13 May 2009 - Global Monitoring Report 2009 Warns of Long-Term Impact of Economic Crisis
The Global Monitoring Report: A Development Emergency, a joint annual flagship publication of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, warns that the global economic crisis is likely to further delay achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. A panel discussion was held on the report's May Release in Brussels. More... 27 April 2009 - “Roma Portraits” Exhibition Held
On April 27, the World Bank Brussels office launched a new photographic exhibition “In the Eyes of a Woman: Roma Portraits”, which offers a new, more intimate view of the lives of Roma communities in Slovakia. More.. 20 March 2009 - New European Commission-World Bank Group Trust Funds and Co-financing Framework Agreement The European Commission (EC) and the World Bank Group signed a new Framework Agreement on March 20, 2009, in Brussels. The new framework replaces the previous framework signed in 2001 and covers the next 10 years, enacting an agreed set of principles, conditions, reporting requirements and responsibilities between the two institutions. In fiscal year 2008 the EC was the fourth largest donor to World Bank Group trust funds, providing over Eur500 million. 3 March 2009 - Development Policy Forum on Saving the MDGs from Global Recession
The World Bank partnered with Brussels based think tank Friends of Europe in co-initiating high level roundtable discussion on Saving the MDGs from Global Recession as part of the Friends of Europe Development Policy Forum series. The roundtable including WB Director for Poverty Reduction and Economic Management – Ana Revenga, Eurodad Director – Alex Wilks and UN Brussels Director Antonio Vigilante provided an opportunity for the Bank to engage in an informed discussion with civil society and other stakeholders on advancing the MDGs in the face of the financial crisis. The World Bank Brussels Office regularly works with Friends of Europe in engaging with various European stakeholders. For more click here 22 January 2009 
| World Bank Special Representative to the EU, Sandor Sipos, presents his credentials to European Parliament President Hans Gert Poettering. In their meeting Mr Poettering acknowledged the Bank's close collaboration with the EU and the European Parliament in particular and expressed his willingness to support strengthened cooperation between the two institutions in the months ahead. |
9 December 2008 - Launch of the Global Economic Prospects 2009: Commodities at the Crossroads
The report was launched to a wide audience in Brussels by means of a panel discussion chaired by Vitor Gaspar, Acting Director of BEPA, Bureau of European Policy Advisors, European Commission. Uri Dadush, Director of the World Bank Development Prospects Group and Andrew Burns, Lead Economist at the World Bank presented the new report. Joining them as speakers on the panel were Nathalie Darnaut, Head of Unit, Directorate General for Economic & Financial Affairs, European Commission, and Indhira Santos, Research Fellow, Breugel. Their presentations can be downloaded at the following links:
Uri Dadush and Andrew Burns
Nathalie Darnaut
Indhira Santos 8 December 2008 - 10 January 2009 Brussels office "Access For All" Photo Exhibition
We welcome the exhibition developed by the Christian Blind Mission (CBM) marking the 2008 theme of "Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Dignity and Justice for All." The photos illustrated CBM's work in promoting political empowerment and access to health, education, livelihood support and social inclusion in some of the most disadvantaged communities in developing countries.
We welcome our partners in Brussels to visit our office and see the exhibition. November 17, 2008, Strasbourg WB and French EU Presidency Present World Development Report 09 at European Development Days
The World Bank in collaboration with the French Presidency of the EU, organized a public presentation of the World Development Report (WDR) 2009: Reshaping Economic Geography at a side event of the European Development Days on November 17 in Strasbourg.
In a panel discussion chaired by European Commission Deputy Director General for Regional PolicyKatarína Mathernova, with WDR09 lead author Indermit Gill, Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi - Secretary General of the United Cities and Local Goverments of Africa, Jerzy Kwiecinski - President of the Foundation - European Centre for Enterprise, and Jean Marie Cour – Consultant for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, participants exchanged views on the challenges of promoting developiment through the shaping of economic geography.
