The Forty-Third Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was held in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria on 17 and 18 July 2013, under the Chairmanship of H.E Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and Chairman of the Authority.
Authority notes with satisfaction the activities undertaken by the Commission and Member States towards the creation of a common market in West Africa. Authority reaffirms its political will to accelerate the regional integration process,
especially through the establishment of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET). Summit reiterates the need to conclude a development-oriented regional Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). It welcomes the completion of the review of the West African liberalization scheme, taking into account its coherence with the CET and the development imperatives.