Cotonou: West African experts meeting to brainstorm on the Implications of ECOWAS potential expansion and the AfCFTA

Abstract

The Government of Benin, in collaboration with the Sub-Regional Office for West Africa of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, has launched the activities of the Ad hoc Expert Group Meeting, under the theme: “Implications of ECOWAS potential expansion and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)”, in Cotonou. This Ad hoc Meeting, which holds upon the signing of the AfCFTA by 44 countries of the 55 Member-States of the African Union, and with the intention expressed by some North African countries to join the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), aims to carry out further in-depth reflection on the likely economic and socio-economic implications of these major projects. This Ad hoc Experts Group Meeting was an occasion for participants to examine economic implications relating to trade flows and public revenues, identify and discuss the main challenges and stakes for ECOWAS, and also for the candidate-countries vying for membership. This two-day meeting included plenary sessions during which participants discussed the major implications, challenges and stakes regarding the expansion of ECOWAS through the membership of new countries, both for the different parties and for the implementation of the AfCFTA.