While the panelists and participants commended the report’s focuson economic geography, several participants called on the Bank to further integrate the concept of economic geography in its operations, and examine the implications of urbanization on climate change, food, financial and fuel crisis. To view the Power Point Presentation please click here. For more information on the GEP please click on the following link to go to the GEP Website. 24 June 2008, WB-EC Panel Discussion on the Importance of Education Quality to Inclusive Development
Schooling has not delivered fully on its promise as the driver of economic success and development. Expanding school attainment has been a necessary but not sufficient factor in guaranteeing better economic conditions. Increasingly it has become clear that what has been missing is attention to the quality of education—ensuring that students actually learn. A recent World Bank report on Education Quality and Economic Growth arrives concludes that the educational quality in developing countries is much worse than educational quantity (school enrollment and attainment), a picture already quite bleak.. Following the above points the World Bank and the EC organized a panel discussion to examine how to strengthen education quality in development cooperation.
See presentation here. June 24 - Development Marketplace for African Diaspora in Europe“D-MADE” June 23-24 - World Bank Vice President Discusses International Health Partnership with Stakeholders
World Bank Vice President for Human Development – Joy Phumaphi held a number of meetings with various stakeholders on the International Health Partnership Plus (IHP+) and Aid Effectiveness on her mission to Brussels on 23-24 June. In an informal dinner with a select group of Members of the European Parliament, Ms Phumaphi exchanged ideas, on amongst others, the potential role of parliamentarians in the International Health Partnership and support to health systems and health insurance. For more click here.
23-24 June 2008 - World Bank Vice President Discusses International Health Partnership with Civil Society
World Bank Vice President for Human Development – Joy Phumaphi held a number of meetings with various stakeholders on the International Health Partnership Plus (IHP+) and Aid Effectiveness on her mission to Brussels on 23-24 June. In an informal dinner with a select group of Members of the European Parliament, Ms Phumaphi exchanged ideas, on amongst others, the potential role of parliamentarians in the International Health Partnership and support to health systems and health insurance. For more click here. May 27-29 - Multi-stakeholder Consultations on Climate Change and Development
As part of the World Bank’s global consultations on the Bank’s Strategic Framework for Climate Change and Development (SFCCD), the Bank organized a number of consultation meetings in Brussels with international, EU and Belgian stakeholders on May 27-29 2008. These included a video conference linking youth groups in Brussels to their counterparts in Paris, Nairobi, Yaounde, Cairo and Bucharest; a meeting with NGOs, foundation and academics hosted by IUCN; and meetings with the European Commission and the European Parliament.
Full reports of these meetings should appear shortly at: http://go.worldbank.org/2GGCLZ6TX April 23 - Brussels Launch of Global Monitoring Report 2008
There is an urgent need to address the economic and social burden of environmental hazards, if the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are to be achieved. This was one of the main messages of a panel discussion co-organized by the World Bank Brussels Office and the European Economic and Social Committee on the World Bank’s flagship report - the Global Monitoring Report (GMR) 2008: An Agenda for Inclusive and Sustainable Development. For more February 6-7 - European Parliament Delegation Visits World Bank
Constructive engagement between the World Bank and the European Parliament is vital to the effectiveness and governance of the aid provided by the EU and the Bank Group. This was the core message from the first ever official mission from European Parliament to the World Bank Group headquarters. Full report September 21 - Launch of D-Made in Brussels (Development Market Place for African Diaspora in Europe
View article in various languages here (including Press Release)
View website http://www.dmade.org for more information September 17 -European Commission/World Bank Meeting with Civil Society on EC-World Bank Collaboration on Africa
The EC and World Bank organized a meeting with a wide range of civil society groups on EC-World Bank collaboration on African development on 17 September 2007 in Brussels. The focal topics for the meeting were governance and scaling up aid for Africa. Full report... June 28 - World Bank's Africa Multi Country Aids Program (MAP) 2000-2006: The Bank's Response to a Development crisis report.
