Brussels, 02/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - Some 5,000 participants from more than 140 countries and representing 1,200 organisations are expected at the 2015 European Development Days (EDD 2015), Europe's leading forum on global development and international cooperation, in Brussels (Tour & Taxi) on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 June.
EDD 2015 are the flagship event of the European Year for Development. They are being held at a crucial juncture for the future of the planet, ahead of three critical international meetings: the conference on post-2015 development financing (Addis Ababa, 13-16 July), the UN General Assembly in September at which post-2015 poverty eradication and sustainable development targets are due to be adopted, and the Paris climate conference (COP 21) which hopes to conclude a global agreement in December.
Debates will reflect the motto of the European Year for Development - “our world, our dignity, our future”.
“This is a now or never moment for the international community. 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”, stated European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on the eve of the event.
He will be joined among the many speakers by Melinda Gates, joint founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Her Majesty Queen Mathilde, Queen of the Belgians, Sam Kutesa, President of the 69th General Assembly of the United Nations, Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bhutan, and Dr Denis Mukwege, founder and medical director of the Panzi Hospital and winner of the 2014 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. (Aminata Niang)