Preparation for Brussels

What is European Development Days?
A fast growing international forum, launched in 2006 and organized by the European Commission and the Presidency of the Council of the European Commission. This annual event is a platform to discuss development challenges. It brings together about 6000 people and 1500 organizations from the development community in the spirit of partnership. The whole development family is reprezented: partners, agencies, beneficiaries and donors. Each year, high-level decision makers, heads of state and government, politicians, ministers, Nobel laureates, parliamentarians and leaders of international organizations are welcome. World-acclaimed leaders have used EDD as a sounding board for their ideas. Desmond Tutu, Wangari Maathai, George Soros etc taken part...
In 2010, Brussels,the 15 high-level panels, two keynote speeches and 30 seminars (including one on Media and Development) will try to find European consensus and lay out existing differences on development issues as Europe seeks to strengthen its leading role as donor and partner for developing countries.

What are the main topics that is going to be discussed?
The hottest topics that shapes the development community. Climate, water, food security, gender equality, human rights, democracy, good governance, education, health, natural resource management, free and fair trade, economic and social growth.

What is the main goal of EDD?
EDD claims that its inclusive, geographically representative and gender balanced. The world is changing so differentiated approaches to development are required so EDD tries to serve as a laboratory where people from the field feed decision makers with their experiences. (I am very eager to recognize this aim!)

Who are the main big attendants in 2010?
Leading EU political figures will be joined by no less than seven African heads of state and government, the African Union Commission Chairperson, the ACP Secretary General, as well as the heads of UN organisations, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and former French President Jacques Chirac.
Other confirmed attendees are European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme (heading the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU), European Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek.



The EDD will address sensitive subjects such as the future of development given the changes wrought by the Lisbon Treaty, the future of development cooperation, access to energy, the Global Health Policy, support to the private sector and human rights.