The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament and the European Parliament have reaffirmed their commitment to deepen cooperation in the areas of peace, security, and parliamentary diplomacy following high-level bilateral discussions held in Abuja.
The meeting, led by Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe, Jr., Chairman of the ECOWAS Parliament’s Committee on Political Affairs, Peace, Security, and African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), brought together key representatives from both parliaments, including Mr. David McAllister, Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET).
In a statement following the talks, Senator Snowe highlighted the importance of inter-parliamentary collaboration in addressing shared challenges across both regions.
“Today’s engagement reflects our mutual recognition that peace, stability, and democratic governance are global concerns that require sustained dialogue and cooperation,” Senator Snowe said. “We emphasized the need to strengthen inter-parliamentary relations and explore areas of mutual interest between the ECOWAS Parliament and the European Parliament.”
The discussions, which focused on political developments, regional integration, and security cooperation, were described as “productive and forward-looking.” Both sides agreed to identify practical avenues for joint action in promoting democracy, addressing conflicts, and supporting institutional development across West Africa.
“Our conversation concluded with a shared commitment to identify potential areas of partnership, particularly in peace security, and parliamentary diplomacy,” Senator Snowe added.
The Abuja meeting followed recent ECOWAS engagements in Abidjan, where election observation missions underscored the regional bloc’s dedication to upholding democratic principles.
According to Snowe, the talks mark a significant step in reinforcing ECOWAS–EU relations and advancing parliamentary diplomacy as a cornerstone for regional and intercontinental cooperation.
