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of the loss of sovereignty. There are several ways in which this canbe done ranging from opt-out clauses, to compensatory mechanisms,development of production networks and decision-making ona consensual basis. What should be uppermost in our minds is howto develop and improve our collective ability to react to unforeseencircumstances in an innovative and flexible mannerAt the end of the day, however, both integration and sovereignty liein the political realm. This is in the sense that any decision to deepenintegration or willingness to cede some sovereignty is an expressionof political will. In Africa, our shared values and economic reality haveunderpinned the political decision to increase the pace and remit ofintegration. Our challenge is therefore to seek ways and means ofachieving this objective while addressing the related concerns aboutreduced room for maneuver for country specific problems.This is where we need to re-dedicate ourselves to the MIP agenda.Member States need to demonstrate political commitment to theMIP and provide maximum support to RECs and the AUC includinggiving them the required authority and resources to implement regionallyagreed programmes and projects. Two critical areas requiringattention relate to overcoming capacity constraints and resourcedeficits so as to enable the implementation of existing and futurecommitments without which we cannot reap the full benefits of regionalintegration. Indeed, the time has come to secure predictableand sustainable funding for our noble regional integration agenda.Permit me to conclude by reiterating ECA’s continued commitmentto supporting the efforts of member States and regional institutionsto implement Africa’s regional integration agenda. In doing so wewill continue to work with partners such as the AUC and AfDB especiallyon our flagship publication on Assessing Regional Integration inAfrica and in using the capacities available in the African Trade PolicyCentre to move the African trade agenda.We continue to be motivated by our collective vision for a strong, robust,diversified and resilient African economy, supported by jointlyagreed development programmes and first-class trans-boundary infrastructureas well as a highly skilled, flexible and fully employedworkforce living in conditions of political stability.128 Part Two