ECOWAS partners have expressed their commitment to support the priority programs of the West Africa region among them: peace and security, the development of regional infrastructure, the implementation of the common market, the competitiveness, the
development of agriculture, food security, capacity building and economic partnership agreement. The revelation was made during the ninth annual meeting between ECOWAS and development partners held on 8, 9 and 10 April 2013 at the Commission’s
headquarters in Abuja.
Over one hundred and fifty bilateral and multilateral partners attended the meeting in which, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Kadré Desiré Ouedraogo made a comprehensive report on the regional integration process in West Africa. Thus, he said that the region has made in 2012 a significant growth rate of 6.9%. He then revealed that the principle of the use of biometric ID cards as a travel document in the region was adopted in 2012 and 11 Member States are already using the ECOWAS Passport.
The ECOWAS President also said that the harmonizations of national accounts and consumers’ price index as well as the balance of payments are implemented in the region. Cooperation and partnerships with the European Union, China, Brazil, ADB, World Bank, UNDP etc. have strengthened. Efforts to diversify partners are underway. The
EPA negotiations have restarted to reconcile the positions of both parties, including issues related to the opening of the West African market to European products and the financing of the development dimension of the EPA. A regional agricultural investment plan has been approved by the Member States and the national agricultural information systems are interconnected in seven Member States. Efforts are underway for the creation of an agency called upon to provide political risk insurance for investors in the ECOWAS region.
With regards to peace and security in the region, the President expressed that the crisis in Mali and Guinea Bissau led to a strong involvement of ECOWAS in the search for solutions. Initiatives are underway to combat threats to security and maritime security in the Gulf of
Guinea.
The process of reform of the community’s institutions is on track. ECOWAS
Parliament discussed and passed resolutions on several text policies such as online
education, innovation on science and technology, humanitarian policy
and regulation policy of information and communication within ECOWAS. ECOWAS
Court of Justice recorded in 2012, 17 new cases, held 100 hearings and
issued 30 decisions, including 13 final judgments. EBID has approved funding for 10 projects of direct loans for an amount of USD 60.1 billion. EBID also signed nine financing agreements for a total amount of USD 65 million.
This report by the President was subsequently followed by several other presentations including that of the Vice President of the Commission, Dr. Toga G. McIntosh. In his presentation, the ECOWAS Vice President gave an update on the ongoing institutional reforms and the prospects for 2015. He dwelt on the motivations for reform, fields covered and strategic outcomes. In his analysis, the Vice President indicated that the desired result is the realization of a comprehensive review of the situation of ECOWAS Institutions
to ensure an effective response in line with the regional priorities, including
peace and security in the region, the development of regional infrastructure, the implementation of the common market and competitiveness, the development of agriculture and food security, capacity building, and the economic partnership agreement.