President of the General Assembly addresses the European Parliament in Brussels

New York, 3 June 2015

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly

President of the General Assembly addresses the European Parliament in Brussels Holds high-level meetings and participates in panel discussion with the Vice President of the European Commission, as European Development Days get underway

His Excellency Mr. Sam Kahamba Kutesa, President of the General Assembly (PGA), has undertaken a series of high-level meetings and participated in Brussels in a number of events organized around the opening of the European Development Days (EDD).

At a crucial moment coinciding with the ongoing negotiations aimed at formulating an ambitious and transformative post-2015 development agenda, President Kutesa highlighted during his engagements in Brussels the importance for ensuring a successful outcome from the Third Conference on Financing for Development (FfD), to be held from 13 to 16 July in Addis Ababa, with concrete deliverables to support the implementation of the new agenda.

European Parliament

In a meeting with members of the Foreign Affairs and Development Committees of the European Parliament, co-chaired by Hon. Elmar Brok and Hon. Linda McAvan respectively, the President of the General Assembly stressed that the post-2015 development agenda represents an unprecedented opportunity to change the world for the better. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of putting the world on a path toward sustainable development that will improve the lives of people around the world, while also taking into account the need to protect the environment and address the challenges of climate change.

President Kutesa underlined the importance of a renewed global partnership and innovative measures that will ensure adequate means of implementation are put into place to turn the aspirations of the new development framework into reality. President Kutesa stressed the need to fulfil commitments on Official Development Aid, and taking a comprehensive approach that includes boosting domestic resource mobilization, unlocking resources held in pension funds, capital markets, sovereign wealth funds, among others, as well as involvement of the private sector, technology development and transfer and capacity building. He commended the EU for the recent reaffirmation of its commitment to the 0.7 percent of GNI as ODA and 0.20 percent of GNI to LDCs.

Meeting with EU High Representative Federica Mogherini

The PGA held a number of bilateral meetings on his first day in Brussels, including a meeting with H.E. Ms. Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission. In that meeting, the President thanked the High Representative for her leadership on a number of issues, including those related to development assistance and regional peace and security. President Kutesa and High Representative Mogherini also discussed the importance of the European Union’s continued engagement in the post-2015 development agenda negotiations, as well as the discussions on Financing for Development and the forthcoming climate change agreement.

Meeting with Neven Mimica, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development

President Kutesa held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Mr. Neven Mimica, Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development. They discussed important issues on the agenda of the 69th session of the General Assembly. The President and the Commissioner concurred on the need for high-level participation, including at Heads of State and government as well as at ministerial level during the upcoming FfD conference in Addis Ababa, where an outcome on financing for development will be adopted.

PGA meets with Ms. Melinda Gates of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

The President met with Ms. Melinda Gates, co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. They discussed the role private sector including philanthropists can play in supporting the implementation of the new agenda, and Financing for Development. President Kutesa emphasized that all stakeholders public and private, national and international would have a key role to play in financing the future development agenda. The President highlighted the upcoming interactive hearings during the Summit on the post-2015 development agenda, which would serve as vital opportunities for civil society, the private sector and philanthropic organizations to show their commitment to the new agenda. Ms Gates briefed the PGA on the activities of the Foundation in the areas of health, education, and entrepreneurship development.

Panel Discussion with Youth Leaders

President Kutesa participated in a panel discussion convened by High Representative Mogherini with a group of Youth Leaders. The panel discussion covered a wide range of topics, including how young people can participate more in the shaping of the new agenda, the challenge of climate change, conflict resolution, reform of the Security Council, migration, multilateralism and regional cooperation.

Prior to the panel discussion, President Kutesa met with two select Youth Leaders Mr. Nicholas Niwagaba and Mr. Muhammed Kasirisa from his home country of Uganda. The President and the two young leaders discussed some of the issues that constrain the youth from reaching their full potential, including the need for more hands-on, practical training in schools and the need for greater access to credit for small enterprises.

On 4 June, the PGA will meet HE Mr. Alexander De Croo, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Development Cooperation, Digital Agenda, Telecom and Postal services. He will speak at the closing panel of the European Development Days and conduct a number of bilateral meetings with high-level officials. On 5 June, he will deliver a Keynote address at the commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group and its partnership with the EU.