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Saturday, 19.04.2025, 00:13
Sustainability becomes the Union’s priority
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The UN-2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (so-called
2030 Agenda), adopted by the international community in September 2015,
represents an ambitious new blueprint to respond to global trends and
challenges. In the core of the 2030 Agenda are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and associated targets,
which run to 2030.
The international community has an ambitious new frame for
all countries to work together on shared challenges. For the first time, the
Sustainable Development Goals are universally applicable to all countries and
the EU is committed to be a frontrunner in implementing them.
In the world, since 2000, the Cotonou Partnership Agreement
has been the framework for EU's relations with 78 countries from Africa, the
Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP). The relationship focuses on the eradication of
poverty, sustainable development and the gradual integration of ACP countries
in the world economy. It seeks to increase peace and security, and to
strengthen the democratic political environment. The agreement is reviewed every
five years, and the new EU proposal is a further step in preparing negotiations
for a new partnership beyond 2020.
Three important Commission’s communications have been behind
the present strategic approach to sustainable development (SD).
A first Communication on the next steps for a sustainable European
future explains how the existing Commission's 10 political priorities
contribute to implementing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
(adopted in 2015) and how the EU will meet the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) in the future.
A second
Communication on a new European
Consensus on Development proposes a shared vision and framework for
development cooperation for the EU and its member states, aligned with the 2030
Agenda.
A third Communication
is about EU in the world connections: creating a renewed partnership with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries
proposing “building blocks” for a new, sustainable phase in EU-ACP
relations after the Cotonou Partnership Agreement expires in 2020.
Commission’s opinion
First Vice-President Frans Timmermans said that in
order to build “a future for our children and our planet to
the benefit of everyone” it is necessary to make the SDGs and sustainability a
guiding principle in all EU’s activities. However, he argued, implementing the
UN 2030 Agenda is going through a shared commitment and needs everyone's
contribution and cooperation, including the EU institutions, the states and
civil society at large.
High Representative/Vice President Federica Mogherini
underlined that in a modern states’ interconnected
climate, it is becoming ever more important to “invest in people beyond European
borders”, as it becomes “also an investment for Europe”.
Hence, the new
Commission’s proposals have the common aim of strengthening the impact of EU cooperation
with partners across the world, i.e. promoting sustainability at home and
abroad, which is at the heart of the EU's Global Strategy published this June. She
added that the EU will keep leading an external action that supports peace,
democracy and good governance that reinforces resilience at all levels and
promotes shared and sustainable prosperity for all.
Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development,
Neven Mimica added that the proposal
for a new European Consensus on
Development was the EU's response to an increasingly interconnected and
challenging world. The EU needs “a genuine consensus”, he argued, under the
shared ownership of EU Institutions and all member states that will help spearhead
global action to implement the SDGs.
Together with the
EU proposals for future partnership with the African, Caribbean and Pacific
countries, the proposal confirms the EU’s readiness to engage with partners
across the world to build a better common future.
Sustainable development aims to achieve a continuous
improvement in citizens' quality of life and well-being. This involves the
pursuit of economic progress, while safeguarding the natural environment and
promoting social justice. For these reasons, sustainable development is a
fundamental and overarching EU’s objective (so-called new EU brand). Since 2005
and up to 2015, Eurostat, the EU statistical
office produced biennial monitoring reports of the EU sustainable
development strategy, based on the EU set of sustainable development
indicators.
Full
text available on EUROSTAT website in:
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STAT-16-3901_en.htm?locale-en
The main elements of the Commission's new, strategic approach are:
-The EU's answer to the 2030 Agenda will include two directions: the first is to mainstream the SDGs in the European policy framework and current Commission priorities; the second is to launch reflection on further developing the EU longer term vision and the focus of sectoral policies after 2020.
-The Commission will use all the instruments at its disposal, including better regulation tools to ensure that existing and new policies take into account the three pillars of sustainable development: social, environmental and economic.
-To create a dynamic space bringing together the different stakeholders of the public and the private sphere, the Commission will launch a multi-stakeholder Platform with a role of follow-up and exchange of best practices on SDG implementation across sectors.
-The Commission will provide regular reporting of the EU's progress towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda as of 2017, and will launch reflection work on developing further a longer term vision with a post-2020 perspective.
New European Consensus on development
-The proposal for a new European Consensus on Development reflects a paradigm-shift in development cooperation under the 2030 Agenda, responding to the more complex and interconnected challenges the world presently faces.
