Informal meeting of EU ministers responsible for development
12 February 2013 News
Under the chairmanship of Joe Costello, Minister of State for Trade and Development of Ireland, an informal meeting of cabinet ministers from EU member states was held in Dublin on February 11 and 12 2013.
For the first time for a meeting in this format, three European Commissioner were involved: Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs and European Commissioner for International Co-operation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response,. Kristalina Georgieva. The Bulgarian delegation was led by Emil Yalnazov, Director-General of the Global Affairs and Human Rights directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The ministers discussed the development of a common approach and position of the EU in the upcoming debate at the United Nations on the review of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and the formulation of new sustainable development objectives, in accordance with decisions of the "Rio +20" Conference. All participants emphasised the need for a unified approach, combining both an international framework for development and sustainable development with a focus on respect for human rights, natural resource management, good governance and rule of law.
The meeting also discussed the humanitarian situation in Mali and the Horn of Africa, the relationship between EU humanitarian aid and crisis situations, as well as development aid, seen as an investment in peace and security.