ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) It has 15 members; 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

Benin Burkina Faso Cabo Verde Cote DIvoire Gambia Ghana Guinee Guinee Bissau Liberia Mali Niger Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leon Togolese

Institutions: 1. The commission 2. The community parliement 3. The Community Court of Justice 4. ECOWAS Bank of Investment Founded: 1975,28th May GDP (PPP) 2011 estimate Total U$$ 703,279 Billion Per Capita U$$ 2,500 GDP (Nominal) Estimate Total U$$ 402.454 Billion Per Capita U$$ 1014.87 Mission: It was founded in order to achieve collective self-sufficiency for its member states by creating a single large trading bloc through an economic & trading union. It also Serves as a peacekeeping force in the region. Its mission is to promote economic integration in "all fields of economic activity, particularly industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, agriculture, natural resources, commerce, monetary and financial questions, social and cultural matters ....."
The ECOWAS Commission and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development , more often called The Fund are its two main institutions designed to implement policies, pursue a number of programmes and carry out development projects in Member States. Such projects include intra-

community road construction and telecommunications; and agricultural, energy and water resources development.

RESTRUCTURING THE COMMISSION MAIN FEATURES To better adapt to the international environment. To play a more effective role in the integration and development process. A President, a Vice-President and 7 Commissioners. A smaller and more clearly defined sector for each Commissioner. Support to Member States to build their capacities for programme implementation. A predictable rotation system based on equity, transparency and functionality for the appointment to key positions. Consequences of the restructuring process; 1. Consolidation of the Community spirit. 2. Enhancement of the powers of the Commission. 3. Strengthening of supra-nationality. 4. Adoption of a new legal regime (decisions directly applicable in Member States and by the Institutions). NEW REGIME FOR COMMUNITY ACTS The transformation of the Secretariat into a Commission is being accompanied by a fundamental measure: the adoption of a new legal regime for Community Acts. Until now obligations of Member States were captured principally in Protocols and Conventions which are subject to lengthy Parliamentary ratification processes. These processes delayed the entry into force of the legal texts thereby paralyzing the integration process. Decisions of the Authority were however immediately applicable and binding on Member States, whilst those emanating from the Council of Ministers were only applicable and binding on the Community Institutions. Under the new legal regime, the principle of supranational becomes more pre-eminent and there is now a de-emphasis on the adoption of Conventions and Protocols. Community Acts will be Supplementary Acts, Regulations, Directives, Decisions, Recommendations and Opinion. Thus, the Authority passes Supplementary Acts to complete the Treaty. Supplementary Acts are binding on Member States and the institutions of the Community. The Council of Ministers enacts Regulations and Directives and makes Decisions and Recommendations. Regulations have general application and all their provisions are enforceable and directly applicable in Member States. They are enforceable in the institutions of the Community. Decisions are enforceable in Member States and all designated therein. Directives and their objectives are binding on all Member States. The modalities for attaining such objectives are left to the discretion of States. The Commission adopts Rules for the implementation of Acts enacted by the Council. These Rules have the same legal force as Acts enacted by the Council. The Commission makes recommendations and gives advice. Recommendations and advice are not enforceable.

The Community Court of Justice CREATION The Community Court of Justice was created pursuant to the provisions of Articles 6 and 15 of the Revised Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Its Organizational

framework, functioning mechanism, powers, and procedure applicable before it are set out in Protocol A/P1/7/91 of 6 July 1991, Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/01/05 of 19 January 2005, Supplementary Protocol A/SP.2/06/06 of 14 June 2006, Regulation of 3 June 2002, and Supplementary Regulation C/REG.2/06/06 of 13 June 2006. COMPOSITION The Court is composed of seven (7) independent Judges who are persons of high moral character, appointed by the Authority of Heads of State of Government, from nationals of Member States, for a four-year term of office, upon recommendation of the CommunityJudicial council.
VISION STATEMENT To be an independent, respected and strategic legal and judicial institution of the Community, playing a major role in establishing and sustaining an enabling legal environment for the achievement of community aims and objectives. MISSION STATEMENT To discharge and promote its judicial mandate of resolving disputes brought before it, interpretation and application of the treaty, conventions, protocols, and other legal instruments of the Community, giving advisory opinion, arbitration, determination of cases of human right violation, legality of Community Text, and other ancillary mandates, efficiently and timely.

CREATION The Community Court of Justice was created pursuant to the provisions of Articles 6 and 15 of the Revised Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Its Organisational framework, functioning mechanism, powers, and procedure applicable before it are set out in Protocol A/P1/7/91 of 6 July 1991, Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/01/05 of 19 January 2005, Supplementary Protocol A/SP.2/06/06 of 14 June 2006, Regulation of 3 June 2002, and Supplementary Regulation C/REG.2/06/06 of 13 June 2006. COMPOSITION The Court is composed of seven (7) independent Judges who are persons of high moral character, appointed by the Authority of Heads of State of Government, from nationals of Member States, for a four-year term of office, upon recommendation of the Community Judicial council. MANDATE The Mandate of the Court is to ensure the observance of law and of the principles of equity and in the interpretation and application of the provisions of the Revised Treat and all other subsidiary legal instruments adopted by Community. JUSRISDICTION Advisory Jurisdiction The Court gives legal advisory opinion on any matter that requires interpretation of the Community text. Contentious Jurisdiction The Court examines cases of failure by Member States to honour their obligations under the Community law; The Court has competence to adjudicate on any dispute relating to the interpretation and application of acts of the Community; The Court adjudicates in disputes between Institutions of the Community and their officials; The Court has power to handle cases dealing with liability for or against the Community; The Court has jurisdiction to determine cases of violation of human rights that occur in any Member State;

The Court adjudges and makes declarations on the legality of Regulations, Directives, Decisions, and other subsidiary legal instruments adopted by ECOWAS.

Competence in matters of arbitration Pending the establishment of an Arbitration tribunal, provided for under Article 16 of the Revised Treaty, the Court has competence to act as Arbitration. WHO IS ENTITLED TO HAVE ACCES TO THE COURT ? Access to the Court is open to the following: All Member States and the Commission, for actions brought for failure by Member States to fulfil their obligations; Member States, the Council of Ministers and the Commission, for determination of the legality of an action in relation to any Community text. Individuals and corporate bodies, for any act of the Community which violates the rights of such individuals or corporate bodies; Staff of any of the ECOWAS Institutions; Persons who are victims of human rights violation occurring in any Member State; National courts or parties to a case, when such national courts or parties request that the ECOWAS Court interprets, on preliminary grounds, the meaning of any legal instrument of the Community; The Authority of Heads of State and Government, when bringing cases before the Court on issues other than those cited above.

HOW TO ACCESS THE COURT ? Cases are filed before the Court through written applications addressed to the registry. Such applications must indicate the name of the applicant, the party against whom the proceedings are being instituted, a brief statement of the facts of the case, and the orders being sought by the plaintiff. APPLICABLE LAW The Court applies the Treaty, the Conventions, Protocols and Regulations adopted by the Community and the general principles of law as set out in Article 38 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice. In the area of human rights protection, the Court equally applies, inter alia, international instruments relating to human rights and ratified by the State or States party to the case. DECISIONS OF THE COURT Decisions of the Court are not subject to appeal, except in cases of application for revision by the Court; decisions of the Court may also come under objection from third parties. Decisions of the Court are binding and each Member State shall indicate the competent national authority responsible for the enforcement of decisions of the Court.