On 1 September, Dóchas submitted the National Activity Plan for the European Year 2015 to the European Commission Representation.

In April 2014, the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council designated 2015 as the European Year for Development. The motto of the year will be «Our world, our dignity, our future». It is the first time that the EU has dedicated a thematic year to an “external” policy area.

The European Years have been organised since 1983 to increase understanding, promote debate, and positively change attitudes on certain issues at the European level. For instance, 2013 was designated as the European Year of Citizens, and 2012 was named the European Year for Active Aging.

The EU says that the aims of the Year of Development (EYD2015) are:

1. To inform European Union citizens about the EU’s and the Member States’ development cooperation
2. To foster direct involvement, critical thinking and active interest…