Brussels, 27/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - During their fourth ministerial troika in Ouagabougou (Burkina Faso) on Thursday 23 October, ECOWAS (the Economic Community of West African States) and the EU confirmed their commitment to step up their relationship in the framework of the EU/Africa joint strategy to anticipate and react to, in an adequate and timely fashion, threats to security, but also to try to work together to respond to global challenges.
Peace and security: the EU and ECOWAS believe that actions carried out regionally, such as programmes to fight trafficking in drugs, weapons and human beings, must be stepped up, in order to ensure peace and development in the Sahelian region. They take the view that the integration of the African continent should be promoted in full respect of the harmonisation of the approaches of the African Union and ECOWAS to complete the African peace and security architecture. The support of the EU for the ECOWAS training centres was described as vital in this. And the ratification, by the end of the year, of the ECOWAS convention on small arms and light weapons is also of vital importance in consolidating peace and democracy in Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and the Sahelian region.
Increase in food prices: the EU and ECOWAS welcomed the short-term measures which have been taken to counter the effects of the hike in prices on the most vulnerable sections of the population. ECOWAS supports the initiative of the EU to set in place a food facility. Both parties take the view that the international community should bring a coordinated response, in the short and medium terms, and that the highest political priority should be granted to rural development. They therefore call for a global partnership for food and agriculture under the aegis of the United Nations.
Migration and development: the EU briefed ECOWAS on preparations underway for the forthcoming ministerial Euro-African conference on migration and development (Paris 25 November). Both parties intend to reinforce their cooperation on all subjects related to the West African migratory route and the partnership of the EU/Africa partnership for migration, mobility and employment. The result will be presented to the joint ECOWAS-EU group on migrations, before the end of the year.
World financial crisis: In response to concerns expressed by ECOWAS, which fears seeing a reduction in the flow of official development aid and migrant transfers, the EU has confirmed its commitment and its priorities with regard to development aid. (A.N./transl.fl)