With the beginning of the new century European development policy faces new challenges due to redefined foreign and security interests. Military interventions in situations of crisis and conflict are increasing and shape the cooperation between development and security policy actors. The European Security Strategy (ESS) signed in December 2003 and the Treaty for a new European Constitution are providing the revised strategic framework by identifying new threats to security and defining the common interests and objectives of EU foreign policy.

European development policy currently faces strategic challenges in outlining its position and activities vis-à-vis the Common Foreign and Security Policy. Increasingly development action is measured against its contribution to the common foreign, economic and security interests of the enlarged EU. Therefore, development policy has to underline its comparative strengths in providing country expertise and operational experience to position itself as an independent player amongst other foreign policies. No other policy field compares to its vast experience in civil conflict prevention and the stabilization of societies in crisis. In order to remain politically independent development policy needs to change conceptually and institutionally as well as to increase its coherence and efficiency. The future role of development policy will thus depend on the outcomes of its political reorientation and the struggle for financial resources.

Following the inauguration of the new European Commission the conference will take stock of the policy changes so far and examine the risks and benefits associated with a closer cooperation of development, foreign and security policy. The conference thus addresses the consequences of current political change for EU development policy and its future as an independent policy arena.