CO-OPERA, the 2nd National Development Cooperation Conference held on 23 and 24 June at Rome’s Auditorium della Conciliazione closed today.
The Conference, which is convened every three years by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to foster the participation of citizens in defining development cooperation policies, was co-organized by the Directorate General for Development Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.
The event opened on the morning of the 23rd of June with remarks by the Italian President of the Republic, followed by the greetings of the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and an address by Minister Di Maio. The opening remarks were followed by contributions from the European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen (in video conference), the Executive Director of UNICEF, Catherine Russell, the President of the NGO in Burkina Faso and President of Forus International, Christelle Kalhoule, and the National Spokesperson for Campagna 070, Ivana Borsotto.
“Development cooperation policies are an integral and qualifying part of Italy’s foreign policy and an essential peace-building and peace-keeping tool “, said Minister Di Maio. “CO-OPERA is an important forum of reflection and debate on development policies that highlights the contribution made by all the actors in the Italian Cooperation System: central administrations, regions, local agencies, universities, research institutes, civil society organizations and the private sector.”
The Conference’s working sessions continued with 5 Panels on the 5 Ps of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and, in the light of the present international scenario, with a special focus on Peace, which was the subject of the first Panel. The Panels were attended by the competent Ministers for each subject as well as speakers from the Italian Development Cooperation System, top-ranking figures from international organizations, representatives of civil society organizations in partner Countries and of think-tanks. The CO-OPERA Conference was also enriched with side events organized by civil society organizations, universities, and other members of the Italian Development Cooperation System, as well as with quick and incisive individual “CO-OPERA Talks” on specific facts, experiences, and ideas.
The Conference closed today with remarks by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Marina Sereni, who said: “Development cooperation is deeply rooted among the people of our Country. Our priorities are increasing the resources for cooperation, a strong attention for Africa and the Mediterranean, reinforcing governance, undertaking a common European action in order to be more effective, also through initiatives such as Team Europe and, lastly, better informing citizens on how much cooperation contributes to peace and to our security through powerful communication activities.”
