Featured articles

(View previous articles)

(21/10/09) Developing together

Download video in high resolution

European Development Days (EDD) are Europe’s foremost platform for discussion and exchange on global challenges in all key areas – governance, climate change, international finance, trade, food security, water, energy, the role of the media and human and social rights. Previous editions have seen the participation of Heads of State and Government, Ministers and world-renowned leaders such as Desmond Tutu, Kofi Annan, Richard Branson, Wangari Maathai and Aminata Traore.

Policy making

This year’s EDD, in Stockholm (22-24 October), falls one month after the G-20 Leaders meeting in Pittsburgh, two weeks after the IMF-World Bank meeting in Istanbul and six weeks before the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Against this backdrop, the 2009 edition will focus on the global response to the economic downturn and climate change, as well as on the challenges of democracy and development.

Speakers this year include Fredrik Reinfeldt, Swedish Prime Minister; José-Manuel Barroso, European Commission President; IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn and leaders of the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and African Development Bank. Amr Moussa, Secretary General of the League of Arab States will also be speaking, along with UNDP administrator Hellen Clark, the Presidents of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Maldives, Burkina Faso and Micronesia and the Prime Ministers of Bangladesh, Kenya and Zimbabwe. The new European Parliament president, Jerzy Buzek, and members of EP committees will also be there. Representatives from NGOs Transparency International, ActionAid International and Oxfam International will be giving the view from civil society.

Carbon neutral

Hosting a large-scale event attracting people from the four corners of the world creates its share of CO2. It would be irresponsible to address the world’s development challenges at an international gathering without considering its impact on the environment – especially as global warming could push millions back into the poverty trap. However, these CO2 emissions can be offset through a range of schemes investing in energy efficiency anywhere in the world. Thus, exhibitors and parallel event organisers are asked to help offset the EDD carbon footprint by contributing to a carbon-offset scheme of their choice.

EDD’s key facts and figures

• Over 5,000 participants from 125 countries
• 3 days of meetings, exchange and debate
• 200 speakers
• 5 plenary sessions and 25 parallel events
• 150 exhibition stands in the Development Village
• Media partnerships with leading European media

Inclusive and participatory

Everyone has a say at EDD! Discussion panels are carefully gender balanced and geographically representative. Its openness allows it to be inclusive and blend a great diversity of political leaders and parliamentarians, international institutions, local authorities, NGOs, business leaders, academics, researchers, media representatives and the young. Any stakeholder can propose speakers, events, network meetings or exhibitions. Its participatory approach results in an agenda, which includes over 30 events, half of which are stakeholder-driven.

Special Eurobarometer on “Development Aid in time of economic turmoil”

Ahead of the 4th European Development Days, a Special Eurobarometer on “Development Aid in time of economic turmoil” shows that the crisis affecting European countries did not affect public support for development aid, which still remains high.

Around 90% of Europeans still believe development is important and 72% of Europeans are in favour of honouring or going beyond existing aid commitments to the developing world.

"This poll clearly shows that citizens expect their governments and the EU Commission to dig deep for development financing”, says EU Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Karel De Gucht. "Even in the context of the economic crisis, I appeal again to the EU Member States to stick to their commitments to increase development aid up to € 69 billion by 2010 to meet the mid term target of the Millennium Development Goals".

A large majority of European citizens (61%) feel that Europe can positively contribute to the debate on global development. "Europeans understand better and better why development is important. They ask for more coverage on development issues by national media", says EC Vice-President and Commissioner for Communication Strategy, Margot Wallström.

Interestingly, the economic crisis is not considered as a key challenge for developing countries. One in two Europeans see poverty as the greatest challenge faced by developing countries, placing it above the economic and food crisis (35%). Europeans seem to understand that beyond the economic slump, poverty is the overwhelming structural problem.

Other interesting results:

• Two out of three Europeans cite self-interested motivations for giving aid (64%), namely trade, terrorism, migration and political relations with third countries.
• There is no lack of interest, since 42% Europeans argue for more media coverage of development issues.
• 74% of Europeans have never heard of the Millennium Development Goals, but it is less than in 2007 (80%).

Read the full report.

Ensure you have your say this year at European Development Days! Have your say in the blog and watch live streaming at www.eudevdays.eu

Europe is the biggest provider of development aid in the world.