The Foreign Affairs Council (Development), chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, took place in Brussels, today (19.05.2014).  The Council exchanged views on the preparation of a new post-2015 framework, while Ministers took stock of the ongoing work at UN level and discussed the EU's role in the process.

The Council was also briefed by the Commission on the implementation of the Agenda for Change, the EU's development policy, as well as on the recently presented tool box for working towards a rights-based approach to EU development cooperation.

In addition, the Council held an exchange of views on the role of the private sector in development cooperation, in the wake of a new Commission communication, presented on 13 May.

During lunch, ministers discussed the situation in the Central African Republic and in South Sudan and also confirmed that EU is to resume development cooperation with Madagascar. 

Live broadcasting available here (from 8:30 CET).

More information on the event here.

Read more about the Council's conclusions here