ministerial and expert meetings on BMICE capitalization, Transport, Food security, Industry and renewable energy, Education, Draft FTA Need of implementation, concrete achievements and greater visibility of UMA 29 th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (IVE – Rabat, Morocco, 4 -6 March 2014

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA OFFICE FOR NORTH AFRICA II. Partnership ECA - UMA A. 2013 Initiatives Regional policy framework for renewable energies RE • Challenges: increased energy needs, cost of subsidies for fossil energy consumption, RE potential, growth and industrialization • ECA study: shared vision; definition of strategic objectives and priority areas - Exchange of experiences, resource mobilization, electricity regional market, coordination of scientific research 29 th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (IVE – Rabat, Morocco, 4 -6 March 2014

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA OFFICE FOR NORTH AFRICA II… Partnership ECA - UMA Regional policy framework for renewable energies RE… • Expert group meeting: validation of the objectives and identification of the institutional mechanisms • Input for Maghreb RE Strategy, Green economy in Africa and Arab RE Strategy • Follow-up actions through UMA Secretariat 29 th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (IVE – Rabat, Morocco, 4 -6 March 2014

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA II… OFFICE FOR NORTH AFRICA II… Partnership ECA - UMA • Strengthening UMA capacities - Study on the feasability of a self- financing mechanism: providing more substantial resources to UMA making the regional integration process more autonomous - Community levy - legal and fiscal parameters – Management rules - Methodology - Recommendation to the member states: Strong commitment for the adoption and implementation 29 th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (IVE – Rabat, Morocco, 4 -6 March 2014

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA II… OFFICE FOR NORTH AFRICA II… Partnership ECA - UMA • Initiative on the role of stakeholders in the financial integration process Second consultative meeting with non-state actors on the regional integration challenges in North Africa Roundtable ECA-MEF; high level consultation among banking and financial market professionals Objective: Supporting the FI process with a strong involvement of the private sector; Identification of the barriers specific to the financial sector; Establishing a roadmap Actions agreed: creation of a regional investment fund to support the maghrebian SMEs; UME & UMB advocacy with policy makers; Information and knowledge platform on maghreb opportunities 29 th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (IVE – Rabat, Morocco, 4 -6 March 2014

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA II… OFFICE FOR NORTH AFRICA II… Partnership ECA - UMA • ECA Initiative for supporting BIAT/CFTA Supporting program to RECs and member states to remove barriers of intra-regional and intra- african trade in 7 areas -Trade policy -Trade facilitation -Production capacities -Infrastructures -Market information -Financing trade -Integration of market factors ECA Assistance formulation of action plans and resource mobilization Recommendation to member states: Stronger involvement to take advantage of the CFTA opportunities 29 th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (IVE – Rabat, Morocco, 4 -6 March 2014

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA II… OFFICE FOR NORTH AFRICA II… Partnership ECA - UMA • Population and Migration Rapid changing dynamics of migration in North Africa, diversity of types and destinations Challenge: How to maximize the benefits of migration through their introduction in the national planning frameworks ECA –IOM study for North Africa Findings: Fragmentation of the migration issues (transfers, security…); negative dimensions more taken into account 29 th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (IVE – Rabat, Morocco, 4 -6 March 2014

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA II…. OFFICE FOR NORTH AFRICA II… Partnership ECA - UMA • Proposal for a more coherent and inclusive strategy Updating the rules and regulations: protection of migrants’ rights, reduction of the migration costs for workers, leaving the systematic crimininalization of migrants, promoting a better public perception Facilitating the integration trough the laws relating to residence, right of establishment, naturalization Facilitating the participation of migrants to the development of their origin communities Portability of the rights Greater coordination of national strategies, regional approach and partnership with ECOWAS 29 th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (IVE – Rabat, Morocco, 4 -6 March 2014

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA II… OFFICE FOR NORTH AFRICA II… Partnership ECA - UMA • Strategy for revising / updating the social security Convention of UMA - Objective: Promoting and facilitating the mobility of workers in Maghreb space - Proposed guidelines Acting from the current legislations Taking into account the existing agreements with third countries Coordination of the regimes rather than harmonization Gradual and progressive approach 29 th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (IVE – Rabat, Morocco, 4 -6 March 2014

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA II… OFFICE FOR NORTH AFRICA II… Partnership ECA - UMA Strategy for revising the social security Convention of UMA… • Updating the definitions • Extend the scope of the convention • Consider the inclusion of the unemployment insurance • National treatment and portability of the rights • Establishing permanent mechanisms for consultation and exchange • Continued support of ECA 29 th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (IVE – Rabat, Morocco, 4 -6 March 2014

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA II… OFFICE FOR NORTH AFRICA II. Partnership ECA - UMA B. Perspectives of ECA – UMA cooperation • MYP evaluation meeting (May 2013) Confirmation of the relevance of the strategic areas and inclusion of UMA new priorities - Trade integration and financial markets - Food security and PASR-LCD/UMA implementation - Infrastructures - Human resources - Adaptation to climate change and sustainable development challenges - Strengthening of capacities in statistics - Youth policies – Links between unemployment and security risks - Economic and social transformation 29 th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (IVE – Rabat, Morocco, 4 -6 March 2014

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA II… OFFICE FOR NORTH AFRICA II… Partnership ECA - UMA B…Perspectives of ECA-UMA cooperation • ECA – SRO Strategic Framework 2014 -2015 Objective: Strengthening capacities to formulate evidence -based plans and policies in support of economic and social transformation • Areas of intervention Achievement of a performing FTA Implementation of the PASR-LCD Follow-up of the Rio+20 results Gender strategy Studies and research on the diversification / sophistication theme Country profiles for structural and inclusive transformation 29 th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (IVE – Rabat, Morocco, 4 -6 March 2014

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA OFFICE FOR NORTH AFRICA Conclusion • Actions initiated contributed to deepen the regional integration process • …But the major steps and goals remain not yet achieved Recommendations • Necessary ownership by member states, stronger political will and more proactive leadership • Better visibility of strategic orientations 29 th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (IVE – Rabat, Morocco, 4 -6 March 2014

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA OFFICE FOR NORTH AFRICA …Recommendations • Rapid achievement of the FTA, free movement of people and portability of the rights of workers • Revitalizing the institutional framework and more resources for regional integration • Devolution of decision -making powers • Greater role for private and parastatal sectors 29 th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (IVE – Rabat, Morocco, 4 -6 March 2014

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA OFFICE FOR NORTH AFRICA Thank you www. uneca. org/sro-na 19 29 th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (IVE – Rabat, Morocco, 4 -6 March 2014