European development ministers met in Brussels on Monday 12 September for an informal discussion on the long-term direction of development policy from the angle of sustainable development.
Under discussion were the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the new European Consensus on Development and future relations between the ACP countries and the EU after expiry of the Cotonou Agreement in 2020 (see EUROPE 11604).
The meeting, initially planned for 7 September, was re-scheduled (see EUROPE 11551). It was continuing on Monday evening as we went to press. Inclusion of security and migration issues was expected to be at the heart of discussions, as ministers had called for at their formal meeting in May.
“We will discuss how to strengthen the link that we are developing between the policies we do on development as such and the policies we do for instance to promote peace and security, especially in parts like Africa where it is very hard to bring sustainable development if not in conditions of peace and security as the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) themselves point out”, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini told the press before the meeting. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)