Statement adopted at the Meeting of African Parliaments in Cape Town, South Africa, 28 June 2002:

1. We, the representatives of Parliaments of Africa:

1.1 Inspired by the heroic struggles waged by our peoples and our countries for political independence, human dignity, economic development and human security;

1.2 Convinced of the need to accelerate the process of implementing the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community in order to promote the socio-economic development of Africa and to face more effectively the challenges posed by a rapidly changing world;

1.3 Noting the progress achieved since the Fourth Extraordinary Session of the Organisation of African Unity in Sirte, Libya, and, the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the OAU held in Lusaka, Zambia, by which the Assembly began the process of transformation of the OAU into the African Union in terms of the AU Constitutive Act adopted in Lome, Togo, at the 36th Ordinary Session of the OAU Assembly of Heads of State and Government, thus achieving the ultimate objectives of the Charter of our continental organisation and the Treaty;

2. Report as follows:

2.1 We deliberated extensively on steps that must be taken to ensure a strong and effective role for Parliaments in advancing the objectives of the African Union and those elaborated in the Pan African Parliament (PAP) Protocol;

2.2 Re-affirmed our commitment to implementing the PAP Protocol and welcome reports of countries that have ratified the Protocol. Agreed that it is essential that Parliaments proceed to ratify the Protocol as a matter of urgency.

2.3 Affirmed in particular,

(a) the significance of the meeting as a further advance towards unity in Africa;
(b) that Parliamentarians as the representatives of the peoples of Africa must play an effective role in enhancing continental unity;
(c) that the gathering lays a firm basis for accelerating the establishment of the Pan African Parliament; and
(d) the urgent imperative of consolidating the aspirations of Africans for greater unity, solidarity and cohesion, in an united Africa-wide community that will transcend cultural, ideological, ethnic, religious and national differences;

2.4 Asserted that:

(a) the objectives of the African Union cannot be effectively realised without the full involvement of Parliaments;
(b) the core principles that guide Parliaments, i.e. transparency, accountability, democracy and public participation, will lend positive weight to the activities of the African Union;
(c) the creation of the Pan African Parliament will give concrete expression to the vision of a united, integrated and strong Africa;
(d) Parliaments must play a role in achieving the socio-economic development of the continent particularly as detailed in the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD); and
(e) Parliaments must make a vital contribution towards the eradication of wars and conflicts on our continent;

2.5 Strongly urged that:

(a) Effective mechanisms for ensuring the involvement and active participation of Parliaments in the present and all phases of the African Union be put in place;
(b) Heads of State and Government should accelerate the ratification of the Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community Relating to the Pan African Parliament, and ensure its implementation in accordance with the relevant national constitutions; and
(c) Heads of State and Government meeting at the launch of the African Union set a firm date and venue for the inaugural meeting of the PAP and commit financial and any other necessary resources for this event to enable the PAP to continue to function;

2.6 Strongly urge that Parliaments proceed to put in place structures and mechanisms to begin preparations for the inauguration of the PAP. To this effect, we recommend that the Assembly instructs the Commission to establish a representative steering committee of Parliamentarians that will support and co-ordinate the steps necessary to achieving this objective.

Referred to the Working Group on the African Union.