1

Introduction to ECOWAS

2

3

Question to answer

What is the purpose – what does it try to acheive?

Is it working – does it reaches its ambitions? What is the outlook for the future –

expansion? Similarities and differences with the EU?

4

ESTABLISHMENT OF ECOWAS

Created on May 28, 1975 with the adoption of the ECOWAS Treaty

In 1993, the Treaty was revised to accelerate the process of integration

A community of 15 West African states

5

FACTS ABOUT ECOWAS

Benin

Burkina Faso

Cabo-Verde

Côte-d’Ivoire

The Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Liberia

Mali

Niger

Nigeria

SenegalSierra-Leone

Togo

6

ECOWAS Surface Area6,1 millions km²

FACTS ABOUT ECOWAS

7

Total Surface Area6.1 millions de km²

Total Population 220 millions d ’habitants

Regional GDP106.7 milliards $ US

FACTS ABOUT ECOWAS

8

OBJECTIVE

OVERALL OBJECTIVE

To promote cooperation and integration, with a view to establishing an economic and monetary union as a means of stimulating economic growth and development in West Africa

9

BASIC PRINCIPLES

Equality and interdependence of Member States

Cooperation between Member States

Solidarity and collective autonomy

Policies and programmes harmonisation

Nonagression between Member States

10

Peace keeping, stability and security at the regional level

Peaceful settlement of conflicts

Respect, promotion and protection of human rights

Promotion and consolidation of democracy

Transparency, economic and social justice

BASIC PRINCIPLES

11

ECOWAS INSTITUTIONS …

The Conference of Heads of State and Government

The Council of Ministers

The Executive Secretariat

The Community Parliament

The Community Court of Justice

The Economic and Social Council ( to be created)

The West African Health Organisation (WAHO)

12

ECOWAS Bank for Investment and

Development (EBID)

ECOWAS Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

ECOWAS Regional Investment Bank (ERIB)

West African Monetary Agency (WAMA)

West African Monetary Institute (WAMI)

Specialized Technical Commissions ]

ECOWAS INSTITUTIONS

13

European Institutions

- European Council- Council of Ministers- European Commission- European Parliament- European Court of Justice- European Central Bank- Ecofin Group

14

Financing of Programmes

Self-financing budgets for the institutions:

Introduction of the Community levy - a

Community tax of 0.5% on goods from third

countries - to generate resources for

financing regional integration.

15

SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES

1. Any dispute regarding the interpretation or the application of the provisions of this Treaty shall he amicably settled through direct agreement without prejudice to the provisions of this Treaty and relevant Protocols.

2. Failing this, either party or any other Member States or the Authority may refer the matter to the Court of the Community whose decision shall be final and shall not be subject to appeal.

16

SANCTIONS

1. Where a Member State fails to fulfill its obligations to the Community, the Authority may decide to impose sanctions on that Member State.

2. These sanctions may include: (i) suspension of new Community loans or assistance, (ii) suspension of disbursement on-going Community projects or assistance

17

Free movements of people Trade and Customs Monetary and financial matters Monetary Cooperation Transport Agricultural and livestock farming Protection of the environnement Industry and Energy NEPAD Common issues such as Youth, Sport, Culture and Social

Affairs, Health and Drug Control, Gender Issue, Education, Regional Peace and security, etc.

ECOWAS ACHIEVEMENTSECOWAS ACHIEVEMENTS

18

19

West Africa has experienced a notable return of peace, and security in recent years, and the total number of victims has steadily declined over twenty-year period from 1960-1980;

ECOWAS has over the years gained the confidence of the international community for its intervention in Liberia, Sierra-Leone, Togo, and Guinea-Bissau. With the establishment of the Council of Wise to further promote peace and prevent conflict, a more proactive step has been taken to secure peace in the region.

ECOWAS ACHIEVEMENTSECOWAS ACHIEVEMENTS

20

Problems and Weaknesses of ECOWAS

effective coordination of policies throughout the region

coordination of economic planning and economic policies demand somehow surrender of part of sovereignty

favouring the more-developed Member States at the expense of the less-developed ones

elimination of customs duties among the members might open wider markets for those countries that have already heavy industries, which means they could dominate the markets of the less developed ones with products that are produced at lower costs, with cheaper raw materials from within the community

21

Problems and Weaknesses of ECOWAS

Existing material infrastructure of the West African sub-region, which is hardly developed and thus constitutes a basic impediment to the growth of intra-regional trade within the ECOWAS

The institutional structure of regional organizations are weak owing to their limited authority. Member-states retain the right to veto legislation approved by their representatives at the regional level.

22

THANK YOU FOR

YOUR

ATTENTION !