By €110m Commitment
EU, Germany, and Spain seek to boost peace, trade, and governance in West Africa
Summary
- EU, Germany, and Spain fund four key ECOWAS projects with €110 million
- Initiatives aim to strengthen peace, trade integration, and institutional reforms
- Projects align with ECOWAS Vision 2050 amid regional security and political challenges
Abuja, Nigeria — The European Union, alongside Germany, Spain, and other partners, has committed €110 million to support four strategic projects under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) aimed at enhancing peace, regional integration, and institutional governance in West Africa.
Unveiled between June 17 and 18, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria, the projects reflect the EU’s broader strategic goal of linking peace, economic opportunity, and integration across West Africa.
The funding comprises €82.5 million from the EU, €26 million from Germany, and €984,000 from Spain as part of a co-financed €7.4 million institutional support programme.
The four initiatives include the ECOWAS Peace, Security, and Governance Project (EPSG), the AfCFTA/Trade in Services Programme, the Institutional Support to ECOWAS (Phase II), and the Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) Programme. These projects support ECOWAS’ Vision 2050, which aims to foster a citizen-driven, peaceful, and prosperous region.
Key objectives of the investment include bolstering ECOWAS’ conflict prevention mechanisms, addressing disinformation and electoral violence, promoting trade as a tool for stability and job creation, and enhancing the Commission’s institutional capacity to deliver regional solutions effectively.
The projects are implemented in collaboration with several development agencies, including Germany’s GIZ, France’s Expertise France, UNIDO, and Spain’s AECID.
ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Alieu Touray described the initiative as critical to ensuring lasting regional stability and sustainable development.
EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, emphasized the strategic vision of linking peace with prosperity, while German Ambassador Annett Günther and Spain’s Deputy Head of Mission María Higón Velasco highlighted the importance of economic transformation and strong institutions in conflict prevention.
These efforts come at a pivotal time for ECOWAS, which faces rising security threats in the Sahel and Gulf of Guinea, and the recent withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the bloc to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Despite such challenges, the EU’s renewed investment signals its long-term commitment to West Africa through initiatives like the Global Gateway Africa-Europe Investment Package and prior collaborative programmes such as EPSAO and OCWAR.
While some sources list the funding as €105 million, the most widely reported figure remains €110 million, valued at over $120 million depending on exchange rates.
