On October 16 2007 the Atlantic club organised a national Millennium Development Goals debate in Bulgaria.

Such debates have been held in each of the 12 EU member states which joined the Union in 2004 and 2007.

The debates aim at raising public awareness on development co-operation and the role of the new donors in the global efforts for achieving the Millennium Development Goals, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) website reported.

States-men, MPs, international community and representatives from non-governmental organisations took part in the debates.

The event is held under a joint programme of the European Commission the UNDP, implemented at national level with the assistance of NGOs.

All discussions are being held around October 17, which is the International Poverty Eradication Day. The debates aim also at preparation for the European Development Days, November 7 to 9, which is an annual initiative of the European commission promoting development cooperation.