Policy Forum on Development held in Brussels between 27 and 29 November 2013 3.12.2013

European Union Commission organised a Policy Forum on Development between 27 and 29 November in Brussels in order to consult the development policy of the EU. Around 100 participants from all around the world participated in the Forum. Several topics were discussed in the forum including Global Public Goods, Partnership Instruments, Budget of the Development Program, the role of Local Authorities, Civil Society Organisations and Private Sector in development policies. The program started with a training session which was held on 27 November and  continued with discussions on 28 and 29 November.

Mr. Angelo Baglio, Head of Unit of Cooperation with Civil Society and Local Authorities in the Directorate General Development and Cooperation, chaired most of the discussions of Policy Forum on Development. One of the general outcomes was that  there was a need to cooperate with local authorities, especially the umbrella organisations. Dr. Ihsan Ikizer, Coordinator General of the UCLG MEWA represented the local authorities in countries that are both in UCLG MEWA region and European Neighbourhood Instrument East, namely Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Jordan. Dr. Ikizer was also appointed as one of the six representatives of local authorities in the world within the so called "Task Team" under the capacity of Coordinator General of UCLG-MEWA. More information concerning the Forum can be obtained from the following websites:

https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/fpfis/mwikis/aidco/index.php/Policy_forum_on_development#Background_documents_2

http://capacity4dev.ec.europa.eu/