EU Envoy Pays Courtesy Visit to ECOWAS Commission Vice President, Emphasised Stronger cooperation.
By Raymond Enoch
In a significant diplomatic engagement aimed at reinforcing regional cooperation, the Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, paid a courtesy visit to the Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Mrs. Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, at the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja Nigeria.
Accompanied by Deputy Ambassador Zissimos Vergos and Acting Head of Cooperation Ruben Alba Aguilera, the visit marked Ambassador Mignot’s formal introduction to the leadership of the ECOWAS Commission. It also provided an opportunity for both parties to reaffirm their mutual commitment to ongoing and future collaborations.
Welcoming the delegation, H.E. Mrs. Tchintchibidja expressed ECOWAS’ appreciation for the EU’s sustained partnership, particularly under the Neighbourhood Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI). She highlighted key focus areas including trade, migration, agriculture, peace and security, digital economy, and capacity building as central to the EU-ECOWAS cooperation framework.
The Vice President underscored the importance of establishing regular coordination mechanisms, stressing the need for ECOWAS to be more actively involved in the decision-making and monitoring processes of EU-funded initiatives within the region. This, she noted, would ensure greater impact, ownership, and accountability.
The two parties also exchanged views on the upcoming ECOWAS 50th Anniversary celebration and the launch of a new phase of EU-supported projects, signaling a shared vision for regional growth and integration.
The visit underscores the EU’s continued commitment to supporting West Africa’s development agenda through strategic partnerships and inclusive dialogue.
