Democracy and Development

Speech delivered: September 13, 2007 • By Lena Hjelm-Wallén

Event: Conference: “Democracy Building Globally: How can Europe contribute?” • Location: The Hague, The Netherlands

Let me admit that when I heard that a new theme in the development cooperation debate is “Democracy and Development” I was a bit puzzled. I asked if this really is something that has to be discussed. To me, development and democracy is part and parcel of each other. Perhaps a naïve idea from a long life in Parliament and Government, but also an experience from the field of development cooperation.