include the suspension of the rights and privileges of membership and may be lifted by the Assembly upon the recommendation of the Council. Article 6 Modalities for the establishment of the Community 1. The Community shall be established gradually in six (6) stages of variable duration over a transitional period not exceeding thirty-four (34) years. 2. At each such stage, specific activities shall be assigned and implemented concurrently as follows: (a) First Stage: Strengthening of existing regional economic communities and, within a period not exceeding five (5) years from the date of entry into force of this Treaty, establishing economic communities in regions where they do not exist; (b) (c) Second Stage: (i) At the level of each regional economic community and within a period not exceeding eight (ii) years, stabilising Tariff Barriers and Non-Tariff Barriers, Customs Duties and internal taxes existing at the date of entry into force of this Treaty; there shall also be prepared and adopted studies to determine the time-table for the gradual removal of Tariff Barriers and NonTariff Barriers to regional and intra-Community trade and for the gradual harmonisation of Customs Duties in relation to third States; (ii) Strengthening of sectoral integration at the regional and continental levels in all areas of activity particularly in the fields of trade, agriculture, money and finance, transport and communications, industry and energy; and (iii) Co-ordination and harmonisation of activities among the existing and future economic communities. Third Stage: At the level of each regional economic community and within a period not exceeding ten (10) years, establishment of a Free Trade Area through the observance of the time-table for the gradual removal of Tariff Barriers and Non-Tariff Barriers to intra-community trade and the establishment of a Customs Union by means of adopting a common external tariff. (d) Fourth Stage: 10