Debrework Zewdie, Director for the Global HIV/Aids program at the World Bank, gave a presentation on the World Bank's Africa Multi Country Aids Program (MAP) 2000-2006: The Bank's Response to a Development crisis report,detailing the results achieved and challenges experienced, in the first five years of the MAP. More... May 11 - Halfway Towards the Millenium Goals: Confronting the Challenges of Gender Inequality and Fragile States
Confronting the challenges on gender inequality and fragile states as a means of achieving the Millennium Development Goals was the subject of discussion at the Brussels launch of the World Bank/IMF Global Monitoring Report 2007. The GMR produced jointly by the World Bank and the IMF annually assesses the contributions of developing countries, developed countries, and international financial institutions (IFIs) toward meeting the MDG’s. For more... May 2 - Keeping our Promises on Education
With the countdown to that year drawing nearer World Bank President - Paul Wolfowitz, EC Commissioner for Development - Louis Michel and UK Chancellor – Gordon Brown convened a high level Conference in Brussels in order to accelerate progress towards the education MDG. The objective of the conference was to seekconcrete proposals and commitments from donors and recipient countries for action to deliver on the promise to give all the world's children a full primary education by 2015. Click here for more. June 28 - World Bank's Africa Multi Country Aids Program (MAP) 2000-2006: The Bank's Response to a Development crisis report.
Debrework Zewdie, Director for the Global HIV/Aids program at the World Bank, gave a presentation on the World Bank's Africa Multi Country Aids Program (MAP) 2000-2006: The Bank's Response to a Development crisis report,detailing the results achieved and challenges experienced, in the first five years of the MAP. More... May 11 - Halfway Towards the Millenium Goals: Confronting the Challenges of Gender Inequality and Fragile States
Confronting the challenges on gender inequality and fragile states as a means of achieving the Millennium Development Goals was the subject of discussion at the Brussels launch of the World Bank/IMF Global Monitoring Report 2007. The GMR produced jointly by the World Bank and the IMF annually assesses the contributions of developing countries, developed countries, and international financial institutions (IFIs) toward meeting the MDG’s. For more... May 2 - Keeping our Promises on Education
With the countdown to that year drawing nearer World Bank President - Paul Wolfowitz, EC Commissioner for Development - Louis Michel and UK Chancellor – Gordon Brown convened a high level Conference in Brussels in order to accelerate progress towards the education MDG. The objective of the conference was to seekconcrete proposals and commitments from donors and recipient countries for action to deliver on the promise to give all the world's children a full primary education by 2015. Click here for more. April 26 - World Bank / European Commission Meet Civil Society on Collaboration on Africa
The World Bank (WB) and the European Commission (EC) organized a meeting with civil society on their collaboration on cooperation with Africa in Brussels on 26 April involving Mr. Nils Tcheyan, Director Operations for Africa of the World Bank, and Mr. Bernard Petit, Deputy Director General in the Directorate for Development, EC. They shared information with civil society on the WB/EC partnerships in support of African development, and discussed the objectives and strategic orientations of the WB/EC framework for reviewing operational collaboration in Africa, i.e. the Limelette process. For more... March 21 European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing on European Commission funding for Palestine
At a European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing on EC funding for Palestine, Ms Akiko Maeda World Bank - Health, Nutrition & Population Sector Manager for the Middle East and North Africa Region, and Ms Rania Kharma – Representative of the Palestinian Authority briefed European Parliamentarians on the Emergency Services Support Program Multi-Donor Trust Fund – ESSP-MDTF. For more... March 20 Launch of the Carbon Fund for Europe (CFE)
The CFE is designed to help European countries and companies meet their commitment with the Kyoto Protocol and the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). It is a Trust Fund established by the World Bank, in cooperation with the European Investment Bank (EIB). The Fund -with a first tranche of EUR 50 million- will purchase emission reductions through the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation from climate-friendly investment projects in countries of the World Bank's and EIB's operations.
For more information visit: www.carbonfinance.org
European Investment Bank- Press release: European Investment Bank and World Bank agree to develop the “Pan-European Carbon Fund March 14-15 Improving Governance and Fighting Corruption New Frontiers in Private-Public Partnerships
On 14 and 15 March, together with the World Bank Institute and the OECD, Belgium's Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs organised an international conference entitled "Improving Governance and Fighting Corruption. New Frontiers in Public-Private Partnerships," held at the Egmont Palace in Brussels. For More information visit the website: http://www.improvinggovernance.be/
15 November 2006 - Joint World Bank/Civil Society Meeting between Mr. Paul Wolfowitz and European Civil Society Organizations.
