Despite stringent austerity measures in numerous member countries, the European Union can help lead development cooperation and achieve its aid targets, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a message to this year’s European Development Days in Brussels, Belgium.
“We know where we want to go. We know what needs to be done. Your gathering can harness new ideas and spur novel approaches on how to do it,” Ban’s message said as read in Brussels by U.N. Development Program Associate Administrator Rebeca Grynspan.
Ban noted the strides the bloc has made in improving the quality of aid but emphasized that development goes beyond providing assistance to developing countries.
“Development cooperation is also broader than governments alone. It engages a vibrant, diverse and ever growing community. It needs to build on the successes and innovations of non-government actors. All need to work in unison,” Ban said according to a U.N. News Center press release.
