News

The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung together with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) and the German Development Institute/Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspoltik (DIE) will hold an experts’ round table on “Re-Building the Ship at Sea? (Re-)Orientations for Democracy Building” on November 12th, 9h30-12h30.

“Democracy Building in the EU’s External Relations” is currently debated in the European Commission, the Parliament and the Council. On the basis of practical experience and academic analysis the DIE has identified some general rules for democracy promotion, which are summarized in ten recommendations for planning and implementation (Please find the analysis attached). Together with experts from EU institutions, academics and practitioners we would like to discuss these recommendations and new challenges to democracy promotion. This experts’ round table will help bridging the gap between research findings on democratisation and policy making.

Invited panelists include: Jörn Grävingholt, DIE; Oliver Schlumberger, Tübingen University, Institute of Political Science; Yaya Sow, ECOWAS representation Brussels (tbc); Dick Toornstra, European Parliament; Ingrid Wetterqvist, IDEA; Arjen Berkvens, European Network of Political Foundations

The Robert Schuman Foundation is organizing a conference ''Women in Europe: reaching parity'' on 19th November at the European Parliament in Brussels together with the FAES, the Constantinos Karamanlis Institute for Democracy, the Ano Pro Evropu and the Ithaka Foundation. The event is taking place with the support of the EC's programme "Europe for Citizens"

With:
Samir Amin ( Senegal )
Michael Brie ( Germany )
Dot Keet ( South Africa )
Birgit Daiber, Chair

Wednesday, 28 Oct, 18.00-20:30
Venue: European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 5, B-1210 Bruxelles (near Rogier and Gare du Nord)
Lanugages: English and French

Participation of the ENoP speaker, H.E. Thérèse Olenga, Minister of Education, Information, Environment and Women Affairs of the Province of Kinshasa/ R.D. Congo, as a panel speaker at the EDD event "European citizens as catalysts for change" held between 11.15 and 13.15 on Friday, 23 October, 2009

THe European Network of Political Foundations was present at the Development village with its stand amongst other organization. The stand provided information about ENoP and its members to all the interested visitors. The affluence around the ENoP stand was quite considerable. The experience was rated to have been very successful by ENoP members who were pleased to see that there was a significant level of interest towards the role of political foundations and their activities.

ENoP held its Annual Workshop(GA) in Stockholm, Sweden on 21 October 2009, with the theme "Strengthening the role of Political Foundations in Development Cooperation."

Amongst the participants, ENoP member organizations had the pleasure too meet Madam Thérèse Olenga, Minister of Education, Information, Environment and Women Affairs of the Province of Kinshasa/ R.D. Congo was the official guest of the event. She gave a thorough description of the state of play in the R.D. Congo, highlighting the importance that political foundations play in her country.

The ENoP members elected Mr Arjen Berkvens, Alfred Mozer Stichting/NL as Network Coordinator, Ms Andrea Ostheimer, Konrad Adenauer Foundation/DE as Network Deputy Coordinator on 21 October 2009. They will be in charge for two years.

The meeting took place after the multi stakeholder side event on development education, which has, through the participation of a number of high-level guest such as the EuropeAid Director-General, the director of the Austrian Development Agency and the CONCORD president, strengthened the momentum for more and better development education in Europe (please see the draft programme of the event attached).

It occurred on 23 October 2009, 14.30 to 18.30 at the Rica Talk Hotel(next to the European Development Days venue) Mässvägen 2, SE-125 80 Stockholm

The Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung organized a training course on involvement in selected EC development programmes with the theme “Instruments and Thematic Programmes of the EU in Democracy Promotion and Development Cooperation” on 11-14 October, 2009.

European Development Days (EDD) are Europe’s foremost platform for discussion and exchange on global challenges in all key areas – governance, climate change, international finance, trade, food security, water, energy, the role of the media and human and social rights. Previous editions have seen the participation of Heads of State and Government, Ministers and world-renowned leaders such as Desmond Tutu, Kofi Annan, Richard Branson, Wangari Maathai and Aminata Traore.