Launch of the European Year for Development in Riga
Today, on 9 January, the European Year for Development (EYD) is launched in Riga, Latvia. Under the motto "Our world, our dignity, our future", 2015 will become a special year, in which the development cooperation of the EU and its Member States will be presented to the European public. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Development Cooperation Alexander De Croo underlines the importance of increasing support in Belgium and Europe for the development agenda.
Alexander De Croo: “2015 is a pivotal year. In September the 193 member states of the United Nations will take a decision in New York on the development agenda for the coming years, that will build on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Our country is fully involved in this process. It is essential to involve citizens in Belgium and Europe in this special year, and raise their interest. That’s the objective of the European Year for Development. The new development agenda will not only apply to developing countries, but also to us. This is normal in our increasingly interdependent world.”
During the European Year for Development, the EU Member States will organize many outreach activities for the general public, and more particularly for young people. And those working on development cooperation will also be mobilized to search for the best way to join forces and to achieve even more.
To showcase the work of these actors, stories related to a theme will be published each month on the official website of the European Year for Development. « Europe in the World » is the theme chosen for the month of January.
What is planned in Belgium?
The European Year will be launched by the Belgian Development Cooperation on Saturday 17 January at SQUARE.
AFRICALIA will organize a debate on the theme: "Culture, pillar of Development Cooperation", in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Mathilde and Minister for Development Cooperation Alexander De Croo. The Ministers of Culture of Cape Verde and Mali, together with other personalities from the North and the South will also take part in the discussion (Info and programme at: www.africalia.be
).
On the same day, BOZAR will organize AFROPEAN+, a multidisciplinary event which will highlight the added value of the African diaspora in the European cultural landscape, with many activities all relating to the wealth of interculturality (Info and programme: www.bozar.be).
Other outreach activities will be organized throughout the year by the different actors of the Belgian Development Cooperation and a number of associations.
Information and programme are available on the Belgian part of the official website: europa.eu/eyd2015/fr/belgium.
Follow the European Year of Development 2015
- Official website: https://europa.eu/eyd2015/fr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanYearForDevelopment2015
- Twitter: @EYD2015
- Hashtag: #EYD2015
To know more on Belgian Development Cooperation:
http://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/policy/development_cooperation/
the European Year for Development