Click here for the report. 14 November 2006 - World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz Highlights Key World Bank Priorities to Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in Extraordinary Session of European Parliament’s Development Committee.
To see the report click here. 14-15 November 2006 - World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz visits Strasbourg and Brussels.
Transcripts, photos and Press Releases are available at the following link. 12 October 2006 - Meeting between Education Fast Track Initiative Partners with Civil Society.
For more... 4 October 2006 - European Members of the Parliamentary Network of the World Bank Meet for Breakfast at the European Parliament
On the occasion of the first joint meeting between the European Parliament’s Development Committee and representatives of EU national parliaments, the Parliamentary Network of the World Bank (PNoWB), in collaboration with the World Bank, organized a Breakfast meeting on PNoWB’s activities at the European Parliament. More... 28 September 2006 - Launch of the Doing Business 2007: How to Reform
The European Development Finance Institutions, The International Finance Corporation and the World Bank, gave a presentation and discussion of the report. For more information on the report click here. 27 September 2006 - World Bank Ghana Country Director Meets Ghanaians in Brussels
World Bank’s Country Director for Ghana, Mr. Mats Karlsson, met with representatives of the Ghanaian Community including officials of the Ghana Mission to the EU and representatives of the Association of Ghanaians in Belgium – Ghanaba. More on the meeting... 12 September 2006 - Pre-Launch of the World Development Report 2007: Development & the Next Generation
NGOs, youth organizations, policy makers and young professionals) and policy makers on the occasion of the Brussels Pre-Launch of its World Development Report (WDR) 2007: Development & the Next Generation. More on the meeting and the report here...
10 July 2006 - Senior Legislators from the G8, European Parliament and "Plus 5 countries" urge G8 Heads of State to advance energy and climate security agenda.
Brussels July 10th... 7 June 2006 - World Bank Brussels presentation of World Bank/IMF 2006 Global Monitoring Report - Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): Strengthening Mutual Accountability, Aid, Trade and Governance.
More... 1 June 2006 - Communications staff of the World Bank-based Multi-Country Demobilization and Reintegration (MDRP) Secretariat give briefings at EXT Brussels office
MDRP Communications staff presented an overview of MDRP activities, progress and challenges to journalists and NGO colleagues in two briefings on June 1. More... 8 May 2006 - Community Driven Development
Presentation given by the World Bank and hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee on a study from the World Bank's Independent Evalation Group (IEG) entitled ' The Effectiveness of World Bank Support for Community-Based and Driven Development: An OED Evaluation'. The whole study as well as the Executive Summary can also be read and/or downloaded at the following website: http://www.worldbank.org/ieg/cbdcdd/ 4 April 2006 - Meeting and Public Debate on Youth, Development and Peace (YDP) Network
The World Bank, youth and youth organisations presented and discussed during this meeting the development of the YDP network, looking at the opportunities and challenges it faces. More to come 4 April 2006 - Public Discussion on Youth and Development: Meeting the Challenges Facing the Next Generation.
