European development days (EDD) are Europe's leading forum on development and international action. They provide a unique opportunity to share ideas on achieving the common goal of poverty eradication and sustainable development, as well as of creating a world in which everyone gets a chance to live life with dignity.
Each year, the EDD bring together the global development community, attracting about 7000 participants from more than 140 countries, as well representatives from over 1200 organisations dealing with development.
The expectations for the 2015 EDD are especially high; this year is crucial for global development efforts as a new set of sustainable development goals is being negotiated under the United Nations.
World leaders will have a unique chance to adopt a transformative framework that can affect the lives of millions of people and lift them out of poverty, hunger and war.
The new framework must reflect a paradigm shift as the world today faces many new challenges, such as illegal immigration and terrorism, many of which can and should be tackled at their roots, with properly designed development policies and international support on the ground.
One of the major themes of this year's EDD is migration. Today, some 232 million people are considered 'international migrants'. While reasons for migration vary, the majority of migrants are fleeing from poverty, conflict, violence and discrimination, human rights violations and political oppression.
The recurring tragedies in the Mediterranean sparked a comprehensive and wide debate in the EU on the issue of migration. The 10 point plan developed by the commission is a good start.
It considers options for an emergency relocation mechanism, establishing programmes for the rapid return of irregular migrants, reinforcing joint operations in the Mediterranean and combating human trafficking.
But our efforts must be focused on long-term development solutions. Indeed, the development dimension of migration is often mentioned in current discussions. However, we must avoid falling into the trap of thinking about development policy in the context of migration simply as a tool to secure EU borders.
The issue of migration does not start when migrant boats arrive at EU borders. It starts when migrants become so desperate they decide to give their entire life savings to traffickers, leave their home and family, and embark on a dangerous journey.
This is the critical moment we must observe. We need to address the real causes of their desperation, many of which stem from poverty, conflicts and oppressive governments.
Our external action, including EU development policy, needs to seek a world in which migration is driven by choice instead of necessity. It needs to promote people's right to safely remain in their country, in conditions that are worthy of human dignity.
The EDD are a key component of the truly participatory process of designing Europe's development policy, which can provide an important part of the solution to migration issues as well as many other global challenges.
In a today's interlinked world, development aid must not be mistaken for charity. It is a partnership and is just as important to developing countries as it is for the security and prosperity of EU citizens.