On many of development issues, ECOWAS and UEMOA now consult, harmonize their views, coordinate their actions and pool resources. This new cooperation momentum initiated in recent years by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Mr. Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo and his counterpart H.E. Mr. Cheikhe Hadjibou Soumaré, President of the UEMOA Commission has been reviewed this November 26, 2014 in Abuja during the 13th session of the Joint Technical Secretariat (JTS).
This edition of the ECOWAS / UEMOA biannual inter-institutional meetings was attended by the Commissioners in charge of convergence issues, officials from Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs), technical directors and Experts of the two Commissions
The report produce by Experts of the ECOWAS-UEMOA Joint Technical Secretariat (STC) shows that despite the difficulties related to the Ebola epidemic in the region, most of the instructions issued in June 2014 in Ouagadougou by the Heads of the Institutions were implemented.
Among the achievements, there is the transport facilitation program in the region and joint border posts. The process of formulating a holistic post electoral support program to Guinea Bissau was approved by the Conference of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in 10 July 2014.
Regarding the ECOWAS CET, all activities included in the roadmap for its effective implementation on 1 January 2015 were fully implemented including awareness raising, training in the Member States and adoption of CET clearing systems.
Regarding the Customs Code and taxation review on tobacco, the harmonization is ongoing and progress is recorded in the process of developing the Community Customs Code.
Regarding the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), significant advances have been noted. The 45th session of the Conference of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government has approved the EPA. Joint information and awareness actions are underway to raise awareness of national and regional actors.
The agriculture sector remains dynamic. Cooperation in the sector between the two institutions is oriented towards support for agricultural organizations, implementation of regulations on pastoralism, operationalization of the Regional Animal Health Centre, texts harmonization on veterinary medicinal products, funding of Guinea Bissau National Agricultural Investment Program.
In the energy sector, technical studies for the construction of five solar power plants in the region for a total cost of US dollar 286 million were carried out by ECOWAS and UEMOA. In addition a study on energy poles is being initiated in the region.
In view of the above, we note that Presidents Ouédraogo and Soumaré fresh impetus to ECOWAS-UEMOA cooperation. The two Heads of Institutions confirmed it in their speeches during the closing ceremony. They urged the JTS Experts to follow this path even beyond their mandates.