A new approach to indigenous peoples

Indigenous peoples must establish a direct, permanent relationship with the European Commission, which is responsible for applying European Union policy. To do this, they must be acknowledged as active and sovereign actors, not as objects of policy in development programmes and projects. These desires were expressed by indigenous peoples during a conference, 'Speaking out: indigenous views of development and implementation of the EU policy on indigenous people', held in Brussels, 18-20 June 2002.