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As the world's biggest contributor to International Development Aid, Europe and its institutions have a huge responsibility towards developing countries. Eurostep represents national development NGOs in the European Forum and bases all of its work on a vision of a reponsible Europe (see our Official Vision). 2009-2010 SummaryJune 09 - European Parliament ElectionsJune 2009 saw the European elections where 40% of elected MEPs were elected into office for the first time. Eurostep has been working hard to make sure that this new set of MEPs understand the importance of development issues, and will continue to work to keep the development agenda at the forefront of their concerns. It is through these new MEPs that Europe has a new democratic voice in the world. Finance for development in the face of global financial crisis2009 has seen important progression in the face of dealing with the economic financial crisis, even though we still don't know what the full extent of the damage will be. Eurostep was present at important conferences in new York and Geneva. December 2009 COP15-CopenhagenThe United Nations Climate Change Conference in December is vitally important as here world leaders will agree on a future to the Kyoto Agreement. As climate change steals more and more of the spotlight, it is important that development countries are recognised as the most likely to suffer first and worst from the consequences of climate change. It is important that climate change targets take into account the developing world. Developing countries need help achieving their own sustainable development targets, and it is crucial that money to finance this isn't taken out of existing aid budgets, but is given additional to existing aid targets. Lisbon TreatyWith the introduction of the Lisbon treaty (expected sometime in the early 2010), development policy will change depending on the institutional changes that take place. It is important that the right changes are made to make development aid more transparent, more coherent and more effective. |
The Lisbon Treaty seeks to make the EU more effective on the world stage. The European External Action Service (EEAS) will be the EU's own diplomatic service. Proposals for establishing this service have been published by Baroness Cathy Ashton, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (
