Assembly/AU/8 (X) Page 2 iii) iv) v) vi) vii) viii) Mobilizing and engaging the peoples of Africa for the Union Government project; Free movement of the peoples of Africa; Rationalisation of the RECs; Fast-tracking the move towards an African Common Market and the African Economic Community; Establishment of continental financial and monetary institutions; Developing African entrepreneurial elite towards regional and continental investment projects that advance unity and integration. 8. The Chairman urged the Council to make appropriate recommendations to the Assembly, bearing in mind the imperative to accelerate the pace of realizing the objective of a Continental Union Government. 9. On behalf of the Commission, the Legal Counsel presented the Commission’s response to the recommendations contained in the Panel’s Report. While commending the Panel for a thorough Audit, the Commission could not share some of the conclusions reached by the Panel and therefore presented alternative recommendations. 10. The Panel’s Report and the Commission’s response provided the basis upon which the debate was conducted. 11. The Panel was generally commended for producing an insightful and enlightening Report. However, some delegations complained that they received the Report late, and did not have enough time to study and digest its contents. They expressed the hope that in future, documents of such relevance should be made available to all Members of the Council in good time. 12. In their interventions, some delegations suggested that the Council could isolate elements of the Report on which there was consensus and submit those to the Assembly. Others however, preferred a holistic consideration of the entire recommendations, rather than a piecemeal selection of some of the recommendations for adoption. 13. The debate also brought to the fore some differences of opinion regarding the conduct of elections for the Commission’s officials. While some Members proposed a postponement of the election of Commissioners, others were not attracted to the idea. 14. With regard to the Panel’s recommendation that the Chairperson should be empowered to appoint Commissioners to the various portfolios, some delegations