ECOWAS 2. REVISED TREATY The members of the Community, hereinafter referred to as "the Member States," shall be the States that ratify this Treaty. ARTICLE 3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. The aims of the Community are to promote co-operation and integration, leading to the establishment of an economic union in West Africa in order to raise the living standards of its peoples, and to maintain and enhance economic stability, foster relations-among Member States and contribute to the progress and development of the African Continent. 2. In order to achieve the aims set out in the paragraph above, and in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Treaty,the Community shall, by stages, ensure; a) the harmonisation and co-ordination of national policies and the promotion of integration programmes, projects and activities, particularly in food, agricultureand naturalresources,industry, transport and communications, energy, trade, money and finance, taxation, economic reform policies, human resources, education, information, culture, science, technology, services, health, tourism, legal matters; b) the harmonisation and co-ordination of policies for the protection of the environment; c) the promotionof the establishment of joint productionenterprises; d) the establishment of a common market through; i) the liberalisation of trade by the abolition, among Member States, of customs duties levied on imports and exports, and the abolition, among MemberStates,of non-tariffbarriers in order to establish a free trade area at the Community level; ii) the adoptionof a commonexternaltariffand a common trade policy vis-a-vis third countries; iii) the removal, between Member States, of obstacles to the free movement of persons, goods, services and capital, and to the right of residence and establishment; e) the establishment of an economic union through the adoption of common policies in the economic, financial, social and cultural sectors, and the creation of a monetary union.