The East African Community, established in 1991, forms one of the most interesting and promising projects of regional integration in Africa. The Partner states Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda and Burundi today have a common market, a common monetary union is in full progress and even forms of a political federation are explored. Although it is unique in its own right, the East African Community
shares many of the aims of the EU, and has been inspired by regional integration in Europa and the EU Treaties. As a result, the EAC can learn from the successes and failures of 50 years of European integration. For this reason, the Europa Institute Leiden University has set up the Centre for Legal and Comparative Studies of the East African Community (LEAC). The objectives of the Centre is to comparatively apply its extensive expertise in EU law and European Integration to the East African Union. Where might the successes and the failures of the EU help the EAC, preferably in as practical a way as possible? In addition to academic research, the LEAC aims to organize conferences, provide education to scholars, judges, civil servants and legal practitioners on EAC law and to generally contribute to the project of East African integration. The Centre works in close cooperation with the East African Court of Justice and as well as with local universities, experienced professionals and also NGOs and economic actors. The Centre was officially launched with a joint research project in 2012. In collaboration with local experts, a strategic document was drawn up on the East African Community. It provides an accessible summary of the existing regulations within the East African Community. In addition, the research looks at the specific challenges within the Community and compares these with the most important legal developments within the European Union. The subsequent aim of the LEAC is to develop these separate topics into research papers.
