Assembly/AU/Dec.623(XXVIII) Page 1 DECISION ON THE CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AREA Doc. Assembly/AU/4(XXVIII) The Assembly, 1. TAKES NOTE of the Report on implementation of Assembly/AU/Dec.608(XXVII) on the Continental Free Trade Area and Update on the proposed mechanism for the elimination of non-tariff barriers (NTBs) in the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA); 2. CALLS UPONMember States to secure funding for the activities of the Eminent Persons Group on the Continental Free Trade Area; 3. REQUESTS the Commission to: 4. i) Mobilise funding for the implementation of the NTBs Elimination Program on the CFTA; ii) Undertake consultations and capacity building assistance to Member States and relevant stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector, to ensure timely conclusion of the CFTA negotiations; iii) Report on the implementation of this decision to the next Ordinary Session of the Assembly in July 2017; MANDATES H.E Mahamadou Issoufou, President of the Republic of Niger to champion the process of the CFTA to ensure that the deadline of the end of 2017 is reached and report on measures taken to the next ordinary session of the Assembly in July 2017. 28th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, 30 - 31 January 2017, Addis Ababa