The world stretches beyond Europe: Swedish challenges during the EU presidency 2009

Sweden took over the EU presidency from the Czech Republic on 1 July 2009.

The Swedish platform of CONCORD, CONCORD Sweden, will focus on four priority areas during the presidency period. Policy coherence for development (PCD) is the overarching issue and aid effectiveness, climate & development and democracy & human rights will be spotlighted during the presidency. The CONCORD process of the Spotlight on Coherence Report will be a vital contribution to our input on the PCD agenda and the seminar linked to the European Development days in October. There will also be a parliamentary hearing in Sweden on the report and other activities to follow.

Aid effectiveness will be highlighted during the political week in Sweden in June/July when the presidency project is also launched and the board of CONCORD Europe is represented in the panel on a seminar on European aid in a time of crises. The Aid Watch report and the content of it will be in focus for several seminars during the presidency period, one example is during the International Book Fair in September when CONCORD Sweden will organize several events.

Climate and development will be on top of the agenda during the presidency and the UNFCCC meeting (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) in Copenhagen will be one of the most important high level meetings during the period. CONCORD Sweden will organize events on climate change during the European Development Days, and the Human Rights Days in November for example.

The Democracy and Human rights aspect of development aid and democracy building in development is on the official agenda and will be highlighted during the European Development Days in October and at the Human Rights Days in November.

Read about the launch of the Swedish presidency project at: http://www.concord.se/page.asp?id=100&lang=EN
Download the Presidency Manifesto from: http://www.concord.se/page.asp?id=297&lang=EN
View the event calendar at: http://www.concord.se/page.asp?id=27&lang=EN
For further information, please visit: http://www.concord.se/
Find the governmental presidency website at: http://www.se2009.eu/

Information provided by Malin Parmander, CONCORD Sverige/Sweden