Europe’s leading forum on global development and cooperation, the European Development Days (EDD15) will take place in Brussels on 3-4 June, bringing together 5,000 participants to find practical solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems...
The 2015 edition of European Development Days (EDD15) comes at a
critical juncture for the future of the planet, with key decisions on
the follow-up to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to be taken at
the Financing for Development Conference in July, the United Nations
General Assembly in September and ambitious new goals to combat global
warming expected in December.
“This is a now or never moment for the international community,” said European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
“For the sake of the planet and its people, it’s time to take bold
decisions to put the world on a path towards sustainable development and
eradicate poverty once and for all.”
European Development
Days is the flagship event of the European Year for Development, whose
motto – ‘our world, our dignity, our future’ - is reflected in the main
themes of the Brussels forum.
Over 500 speakers, experts, practitioners and decision makers will contribute to the debate at EDD15, including:
- European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker
- Co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Melinda Gates
- HM Queen Mathilde, Queen of the Belgians
- President of the 69th United Nations General Assembly, Sam Kutesa
- Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bhutan
- Dr Denis Mukwege, Founder and Medical Director of Panzi Hospital and laureate of the 2014 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought
Following
the opening ceremony of EDD15 on June 3, Melinda Gates will join EU
Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica,
and other global leaders to announce new measures to address the global
challenge of malnutrition. On 4 June, Commissioner Mimica will also
sign a partnership to deepen regional integration with five regional
organisations from Eastern and Southern Africa.
Participants from
over 140 countries, representing 1,200 organisations will have a chance
to discuss how to create sustainable growth, develop a shared vision of
universal and fundamental rights and show that smart policies can
improve the lives of millions of people.
14 young adults from all
over the world have been selected to take part in different sessions at
the event, as part of the Future Leaders competition which will give
young experts a platform to express their views on how future
development policy should look . In addition, EDD15 will showcase over
50 examples of best practice in the field of international cooperation.
