The Strategic Orientation Committee (SOC) of the European Development Fund (EDF) for the West Africa region, comprising the European Union (EU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Monetary Union (UEMOA) held its fourth annual session in Brussels from 14 to 15 June 2017 to review progress and take appropriate decisions in the framework of the implementation of the Regional Indicative Program (RIP) 10th and 11th EDF.

 During this important meeting, which recorded the participation of ECOWAS and UEMOA heads of Institution, Mr. Marcel A. de SOUZA and Mr. Abdallah BOUREIMA, the situation of the projects inscribed in the pipeline of Regional Indicative Programs (RIP) 10th and 11th EDF have been extensively reviewed.

 At the end of their discussions, the representatives of the West African region and those of the European Union made important decisions and relevant recommendations for more efficient implementation of the RIP 10th EDF which has already achieved a contracting level of 88% and a disbursement rate of 54% of the total budget estimated at 595 million euros.

 In this vein, the SOC has called for accelerating the implementation of the Transport Facilitation Program, which remains a priority for the region. There was also a call to improve trade competitiveness and facilitation in West Africa.

 The SOC also stressed the need to improve the sharing of information and reporting of results between the National  

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