Dr. Arjun Karki, Co-ordinator of LDC Watch addressed a meeting of LDC Ministers in Benin on 7 June. Karki said that "the evergrowing wave of globalisation and its devastating impact still  marginalises the LDCs".  He called for unconditional debt cancellation, greater transparency in decision making, trade rules that discriminate positively and realistically in favour of the interests of LDCs, and greater participation of LDCs as beneficiaries of capacity building programmes.  The Ministerial meeting takes place in preparation of the 5 year review of the Brussels Programme of Action for LDCs.

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Eurostep's says that the Austrian Presidency's proposals for a compromise text for a Develop- ment Co-operation Instrument fails to meet the criteria set by the European Parliament. In adopting a separate development instru- ment when they voted on 18 May, Parliament set clear expectations that the Council should follow.

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The second call for proposals of the Presidency Fund was published on 3 May.  The preliminary stage of the call lasts until 3 July after which those who have been accepted to submit a full proposal will have until 3 August to submit their proposal.

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Civil society representatives from 8 of the Least Developed Countries met in Kampala on 13 & 14 May to plan an effective involvement in the UN's five year review of the Brussels Programme of Action adopted in 2001. The meeting was organised by LDC Watch, with support from Eurostep.

Eurostep launches campaign about Europe's role in the World. From 29 September to 1 December the visions of prominent people from Europe and developing countries will be published in European Voice.