The European Commission and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (Senegal, Benin, Togo, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau and Ivory Coast) agreed to increase their collaboration in a number of sectors, including initiatives that can have a positive impact in food prices and regional integration. President of the Commission of the UEMOA, Soulaïma Cissé, met on the 7th and 8th of May, the Commissioner for Regional Policy, Danuta Hübner, and the Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, to discuss concrete initiatives to strengthen economic and political cooperation between UEMOA and the European Commission. President Cissé also met EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, to discuss progress in the ongoing Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and West Africa.

The food price crisis was at the centre of the discussions between Commissioner Michel and President Cissé. They both share concerns on the possible negative impact on the stability of the West African countries. They agreed to organise quickly a joint EC-UEMOA-ECOWAS meeting to agree concrete measures to help resolving the crisis.

Commissioner Michel and President Cissé also discussed the implementation and programming of the 10th European Development Fund (EDF, 2008-2013) and stressed the importance of supporting the ongoing integration process of the West African region. In that sense, they reaffirmed that an Economic and Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and West Africa would act as a tool for development and would enhance regional integration.

Commissioner Michel congratulated the president of UEMOA for the achievements reached in its economic integration process, in particular for its customs union and for the quality of its Regional Economic Programme (REP)

What is the The West African Economic and Monetary Union?

The West African Economic and Monetary Union (or UEMOA (Union économique et monétaire ouest-africaine) is an organization of eight states of West Africa established to promote economic integration among countries that share a common currency, the CFA franc.