Brussels, 16 April 2024, 17:00 - 19:30. 

Context and objectives

This year, the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) celebrates its 60th birthday and six decades of development research, policy advice and training. IDOS has played a key role in German development cooperation, providing evidence-based policy advice on development and sustainability. When it comes to informing European development policy processes and research, IDOS works closely with the European Association of Development Institutes (EADI), which celebrates its own 50th anniversary in 2024, and with the European Think Tanks Group (ETTG) that it co-founded in 2009.

European development policy faces a turbulent global environment. As a key advocate and driver of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the EU has a special responsibility for advancing the agenda’s ambitions. Nevertheless, while progress towards many key SDGs is off-track, much attention is drawn towards addressing the simultaneous polycrises of the Russo-Ukraine War, conflict and upheaval in the Middle East, an unequal recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, and the deepening crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. The EU has reacted quickly and consequently to some of these challenges, but struggles with the changing nature of its relationships with ‘the Global South’, where many countries have very different interpretations of these crises.

Ahead of the European Parliament elections and a subsequent appointment of the next EU Commission, many questions regarding the strategic orientation, instruments and approaches for EU development policy remain open. How can the EU ensure that its democratic values are promoted and not compromised while cooperating with authoritarian governments, including through the Global Gateway initiative? How can trade-offs between protecting rights and managing migration be addressed? What contribution can EU development policy make to lasting peace in the Middle East? What priorities should Europe set with a view to accelerating the pursuit of the 2030 Agenda?

IDOS, the State of North Rhine Westphalia, EADI and the ETTG are bringing together decision makers and experts to discuss the challenges the EU faces in addressing today’s polycrises, and to scope the possibilities for action. We invite you to join this debate in person at the Representation of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia to the European Union on 16 April 2024.

Register here

Programme

5.00 pm   Registration 

5.30 pm   Opening remarks 
                Dr. Mark Speich
                Secretary of State for Federal, European and International Affairs and for Media
                North Rhine-Westphalia

5.40 pm   Introductory remarks and setting the scene
                Prof. Dr. Anna-Katharina Hornidge
                Director of IDOS and Professor for Global Sustainable Development at the University of Bonn

5.50 pm   Panel debate:              
                Dr. Udo Bullmann
                Member of the European Parliament
 
                Ms. Belén Martinez Carbonnel
                Managing Director for Global Agenda and Multilateral Relations, European External Action Service
 
                Dr. Iliana Olivié
                Senior Analyst at the Elcano Royal Institute and Director of the ETTG
 
                Prof. Andy Sumner
                Professor of International Development at King’s College London and President of EADI

                Moderation:
                PD Dr. Stephan Klingebiel
                Head of Programme, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)

7.30 pm   Reception  

Please note
 

During the  eventsphotos and/or videos may be taken which may be published in various media for the purposes of documentation and PR activities. You have the right at any time to point out to the photographer or videographer that you do not want to be photographed or filmed.