Since its creation in 2005, the Sub-Regional Working Group on International Economy and Regional Integration: Trade & Development, has focused on economic interests for the sub region, notably, the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) for which negotiations started in 2003 between the European Union and ECOWAS. The group has produced a number of position papers both at the national and regional levels to influence the negotiation process. Moreover, an advocacy plan on the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations has been adopted and implemented at national as well as international level.
The group met in Accra, Ghana from 26th to 29th May 2008 for the tenth time, on the theme "The Interim Economic Partnership Agreements and Regional Integration: Trade Union Responsibilities". The meeting afforded trade unions the opportunity to review their work over the years on the EPA, review their advocacy position, develop national and regional level actions for the next one year and develop their position on the Interim EPA as well as an advocacy plan for the next one year to work on the EPA and other issues of globalisation affecting the sub-region. The climax of the meeting was a press conference which they held to make known to the general public their position on the EPA and what they expect of the regional negotiation team.
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