The 23rd Political Dialogue Meeting at Ministerial Level between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the European Union (EU) was held in Brussels on 6 February 2023. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to regional and international peace and security, as well as to the deepening of the regional integration process in West Africa. They agreed to further strengthen their cooperation, in the spirit of equal partnership, with a view to providing sustainable solutions to security, political, economic, humanitarian, and environmental challenges in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the AU Agenda 2063, and the ECOWAS Vision 2050. The joint communique covered various topics such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, terrorism, migration, democracy, good governance, human rights, the rule of law, and peace and security in West Africa. Both sides expressed concern about the role of private military entities under foreign influence, which are engaged in West Africa and responsible for violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, and called for actions, including sanctions, to address this issue.

Read more here