Everyone has a say at the European Development Days: administrations, parliaments, local authorities, civil society, international organisations, academics, development agencies, the private sector and the media.

It is an open forum that brings together the whole development family. By breaking down walls between different issues, the European Development Days serve as a natural platform for debating the major issues of development cooperation and launching new initiatives.

The European Development Days symbolize the determination to enhance public awareness about development cooperation and to strengthen the effectiveness of EU development assistance. It is essential that European citizens feel committed to engage in a stronger partnership with developing countries. Following the success of the 2006 and 2007 editions, the European Commission welcomes participants to Strasbourg for the 2008 edition.

Bringing together all actors from Europe and its Partners involved in development helps to improve ideas, working methods and delivery. The informal and open nature of the 2008 edition is intended to demonstrate our ability to promote inclusive multi-stakeholder dialogues. As such, the European Development Days serve as a natural platform for launching new initiatives to enhance the synergies we experience in our everyday work.

The policy forum provides the opportunity to discuss, at the highest level, essential aspects of development policy, in particular implementation of the Paris Declaration and of the Millennium Development Goals. It is intended for all development professionals, whatever the role they play. The first two events attracted more than three thousand representatives of the governments and civil society of EU Member States and their African, Asian or Latin American partners. International organisations, local authorities, the private sector, the academic world, foundations and media were also represented.

This year, the aim is to mobilise even more, in particular by adding a series of socio-cultural events designed to increase public awareness, including exhibitions, festivals, concerts, workshops and fairs.

At the centre of the discussions this year there is time for reflection with participants on the local dimension of development cooperation and implementation of the Millennium Development Goals in particular. The focus will be on access to basic services such as education, health and drinking water.

Click here to have a look at the programme. There is also a list of participants as well as an overview of the pannelists.

To register, click here.

Palais des Congrès, Strasbourg, France.