eu2004.ie: Musician and Aid Campaigner Bono will attend the meeting of Development Ministers from the twenty-five Member States of the EU in Dublin on Tuesday, 1 June to discuss issues related to Africa, including AIDS, Trade and Debt.

The Development Ministers gather once every six months for informal meetings hosted by the EU Presidency, which Ireland currently holds. Minister of State for Development Cooperation and Human Rights, Tom Kitt TD, will chair the meeting in Dublin Castle on the morning of 1 June. Minister Kitt has invited Bono to join the Ministers for a working lunch discussion on African development issues. The musician is internationally known as a campaigner for Africa, raising public awareness and lobbying governments on issues such as debt relief, poverty reduction and the link between trade and development; while Ireland has consistently highlighted Africa as a theme throughout its Presidency.

Referring to the upcoming meeting, Minister of State Kitt said: 'Bono is a very influential champion of a better deal for the developing world and I believe that his participation at our working lunch will add a valuable non-governmental perspective to our discussion. It could also help to mobilise a larger EU-wide audience in support of development objectives at a time of major political, financial and institutional change within the Union.' [ more]