The rules of application of competition in West Africa are at the center of a three-day meeting which brings together experts in charge of competition from the ECOWAS Commission, the Regional Competition Authority of ECOWAS (ARCC) and UEMOA. Work started on Monday March 29, 2021 in Lomé.

This is the first negotiation meeting between the Trade, Customs and Free Movement Department of the ECOWAS Commission, the ARCC and the WAEMU Regional Market and Cooperation Department on the draft cooperation in the application of competition rules.
This meeting will allow participants to examine the observations of the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority in order to enrich the draft cooperation agreement on the application of competition rules for the harmonious functioning of the two respective organizations in the context of competition within the region.
According to the Commissioner in charge of the Regional Market and Cooperation of UEMOA, JOAOZINHO MENDES, this is an opportunity to take a big step in the definition of the cooperation mechanisms necessary to remove the risks of contradictions in the decision-making process. in terms of competition.
The ECOWAS Trade, Customs and Free Movement of Persons Commissioner, KONZI Tei, believes that the present meeting should lead to a consensual result and not to obtain a victory for one of the parties over the other.
The results of the work will be submitted for possible orientations before its finalization during the second meeting and this in order to be ready for its signature at the next session of the joint technical secretariat.