European cooperation agencies debate the future of cooperation

The International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP) is participating, in Brussels, in the General Assembly of the Practitioners’ Network for European Development and Cooperation, a platform for exchanging ideas and cooperation made up of multiple development cooperation agencies in European Union Member States, including GIZ of Germany, AFD of France, the British Council, and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).

At the assembly, which lasted two days, the agencies participated in different working sessions to debate the future of development cooperation in Europe. The discussions revolved around three major themes: development cooperation in situations of fragility, cooperation between the European Commission and the agencies of the Member States in terms of contracting modes, and the approach to implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, there was debate regarding migration and the presence of the private sector in development cooperation. Themes that will serve the establish the platform’s priorities for 2016-2017.

The assembly also served to say goodbye to the Belgium Cooperation Agency (BTC), which has held the presidency of the Practitioners’ Network in this last term, and to welcome the British Council to the presidency of the network.