The meeting, which was co-organized with the Association of the Former Trainees of the European Union (ADEK) was well attended with over 90 participants. Participants comprised of representatives from youth and student organisations and young people working in international organisations such as the European Union, United Nations and NATO. The speakers were Mr. Ian Golding, Vice President of External Affairs, World Bank, Dr. Lieve Fransen, Head of Unit for Human and Social development in the European Commission and Mr Diogo Pinto, Secretary General of the European Youth Forum. The discussion was moderated by Koen Geven of the National Union of Students in Europe. More to come 15-17 March 2006 - Making Migration Work for Development
On March 15-17, more than 400 decision-makers from migrant-receiving and sending countries, as well as representatives of migrant associations met to share country experiences on the factors that make migration a positive force in development, and to discuss ways of mitigating migration's negative effects. For the full report click here 16 March 2006 - Roundtable Discussion on Sexual and Reproductive Health: Making a Meaningful Contribution to the MDGs
The World Bank Brussels office organised a Roundtable discussion on Sexual and Reproductive Health: Making a meaningful contribution to the MDGs aimed at providing an exchange of information and views between key actors (NGOs, Research Organisations, Foundations, medical practitioners, the European Commission and the World Bank on addressing the problem of Sexual and Reproductive Health in developing countries and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Participants focussed on the trends and impact of Sexual and Reproductive Health, Funding modalities and programmes to address the problem, and the role and potential responsibilities of different actors: IFIs, EC, governments, NGOs, and Foundations in this endeavor. Key suggestions made included a need for civil society actors to better engage in dialogue with government on country programmes and PRSPs in developing countries on SRH, the need for capacity of civil society actors to better exploit available funds on addressing SRH, the need for donors to look at the links between SRH and disabilities and the need for donors to simply processes of accessing funds for civil society on SRH. See presentations:
EUpresentationKhama.ppt PresentationRoundtable16March2006IIBrusselsbranded.ppt 16 March 2006 - Roundtable Discussion: The Cancer of Corruption
Dr. Vinay Bhargava, Director, International Affairs, External Affairs, Communications and UN Affairs Vice Presidency of the World Bank will introduce the topic with brief remarks and will also talk about the World Bank's approach to combat corruption. More... 10 March 2006 - EU/ACP Microfinance Programme Announces Winners of Call for Proposals
We are pleased to announce the results of the Call for Proposals of the EU/ACP Microfinance Programme, a flagship progamme implemented in collaboration with the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) a multi-donor consortium housed at the World Bank (www.cgap.org). Selected from a total of 76 proposals, the 11 awardees will use the grants from the European Union and group of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific states to expand outreach through innovative delivery mechanisms and products and to improve transparency. Most grants are for support to existing MFIs, though two are for creating new microfinance banks. The grants made range from 250,000 to 1 million Euro, for a total amount of 6,538,884 Euro. More... 8 March 2006 - Video Conference Event on Women’s Participation in Economic Life in the Middle East and North Africa Region
On the occasion of the International Women's Day the World Bank Brussels office is holding a Video Conference event on Women’s Participation in Economic Life in the Middle East and North Africa Region on the 8th of March 2006. More... 30 November 2005
Videoconference with Civil Society Organizations from Belgium, India, Moldova, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia and the United States A head of the WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong the World Bank organized a Video Conference with key civil society actors from the North and South on advancing poverty reduction through the Doha Development Agenda. The meeting involved over 50 civil society actors from Belgium, India, Moldova, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia and the United States, drawn from a wide range of sectors including NGOs, trade unions, academia think tanks and youth groups. The World Bank was represented by its trade team led by Director, Mr. Uri Dadush, and its country office teams from the above mentioned countries. More... 10 November 2005
Panel Discussion organized by The World Bank in collaboration with the European Commission on Advancing Development through Multilateral Trade: Can the Hong Kong WTO Ministerial Meet the Challenge? In advance of the WTO Ministerial meeting in Hong Kong (13-18 December 2005), the World Bank in collaboration with the European Commission, organised a panel discussion between civil society and the key actors following the multilateral trade discussions, the European Commission, the World Bank, the US Government, the ACP and the G20 to provide an exchange of views between civil society representatives on how best to ensure that the Hong Kong Ministerial meets the needs of developing countries. More... 6 October 2005
The World Bank Brussels office in collaboration with the European Policy Centre and the European Development Finance Institutions will be presenting the World Bank ReportDoing Business 2006: creating jobs. For more information and to sign-up click here. 4 October 2005
The Parliamentary Network of the World Bank organized a meeting at the European Parliament in advance of the Network's 6th Annual Conference in Helsinki on 21-23 October The meeting, which involved participants from the European Parliament, World Bank, the European Commission and civil society organizations, primarily aimed to share information with the European Parliamentarians on the work of PNoWB and its link to the EU development agenda. One of the main points of discussion was on the improvement of coordination of EU positions in the World Bank. Click here for the full report. 16 September 2005
World Bank Discusses new Report on Equity and Development with civil society and other stakeholders. The perception that there is contradiction between economic growth policies and policies geared towards equity is misguided. This was one of the key messages of the World Bank’s World Development Report 2007 on Equity and Development, that came out in a public debate that launched the Report on 16 September in Brussels. For more...
