When the average EU citizen hears us speak about development, does he think of property development, product development, photo development or personal development, perhaps?
One of the main challenges of the European year for development 2015 will be to communicate in clear language with citizens that we are in fact talking about international development cooperation.
The first ever 'European year' on the external policy of the EU provides an extended opportunity to tell real life stories about development and global justice with citizens, including many who may either have limited knowledge about the scope and results of European development cooperation or who reject the notion of investing resources in reducing poverty in faraway countries at a time of suffering at home. These will sometimes be difficult conversations but are essential to better understanding what motivates the thinking of our dialogue partners and explain what motivates ours. This way we can build bridges between opposing mind-sets.
It should not just be a dialogue about "what Europe gives", but also about how Europe lives, in other words how our lifestyles, our consumer decisions, our trade, agricultural and economic policies in Europe affect global development.
"In 2015 we should underline why action on climate change is closely linked to development because its effects are already being felt disproportionately by those who are the least responsible for causing global warming but are the most vulnerable to its devastating consequences"
2015 is a milestone year for international development issues. The UN millennium development goals reach their deadline and negotiations will be concluded for a new post-2015 framework of sustainable development goals. In 2015, global talks on measures to tackle climate change will culminate with the COP 21 talks in Paris in December. In 2015 we should underline why action on climate change is closely linked to development because its effects are already being felt disproportionately by those who are the least responsible for causing global warming but are the most vulnerable to its devastating consequences.
Concord, the main European network of development organisations, is proud to have been asked by the EU institutions to convene and lead the civil society alliance of the year, bringing together a broad coalition of civil society organisations from across Europe and from across different sectors. This alliance will not only help to reach out to a large and diverse audience of EU citizens, but will forge new partnerships with other civil society sectors, leading to synergies from which we will continue to benefit in our work well beyond 2015.
We are grateful that MEPs from across the political spectrum voted by an overwhelming majority to endorse the European year 2015 for development under the motto "our world, our dignity, our future". We now call upon
MEPs to use all opportunities they have through meeting with the media and local constituencies to engage citizens in critical dialogue. The conversation on development needs to move well beyond the 'Brussels bubble'.
Many outcomes are expected from this European year. Would it not be great if they included busting some persistent myths, such as "development aid is not working; it is money wasted" or "our aid is making corrupt leaders in poor countries richer"? And then there is the most difficult myth to bust of all: "We have a crisis here in Europe, so we need to divert all possible resources to fight poverty here at home."