Speech Margot Wallström tijdens Europese ontwikkelingsdagen (en) - Hoofdinhoud
Vice-President of the European Commission
"European Citizens as Catalysts for Change"
Figures and graphics available in PDF and WORD PROCESSED
European Development Days
Stockholm , Friday 23 October 2009
Your Ex cellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
There are three reasons why I am grateful for the chance to address this group today.
First as the Commissioner responsible for communication. We have turned around communication inside the Commission over the past five years. It used to be Brussels-centric, a one-way, passive process, from an administration to those who cared to hear.
I've tried to make our communication something which happens close to where people are, a two-way, active process which also involves listening. And it also involves us trying to interest people in what Brussels does.
In that process, the role of civil society is crucial and nowhere more so than in development. Our work together with NGOs includes shaping policy, implementing projects together and raising awareness -and we have a strong and genuine dialogue in all of these areas.
The second reason I wanted to address this forum is as a parent. I strongly believe development is an issue for the Europeans of tomorrow as well as the civil society groups of today. Making sure that development education is part of the curriculum in schools across Europe is vital if our children are to grow up as global citizens, able to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. Awareness is the first step to becoming an actor of global change.
The final reason is as a European. Because after two terms as Commissioner I am more convinced than ever of the added value of the European project. Bringing about change on your own is not easy. In groups like national NGOs, it can be done. But it is at European level that we have the real potential for bringing about change on the world stage. This is partly because we have ideas together - our values, culture and heritage. Partly also because we have the experience together - the single market, the lead we have taken on environment (not just climate change) and other internal policies.
But mostly because we choose to act together in our relations with other countries, regi ons and continents.
So as a communicator, a parent and a European, I look forward to the debate in this round table today.
Thank you.