23 June 2005
Mr. Vikram Nehru, Director of the Economic Policy and the Debt department of the World Bank, visited Brussels for discussions with European policy-makers, including members of the Council of the EU Ecofin and Development Working Groups, with Members of the European Parliament, with European NGOs, as well as with Belgian government officials and parliamentarians. Mr. Nehru's visit followed the announcement of the new G-8 Debt plan and was a unique opportunity to exchange views with the Brussels- based "development" community on the future of debt relief.
Additional Information: http://www.worldbank.org/debt G-8 Finance Ministers, Final Communique 1 June 2005
Seminar on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C)- A Call for EU Action. The Donors Working Group on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting together with No Peace without Justice(an non-governmental organisation) and MEP Emma Bonino organised a discussion with the EU on how to address the problem of FGM/C in the context of the quest to achieve the Millenium Development Goals. The seminar took place on the margins of the Fifth Annual Donor’s Working Group on FGM/C. For more... 26 May 2005
The World Bank and the Centre Seminar on: Achieving the MDGs: The Need for Urgent Action here... 25 May 2005
Screening and Reception for Africa: Open for Business - a Documentary at The Centre with Carole Pineau, Director and Producer. For more information and to view a six minute trailer click here...
25 May 2005 - World Bank Participates in European Parliament Discussion on Sustainable Development Project in Colombia
The World Bank partook in a meeting hosted by European Parliament Members Working Group on Colombia titled Colombia: an Alternative Lung for the World". The meeting discussed the Gaviotas II a forest project that aims to re-create millions of hectares of rainforest in an area of Colombia that is twice the size of Belgium. More.... 11-12 April 2005
World Bank participation in the 9th Annual Conference on Economic Transition - More... 21 March 2005
Youth Open House at the World Bank Brussels Office - The World Bank’s Brussels Office opened its doors to youth organizations in an Open House event - More... 8 March 2005
Meeting with European Civil Society Organisations Examines PRSPs. Mr. Luca Barbone, World Bank Sector Director on Poverty Reduction, met with a group of European civil society actors, including EURODAD, Action Aid and WCL, to discuss the PRSPs in conjunction with the World Bamk 2005PRSP Review. - More... 18 January 2005
Presentation of the Global Agricultural Trade and Developing Countries at the European Parliament - More... 17 January 2005
EU Launch of Bank Report on Agricultural Trade and Developing Countries - Please click here for the key messages of the report presented by the WB
18 January 2005 - Presentation of the Global Agricultural Trade and Developing Countries at the European Parliament
As part of the launch of the World Bank's EU Launch of its new report Global Agricultural Trade and Developing Countries, the Bank's Vice President Mr Danny Leipziger and International Trade Director Mr Uri Dadush presented the report's main findings to the European Parliament's Trade Committee on 18 January 2005. More...
20 June 2005
World Bank and UNICEF discuss HIV/AIDS with European CSO's, Brussels, Belgium. The World Bank's Brussels Office co-organized a meeting with UNICEF's EU office to discuss the results of the Global Partners Forum for Orphans and Vulnerable Children living in a world with HIV and AIDS that took place 15-16 December in Washington DC. The meeting also helped its participants develop recommendations to put to the European Commission in the consultation meeting on the EC Program for Action to confront HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. 9-10 December 2004
World Bank President Addresses European Civil Society Symposium on Street Children - Watch herefor High resolution, or here for Low resolution. For more info on the Bank’s work on youth and children and the Roma see: http://www.worldbank.org/childrenandyouth and http://www.worldbank.org/roma 20 October 2004
The President of the World Bank Discusses Global Security and Poverty in Extraordinary Session of the European Parliament - More... 20 October 2004
World Bank President Meets with European CSOs - To read the summary of the discussion, please go here. |
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