The main objective of the West Africa – European Union EPA is the establishment of a free trade area between Europe and West Africa (ECOWAS + Mauritania) in accordance with Article XXIV of GATT, through the gradual removal of trade restrictions between the two trade partners.

The EPA is intended to foster the smooth and gradual integration of ACP States into the world economy, with due regard for their political choices and development priorities, thereby promoting their sustainable development and contribution to poverty eradication. EPA negotiations were officially launched at an all ACP level on 27 September 2002.  In the West African region, the negotiations between EU and WA took off on 4 August 2004 following the launch of the Accra Road Map.