Multiple formal and informal meetings on the Addis Ababa action plan took place in the Ethiopian city yesterday as the second day of the 3rd Conference on Financing for Development was underway.
Luxembourg's Minister for Cooperation and Humanitarian Action, Romain Schneider, participated in a Francophone consultation attended by Secretary General of la Francophonie, Michaelle Jean and chaired by Senegalese Minister of Economy, Finances and Planning, Amadou Ba.
The Minister then participated in EU coordination at ministerial level in which the European Union confirmed its position, stating that the document presented involved difficult things to accept, but would nevertheless be secured in its current state. This was also the message that the Commissioner Mimica gave in his speech to the plenary on behalf of the EU. The Commissioner and the Minister then had an exchange of views with a European Parliament delegation led by Linda McAvan, President of the Committee on Development of the EP.
In his address to the plenary on behalf of Luxembourg, Romain Schneider reaffirmed the commitment of the country in terms of official development assistance and emphasised that for Luxembourg, official development assistance (ODA) will remain a firm priority. He also presented the Luxembourg initiatives in tax matters in relation to development, including the OECD as BEPS for Development, as well as the new initiative of Addis Ababa on Taxation, which will be launched today.
Later in the afternoon, the Minister attended a conference concerning the initiative of the Swedish Prime Minister on the crucial role that ODA continues to play in the financing of development.
The day was concluded with a meeting between the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Belgian Cooperation, Alexander de Croo, on the priorities of the Luxembourg Presidency and Belgium's expectations thereof.
Photo by Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (Luxembourg's Minister for Cooperation and Humanitarian Action, Romain Schneider in Addis Ababa)
