In March, we organised an event on EU engagement in central Sahel states, together with the Just Future alliance, and co-hosted by the Belgian EU presidency. We just launched the outcome document, and while there was a wide variety of views in the room, there were some red threads that everyone agreed upon: that Team Europe should remain deeply engaged in the Sahel. And that this requires fresh thinking on engagement modalities at national and subnational level to ensure support continues to reach the population, and to accompany positive, locally-led transitions. And yes, while EU member states are debating heavily on whether to be values-driven or more pragmatic (which both can be interpreted in many ways!), participants felt both were important, and the compass leading our thinking and actions should be protection of civilians and wellbeing of the Sahelian population. Isolation will not lead to better respect for human rights, nor to better outcomes for the civilian population and there is nothing to be gained from a forceful or militarised approach leading to further destabilisation of the Sahel. 👉 check out our outcome report in English or French!
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One quote from a participant from the #Sahel stuck with me: "Populations in the Sahel have had to be resilient for so long, we now ask that Western governments show resilience in their engagement with the Sahel". ⤵ Read the outcome document (ENG/FR) 📄 of our Sahel event organised in March with Cordaid and under the auspices of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2024. 💡Personally, I was encouraged by: (i) the very high turn-out for this event (we had a waiting list of attendees!) which shows continued strong interest in the Sahel region, (ii) the franc-parler and innovative ideas from our CSO partners on how to support civil society, communities and local authorities in the region (iii) the willingness to listen and engage in open dialogue by all the EU/EU MS interlocutors present, incl. several Special Envoys for the Sahel. Such multi-stakeholder conversation and collaboration now need to continue in Brussels and in the region, for the sake of the populations in the Sahel. Isolation has never led any country to more democracy, peace ☮, and respect for human rights.
In March, we organised an event on EU engagement in central Sahel states, together with the Just Future alliance, and co-hosted by the Belgian EU presidency. We just launched the outcome document, and while there was a wide variety of views in the room, there were some red threads that everyone agreed upon: that Team Europe should remain deeply engaged in the Sahel. And that this requires fresh thinking on engagement modalities at national and subnational level to ensure support continues to reach the population, and to accompany positive, locally-led transitions. And yes, while EU member states are debating heavily on whether to be values-driven or more pragmatic (which both can be interpreted in many ways!), participants felt both were important, and the compass leading our thinking and actions should be protection of civilians and wellbeing of the Sahelian population. Isolation will not lead to better respect for human rights, nor to better outcomes for the civilian population and there is nothing to be gained from a forceful or militarised approach leading to further destabilisation of the Sahel. 👉 check out our outcome report in English or French!
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What could a new way forward for EU engagement in the Sahel region look like? Learn more about blending pragmatic and value-driven approaches to ensure aid reaches local populations while protecting citizens:
In March, we organised an event on EU engagement in central Sahel states, together with the Just Future alliance, and co-hosted by the Belgian EU presidency. We just launched the outcome document, and while there was a wide variety of views in the room, there were some red threads that everyone agreed upon: that Team Europe should remain deeply engaged in the Sahel. And that this requires fresh thinking on engagement modalities at national and subnational level to ensure support continues to reach the population, and to accompany positive, locally-led transitions. And yes, while EU member states are debating heavily on whether to be values-driven or more pragmatic (which both can be interpreted in many ways!), participants felt both were important, and the compass leading our thinking and actions should be protection of civilians and wellbeing of the Sahelian population. Isolation will not lead to better respect for human rights, nor to better outcomes for the civilian population and there is nothing to be gained from a forceful or militarised approach leading to further destabilisation of the Sahel. 👉 check out our outcome report in English or French!
