Spain has pledged 262 million Euros to strengthen regional integration in West Africa.
An amount of 240 million Euros would be allocated to the ECOWAS Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP) national and regional priority programmes to increase food production and anti-famine activities over a three- year period.
The pledged was made during a special ECOWAS- Spain Summit, as part of the 36th Ordinary Session of the Authority of the Heads of State and Government, in Abuja, Nigeria on Monday.
The Summit, which was attended by the Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, was aimed at boosting ties with the European country, which has become a key destination for illegal migrants from major West African countries.
Several leaders, including the Ghanaian President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills were present during the closed door talks.
Spain is faced with thousands of illegal migrants landing on its shores, mainly through the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Spanish authorities expressed fear that many of the Africans who attempt the perilous journey by boat to Spanish soil die of thirst, hunger or exposure to the elements.
Mr Zapatero, said his country placed great importance on the meeting, which marked a historic landmark in relations with West Africa.
A statement issued at the end of the meeting said 15 million euros would go towards infrastructure development, specifically to support various ECOWAS initiatives, particularly in the provision of technical support for the Project Preparation and Development Unit (PPDU) and the participation of the Spanish government in the ECOWAS Fund for Infrastructure.
The PPDU is a unit set up by ECOWAS to help prepare projects and make them attractive for private sector participation.
The capacity of the ECOWAS Renewable Energy Centre will also be bolstered with seven million Euros disbursed over five years, to facilitate its operations and enable it to attract public-private sector participation.
Spain reaffirmed its commitment to support democratic consolidation in West Africa, through the strengthening of the capacities of relevant organs and institutions such as electoral commissions, the media, civil society and human rights institutions.
It also pledged to support existing technical and professional training centres, and contribute to the establishment of new training centres as part of the effort to boost the capacity development of those institutions dealing with public policy. In this regard, Spain will support the promotion of professional training and youth employment projects.
More specifically, the Spanish government will assist in the elaboration and implementation of the ECOWAS Professional and Technical Education Programme to help strengthen existing training centres and the setting up of new ones.
Spain agreed to assist in ending the scourge of trafficking in persons, drugs and arms, mainly through support for the implementation of the ECOWAS Regional Plan of Action in the fight against illicit drug trafficking and organised crime in West Africa.
Spain pledged to deepen its co-operation with ECOWAS in the areas of migration and development, including the implementation of the ECOWAS-Spain Migration and Development Fund, established during the 2008 Africa-European Union summit held in Lisbon.
On health matters, Spain consented to collaborate with ECOWAS in the fight against the spread of HIV-AIDS and malaria, within the framework of the Strategic Plan 2009-2013 of the West African Health Organisation.
It would assist in regional and national efforts, towards research and training; promote the development of vaccines and the strengthening of a pharmaco-vigilance system, among other things.
The Spanish government would contribute to the promotion of the rights of women and strengthening of their economic capacities and their role in peace building in West Africa.
While reaffirming its commitment to explore new investment opportunities in
the region, Spain pledged to help in the launching of Spanish-ECOWAS Entrepreneurs Forum, to consolidate cultural and tourist exchanges with West Africa.
At the end of the summit, ECOWAS leaders expressed satisfaction with the determination by Spain to promote fruitful co-operation and dialogue between Europe and ECOWAS.