The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has approved the development of a "special plan" to increase Cape Verde's energy-producing capacity, within the context of efforts aimed at overcoming regional shortcomings in the electricity sector.

According to the conclusions of the 33rd Summit of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, a regional program will be developed to ensure the security of the energy supply, with Cape Verde meriting a special plan due to its condition as a group of islands.

"Alternative energy sources must be explored in the region that will permit needs to be reduced in the shortest possible time frame, particularly in rural areas," reads the final communiqué from the summit, which took place in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Cape Verde will also host the headquarters of the West African Institute for Regional Integration, the mission of which will be to "promote social research and dialogue" on the approximation of ECOWAS member countries.

The summit, which ended last Friday, also resulted in the decision to continue to negotiate Economic Partnership Accords with the European Union as a bloc, as well as instructions to the ECOWAS Commission to organize a meeting of member countries aimed at "reaching an accord regarding an appropriate legislative framework on a regional level on the Economic Partnership Accords," particularly with regards to the introduction of a common external customs tariff.

"The accord should contribute toward the fulfilment of the objectives of integration, encourage regional development, reduce poverty and promote employment, while taking into account the region's concerns with regards to development, " reads the summit's final communiqué.

The ECOWAS Commission will also have to verify the validity of the interim accords signed by a number of member countries with the European Union in order to guarantee the continuity of preferential access to the European market.

Also on the table in Ouagadougou was several of the region's countries increasing role as transit points on the international drug trade. The ECOWAS Commission, according to the final communiqué, should "continue efforts currently under way toward stopping trafficking in collaboration with other partners," considering "the potential danger to the region's economy and social fabric."

A proposal presented by Mali and Niger to hold a conference on the situation in the region of the Sahel and the Sahara was adopted by the ECPWAS as well. The conference will be used to discuss issues "related to security, the circulation of arms, drug trafficking and development needs."

Also adopted were proposals for the creation of an ECOWAS Emergency Response Team to intervene in cases of emergencies and natural disasters, as well as a poverty reduction strategy and a joint migration initiative on the regional and international levels.

The leaders of the ECOWAS member countries also expressed their "satisfaction" with recent developments in the realm of regional peace and security, and with regards to the situation in Ivory Coast they expressed their "hopes that credible and transparent elections will be held in the country in 2008," according to Portuguese news agency Lusa.

The final communiqué also mentions the situation in the Republic of Guinea, but makes no mention of the situation in Guinea Bissau, which prior to the summit was said to be one of the main points of discussion planned.

At the Ouagadougou meeting, Burkina Faso president Blaise Campoare was also elected to a second term as ECOWAS president.