Press Release: Commissioner Nielson attends follow-up to UN Social Summit

From 28-30.6.00, Poul Nielson, European Commissioner for Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Aid, attended the Special Session of the General Assembly which took place in Geneva, five years on from the Social Summit in Copenhagen (1995). This Summit provided the opportunity to take stock and reflect upon what has been achieved so far. Whilst progress in some areas has been encouraging, much needs to be done on several issues such as the challenges posed by globalisation. Mr Nielson stressed that the “follow-up and implementation of the Copenhagen Programme of Action need to be further strengthened and made more result oriented in order to respond to the diverse challenges of sustainable social development in a globalising world”. Mr Nielson made a statement to the plenary session on behalf of the EU. He also met representatives from Civil Society, NGOs and international bodies to exchange views on social development, and took part in a series of workshops and meetings.