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(26/10/09) Development Days 2009
The European Development Days are over now. With over 6000 participants and well in its fourth year, the European Development Days have covered range of pressing issues in global development.
Day 1
"In Europe, we want to see a change when it comes to world poverty. And the poorest countries need our solidarity. We must stick to the ambitions we have set for combating poverty. The economic crisis must not be used as an excuse not to fulfil our promises," said EC President José Manuel Barroso in his opening speech.
In his opening address, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt touched the economic and financial crisis. As he put it, the crisis has hit not only the financial and credit market, but also those who were already poor, leaving millions more living in poverty.
"It is important that all of us, including the EU, fulfil our commitments to increase development assistance," said" Karel De Gucht, EU Commissioner for Development.
Gunilla Carlsson, Swedish Minister for International Development, underscored the role of citizens: "We want our citizens to play an active role in the development of the European Community. We cannot tackle climate change if our citizens are not allowed to exercise their civic rights."
Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), pointed that "it doesn't matter how fast we travel if we are moving in the wrong direction."
George Soros, Chairman of Open Society Institute, called on European nations to use their Special Drawing Rights (SDR) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to provide as much as US$100 billion in aid to poor countries.
Day 2
The second day of European Development Days was marked with a lively debate at a plenary session on Democracy and Development and followed by 15 other events and discussions.
Amr Moussa, Secretary General, League of Arab States, urged that, “Democracy is a system that should be promoted, but the definition of democracy must be broader than simply a ballot box. Democracy promotion requires more than elections, it also requires institutions”.
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of Liberia, argued for infrastructure: “If one wants to promote good governance and democracy, one needs a people that are able to access the information that enables them to do that. In many underdeveloped countries, infrastructure is a major constraint to development Putting emphasis on building infrastructure is very important and that in itself will foster the processes of development.”
“Sustainable poverty reduction goes hand in hand with good governance and the rule of law,” argued Gunilla Carlsson, Swedish Minister for International Development. “Without accountability, human rights and democracy in recipient countries, taxpayers in donor countries will not support development aid.”
The potential of new media has been acknowledged by Raila Odinga, Prime Minister of Kenya, an active blogger during – and after – his election campaign. He said that using new media gives his government the opportunity to communicate regularly with people who give valuable feedback about issues that need to be addressed. “It is a constant channel of communication that we use now. I am sure new media will play a more and more critical role in the future. It brings communication down to the community level.”
Day 3
The fourth edition of the European Development Days has been closed with a pleanary session on Climate Change and Development. A year ago, the European Union launched the Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA), a partnership which helps developing countries to cope with climate change.
Edward Natapei, Prime Minister of Vanuata, a small Pacific island state, explained the climate change threats his country faces, including sea water inundation, flooding, fishery decline and drought. "Urgent action is needed to avoid a genocidal impact on small island states," he urged. "We cannot meet the challenges of climate change alone. The GCCA is necessary and will go a long way to assisting Vanuata meet the challenges of climate change. ... we need funding that is timely and accessible."
Ahmed Shaheed, Minister of Foreign Affairsof the Maldives warned: "The effects of climate change, particularly rising seas, are occurring faster than predicted." At current rates of sea level rise, the Maldives soon risks losing its international airport. "The Maldives is pleased to be part of the GCCA pilot project. We must find ways to adapt to rising seas, coral bleaching, flooding and disease," Shaheed said.
"The EU has taken more initiatives than any other region in dealing with climate change," said Hasan Mahmud, State Minister of the Environment and Forest of Bangladesh. "The GCCA mechanism for fund distribution is clumsy. We need easier procedures."
Responding to comments, EU Commissioner for Development Karel de Gucht said: "The GCCA is a pilot project exploring ways of cooperation between the EU and vulnerable countries. The EU should look at its procedures and the timing between commitments and disbursements."
Mary Robinson, President of the Ethical Globalization Initiative, Vice-President of the Club of Madrid, called on Europe to take the lead on climate change negotiations: "The time has come for decision taking. It is time for leadership". She added: "The image of climate change is the polar bear. I like polar bears, too, but that is the wrong image. The image of climate change is a poor farmer, and she is a woman and she is desperate."
The 24 October 2009 will be also marked in history as International Day of Climate Action (350 Day) when people in 181 countries are coming together for the most widespread day of environmental action in the planet's history. At over 5200 events around the world, people are gathering to call for strong action and bold leadership on the climate crisis.
The overall theme was "Citizenship and development", which has been again touched again at the closing ceremony. Margot Wallström, the Vice-President of the European Commission, called for the revitalisation of the European Volunteer Service to allow more Europeans to gain first-hand experience in developing countries. “The potential is enormous. We could expand and do more with the European Volunteer Service”, she said during the panel – European citizens as catalysts of Change.
Karel De Gucht, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, summed up some of the major outcomes of the conference. “As the debates show, we do not agree on everything,” he said. “But there is a consensus on the challenges that will face us in the years to come.” These include how to find additional resources for development during the economic crisis and how to help the least developed countries adjust to climate change, he said.
Louis Michel, MEP, Co-chair of the ACP-EU Parliamentary Assembly, stressed the urgency of this additional support. “We all know that the poor are not responsible for climate change, but are the hardest hit,” he said. “As they struggle to meet the Millennium Development Goals they have another impediment. They cannot afford to wait until 2012 [for additional aid]. They need it now, not in 2012.”
