NEGOTIATING ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN EU AND ECOWAS: IMPLICATIONS FOR WEST AFRICAN INTEGRATION

Abstract

European Union (EU) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have been negotiating Economic Partnership Agreement for over fourteen years without significant progress. The stalled negotiation is affecting integrative initiative of ECOWAS vision 2020:20. This study not only interrogated the prolonged negotiations of the economic partnership agreement between EU and ECOWAS but also investigated the reasons for the prolonged negotiations and its implications for West African integration. The study adopted a combination of historical and descriptive survey designs. The population for the study was the ECOWAS member states. Qualitative data,, supported by structured and unstructured interviews will be applied. Secondary data would be obtained from relevant books, Internet and other documents from EU and ECOWAS secretariats. Descriptive statistics and content analysis will be used in analysing the data. The study adopted Zartman theory of the weak versus the strong and neo functionalism. The study found out that the unfavourable clauses and selfish interests among the ECOWAS leaders are prolonging the EPA among other factors. The study recommended that ECOWAS countries must eschew self interest, overcome issues associated with distrust among member states, mobilise and sensitise patronage and consumption of local products amongst others, in order to promote integrative economic partnership negotiation and trade bloc