The European Commission gathered stakeholders together in Brussels at the end of March to present the steps that have been taken so far towards the European Development Days 2009. These will take place 21-23 October in Stockholm, Sweden, during the Swedish Presidency of the European Union.
The European Commission presented the improvements that will be seen this year, compared to last; listing a better gender balance, a better geographical balance and more media involvement as the main aspects that will change this year.
There is a new approach to climate change too. Last year there was a voluntary scheme for participants to offset their carbon footprint associated with the event. This was not very successful so this year, the EC is requesting that exhibitors and organisers produce a certificate showing they have offset carbon for different amounts according to the different ways they are involved. Those with standard stands will be expected to pay EUR 500 in carbon offset; those with other stands will need to pay EUR 1000 and organisers of parallel events will have to pay EUR 2000.
The development days will come at an interesting time for Europe – just after the European Parliament elections, around the time the new European Commission will be formed and close to the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which started the chain of events that led to the latest rounds of EU enlargement.
If you are interested in holding an event, or having a stand, applications must be sent to the European Commission by 1 June 2009, using the dev-days@ec.europa.eu email address. Full information will become available on the website during May.
Limited information until this year’s website is launched: http://www.eudevdays.eu/Public/Page.php?ID=4628
Information provided by Rebecca Steel, TRIALOG
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