Ekvilib

Workshop for NGOs on European development finance

In the beginning of November 2009 a workshop on European development finance and upcoming EU presidencies took place in the organization of the Hungarian branch of CEE Bankwatch Network and Eurodad Network. The workshop presented the current urgent problems of development finance, which would have to be addressed by the future EU presidencies, and provided advices for a better presentation and coordination of NGO initiatives in this area. Participants and lecturers came from several European countries (Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Germany, Norway and Belgium), and included a representative of Ekvilib Institute.

Introductory lectures were dedicated to European architecture of development assistance, illegal capital flows, external debt problems, international financial organizations with a particular emphasis on tax havens, and the proposed tax on financial transactions. A representative of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented the government's strategy of development assistance. The presentation on the European Investment Bank also included the problems associated with the operation of this institution. The workshop was concluded with the presentation of the Czech organization Green circle with experience attempts to influence the development policy during the Czech EU presidency and with plans of the Hungarian platform Hand for the coming Hungarian EU Presidency.