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The European Union Special Representative for the Sahel, @Emanuela C. Del Re in collaboration with the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, organised the 15th Meeting of Special Envoys for the Sahel in N’Djamena on the 11 -12 November 2024. The meeting was attended by Sahel special envoys of EU member states and those of like-minded countries (US, UK, Norway, Switzerland), representatives of the Sahelian civil society and academics, as well as various technical and financial partners of the Sahel. Solutions to the multiple crises in the Sahel cannot be found without the people of the Sahel themselves. #Chad #ZifBerlin #EuropeanUnion #Sahel
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The #EuropeanUnion is a unique partnership between 27 countries, known as Member States, or EU countries. Together they cover much of the European continent. The EU is home to around 447 million people, which is around 6% of the world’s population. Citizens of every EU countries are also EU citizens. The European Union as a whole does not recognise the State of #Palestine but 9 of its member states have full diplomatic relations with Palestine. Most of them did so before becoming EU member states, with the exception of Sweden, which recognised Palestine in 2015. A recent initiative, led by Spain, Belgium, Ireland and Malta proposes a EU-wide recognition of Palestine. Europe & Middle East Peace Forum is a public #debate initiative focused on the influence of the current #MiddleEast crisis on the upcoming #Europeanelections. https://lnkd.in/dZy4Yjqr
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Listen to Acting Undersecretary Satterfield break down what the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is and why it's important. United Nations General Assembly is the world's largest diplomatic gathering, where leaders and diplomats from 193 countries come together to address some of the most pressing global challenges. 🌍 It's a crucial platform for driving international cooperation and setting the agenda for peace 🕊️, security, and sustainable development 📈. This year, the focus is on several key priorities: 1. Driving Peace Processes and Conflict Mitigation: Collaborating to address threats to international peace and security, while ensuring meaningful representation of civil society 🤝. 2. Revitalizing the Humanitarian System: Strengthening the UN-led humanitarian response to unprecedented crises by engaging a broader range of actors 🌐. 3. Advancing Institutional Reforms: Ensuring that the UN remains inclusive, credible, legitimate, and effective in tackling global issues 🏛️. UNGA is a unique opportunity to foster collaboration, reaffirm our commitment to multilateralism, and take collective action on critical issues facing our world 🌎. It's where decisions are made that impact us all, shaping the future of international relations and global governance. #UNGA79 #OurCommonAgenda
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History repeats itself. Ireland again at the wrong side of history. The funny thing? These empty declarations only cause the chances for a Palestinian state to be decreased. It will only drive Israel to make sure the consequences of October 7th should exactly be the opposite. No reward for terror. Never a Palestinian Stste - Gaza should be given to Egypt to be an Egyptian province and West Bank to Jordan as a Jordanian province. Just like the situation between 1948-1967. Make sure Egypt & Jordan are rewarded financially for this of course. The folks in Gaza & West Bank will get the treatment they deserve from Egypt & Jordan. With full demilitarisation. No weapons in Gaza & West Bank, at all. So now all efforts will go this way. October 7th must mean the end for any dream of a new separate Palestinian state. Actions have consequences and we must make sure everyone knows Hamas extinguished the Palestinian dream. Now also these foolish declarations just make sure this is the case. https://lnkd.in/dpp2p52d
Armed Conflicts Researcher | Geopolitical Analyst | Political Commentator - “Opinions Are My Own“
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris announced today that Ireland will officially recognize Palestine as a state, expecting other nations to follow suit soon after discussions with global leaders. PM Harris mentioned that recognizing a Palestinian state is the only way to achieve stability and peace between Israel and Palestine. Foreign Minister Micheal Martin also announced that Ireland's formal recognition of Palestine will take effect on May 28. Norway and Spain are likely to follow suit soon. A recognition of the State of Palestine is highly significant as it can act as one of the pillar stones for sustained peace in the Middle East. The recognition is also likely to help Palestine become a member of the United Nations.
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Premiers discussed federal-provincial collaboration for Canadians' benefit Canada's Premiers discussed enhancing federal-provincial-territorial relations to better support Canadians. They emphasized the need for cooperation to provide high-quality, timely, and publicly funded health care, stressing the importance of collaboration to improve health outcomes. Additionally, Premiers highlighted concerns about federal overreach in provincial jurisdictions and called for respect for constitutional authority. Discussions also covered Arctic sovereignty, international partnerships, and NATO commitments. Premiers expressed the need for consistent federal engagement and adequate long-term funding to address regional needs effectively, urging the federal government to consult and collaborate more closely with provinces and territories.
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🌍 We are pleased to share the release of the outcome document from the event in Brussels on March 14th, centred on EU engagement in Central Sahel states. Hosted by Search for Common Ground and the Just Future Alliance, and co-hosted by the Belgian EU Presidency, this event brought together key stakeholders to address pressing issues facing the Sahel region. 🔹 The document emphasises the significance of sustaining Team Europe’s strong engagement in the Sahel. 🔹 It advocates for a shift in engagement modalities at both national and subnational levels to ensure continuous support reaches the population, particularly the most vulnerable groups. 🔹 The protection of civilians and the well-being of the Sahel population must be at the centre of the EU’s approach. 🔹 The importance of supporting positive, locally-led transitions is highlighted to ensure sustainable development and stability in the region. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/dkB3-b48 #Sahel #TeamEurope #SustainableDevelopment #EUEngagement #CommunitySupport #PositiveChange #JustFuture
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What happened to PNGs foreign policy of "Friends to All & Enemy to None?" Reaffirming PNGs commitment to support Ukraine clearly shows that PNG is taking sides in an international conflict .One which is clearly none of our businees & does not affect us in any way. Furthermore, the geopolitical issues in that region are far more complex & embedded in strong historical roots, issues our young nation can not relate to or understand. Thus, it is best we remain neutral & support missions that foster peace & unity in that region. If we are keen on flexing our muscles internationally, then we should start simple by addressing some issues in the indopacific region for eg the conflict right in front of us between West Papua & Indonesia etc.
Papua New Guinea has reaffirmed its commitment to support Ukraine in its ongoing conflict during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York. Read More: https://lnkd.in/gNH7HCUP
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Here's the inspiring story of how water became the lifeline that united two communities in #Batticaloa, helping them overcome recurrent resource conflicts. 💧🤝 This transformation was made possible through UNDP's #FundingWindows, supported by the Governments of Denmark, Luxembourg, and the Republic of Korea. Implemented by Chrysalis GTE with co-financing from BMZ, working hand-in-hand with local communities and partners to support the agri-access road and canal that brought life to the locality. 📽️ Watch now! Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark | Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea