The progressive development Ministers exchanged views on linking debt relief and investments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting gender equality in all external action, and the post-Cotonou agreement.
On behalf of the Party of European Socialists, PES Deputy Secretary General Giacomo Filibeck welcomed the progressive development ministers. He said:
“The world continues to face many challenges. Climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, poverty, inequality – and in particular gender equality – must all be addressed. These are collective tests which humanity much overcome together, and we socialists and democrats are determined to ensure that the EU is a constructive partner in this fight.
“The PES believes Europe can, and must, live up to its potential as a force for sustainability, human rights and stability across the world. We strongly welcome the efforts of Commissioner Urpilainen, who is leading the process at the EU level to make this a reality.”
The meeting backed supporting the world’s poorest countries with investment and debt relief, so every nation can achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and effectively tackle – and recovery from – the COVID-19 crisis. Ministers also supported efforts by the Commission to ensure development policy is a vehicle to empower women worldwide and to address systemic gender inequalities. And the meeting also reaffirmed the need to continue building a strong partnership between Europe and Africa.
The meeting was attended by:
- Meryame Kitir, Minister for Development Cooperation, Belgium
- Tomáš Petříček, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Czech Republic
- Ville Skinnari, Minister of Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Finland
- Franz Fayot, Minister of Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs and Minister of the Economy, Luxembourg
- Evarist Bartolo, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Malta
- Angeles Moreno Bau, Secretary of State for International Cooperation, to the EU Ministers of Development, Spain
- Jutta Urpilain, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, European Commission
- Giacomo Filibeck, Deputy Secretary General, PES
