Ljubljana, Slovenia, 15 April. EADI - The European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes, SLOGA, platform for development cooperation and humanitarian aid, EMUNI Foundation and EMUNI University organised a conference "Coherence of Multi- and Bilateral Development Co-operation in the Case of the Euro-Mediterranean Region," which took place on 15 April at 9.30 in the Central Hotel, Ljubljana.

At the event approximately 70 EADI members, researchers and NGO experts from EU and other Mediterranean countries discussed development perspectives of the Euro-Mediterranean, especially in the field of the Union for the Mediterranean priorities.

The event was opened by Ms Dragoljuba Benčina, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia. Among the invited speakers were Paul Hoebink (Nijmegen), Mark Furness (German Development Institute - DIE),  Ana Bojinovič Fenko (Faculty of Social Sciences), Gordana Berjan (North South Centre of CoE), Tobias Schumacher (CIES Lisbon) and Joseph Mifsud (EMUNI President).

The State Secretary stressed that development cooperation is not merely the expression of solidarity and understanding, but also in the common interest of everybody. She also spoke about the newly established Union for the Mediterranean and expressed hope that it would bring more mutual respect in the field of cultural diversity, increase mobility and well-being in the region.  The speakers at the panel agreed that the Euro-Mediterranean Area still faces numerous dilemmas despite a certain progress. The unsufficient progress in the economic and political fields has not lived up to expectations so new solutions for a bigger coherence and balance of partnerships will need to be found in the future. The event also served with numerous examples of good praxis, as for example the operations of the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe in the field of enhancing intercultural dialogue and the organisations of civil society. In the last years also Slovenia strenghtened its role in teh Euro-Mediterranean Region, especially by establishing EMUNI, which is setting up important relations in the cultural and educational fields. At the closure of the conference the importance of inclusion non-governmental organisations in the field of development cooperation and political processes was stressed.