Brussels – The use of blending instruments, although considered controversial by some, is increasing in European Development Cooperation. Director Investments of the Dutch NGO Cordaid, Laure Wessemius-Chibrac, sheds some light on the use of blending from a Civil Society perspective. “We see the blending of instruments as one of the future innovative financing modalities for sustainable development”, Wessemius-Chibrac says in this interview released to Afronline.org.
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New York – The simultaneity presented by the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus on one hand and militant barbarism ostensibly in the name of Islam on the other present the international development community – particularly the United Nations and international NGOs – with challenges, as well as opportunities.
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‘We cannot expect other countries to respect EU values when people trying to reach Europe are denied the basic right to life’, says Francesco Petrelli, spokesperson for CONCORD Italia. ‘Migration concerns all Member States, not only those situated along the Mediterranean Coast, and it should be a top priority in the EU’s political agenda’. In an interview with Afronline.org, Mr. Petrelli discusses the high points expressed by Federica Mogherini – the EU High Representative-designate for Foreign affairs and Security Policy – during her hearing last week, enounces CONCORD’s priorities and shares his expectations from European institutions, including the European External Action Service (EEAS).
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Federica Mogherini faced the European Parliament yesterday for her hearing to replace Catherine Ashton and become the EU’s Foreign Policy chief – the official title is High Representative for EU Foreign and Security Policy and Commission Vice President*. While the format of the auditions could be better – a prepared 15 minute statement, short questions from MEPs, short answers (all under the pressure of a big stop watch above the rostrum) – at least CONCORD Europe got a first impression of how the future High Representative feels about important topics.
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African Arguments correspondent Christoph Vogel reviews Séverine Autesserre’s latest book: ‘Peaceland: Conflict Resolution and the Everyday Politics of International Intervention‘.
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