-The proposal puts forward shared vision and framework for action for all EU Institutions and all EU states, with particular emphasis on cross-cutting drivers of development, such as gender equality, youth, sustainable energy and climate action, investment, migration and mobility.
-The Consensus’ aim is to increase the credibility, effectiveness and impact of EU development policy, based on shared analysis, common strategies, joint programming, joint action and improved reporting.
-The new Consensus should frame all development policy activities of the EU and the states. An example of this approach is the proposed European External Investment Plan which will use Official Development Assistance to leverage funding from other sources to generate sustainable growth for the benefit of the poorest.
Renewed partnership with African, Caribbean and Pacific
countries after 2020
A new partnership should help build peaceful, stable,
well-governed, prosperous and resilient states and societies at EU borders and
beyond and deliver on EU’s objective of a multilateral rules-based order
addressing global challenges.
The aim is to agree with the ACP partner countries on an
umbrella agreement which would go together with regional tailored partnerships
for Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, which address the specific regional
opportunities and challenges faced.
More information on SD:
- 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development;
- MEMO/16/3885: Towards a renewed partnership with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries after 2020;
- MEMO/16/3884: A
proposal for a new European Consensus on development;
- Communication
on the next steps for a sustainable European Future
Communication
on a renewed partnership with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries
Communication
on a new European Consensus on development;
- Staff
Working Document on European action for sustainability;
Eurostat report
on sustainability;
- EU's
implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
General reference: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-16-3883_en.htm?locale-en
Two working agendas for implementation
In order to implement
SDGs in the EU, the Commission will implement the 2030 Agenda and the
SDGs together with the states, in line with the principle of subsidiarity.
The EU's answer to the 2030 Agenda will include two work streams: the first is to mainstream the SDGs in
the European policy framework and current Commission priorities; the second is to launch reflection on
further developing our longer term vision and the focus of sectoral policies
after 2020, preparing for the long term implementation of the SDGs.
Sustainable development requires a holistic and cross-sector
policy approach to ensure that economic, social and environmental challenges
are addressed together. The new structure of the Commission with
Vice-Presidents and a project-based approach is an important instrument that
facilitates this way of working, creating a more concerted and
mutually-reinforcing agenda. The First Vice-President will play a coordinating
role in taking forward the Commission's work in actively implementing the 2030
Agenda.
The Commission is mainstreaming sustainable development in
all European policies, and using tools like impact assessments to evaluate
environmental, social and economic impacts so that sustainability is duly
considered and factored in. Ex post evaluations of legislation must also
analyse all three dimensions in a strong integrated approach.
It is essential to keep track of progress in a systematic
and transparent way. Thus, the EU, in coordination with the states, is
committed to playing an active role at each level, to maximize progress towards
the SDGs and to ensure accountability to citizens.
The UN Statistical Commission agreed, in March 2016, an
indicator framework comprising 230 indicators as a practical starting point for
global monitoring. At national level, EU states are asked by the United
Nations to put in place systems for measuring progress and reporting. The
Commission will contribute by monitoring, reporting and reviewing progress
towards the sustainable development goals in an EU context.
A first overview of where the EU and the states stand in
view of the SDGs can be found in the Eurostat publication issued in parallel
with the present Communication (see links above). From 2017 onwards, the
Commission will carry out more detailed regular monitoring of the sustainable
development goals in an EU context, developing a reference indicator framework
for this purpose and drawing on the wide range of ongoing monitoring and
assessment across the Commission, Agencies, European External Action Service
and the states.
Finance the implementation of the SDGs
The EU budget complements national budgets and the wide set
of EU policy and regulatory instruments to tackle challenges both at European
and at international level. The Commission has already largely incorporated
economic, social and environmental dimensions, which are at the heart of the
SDGs, into the EU budget and spending programmes. The performance framework of
EU spending programmes for 2014-2020 already contains relevant elements to
report on the three dimensions. The EU
Budget Focused on Results (BFOR) initiative also aims to ensure that every
euro of European tax payers' money spent contributes as much as possible to
improving our future. Looking ahead at the Multiannual Financial Framework
beyond 2020, the Commission will explore how EU budgets and future financial
programmes can best continue to adequately contribute to the delivery of the
2030 Agenda and support Member States in their efforts.
The Commission's 10
political priorities and SDGs
The political agenda of the current Commission is focused on
jobs, growth, fairness and democratic change. The ten
priorities of the agenda touch upon key challenges for Europe. Many of the
sustainable development goals are deeply entwined with these challenges and the
Commission's objectives under the ten priorities including the transition to a
circular economy, the energy union, quality education, training and the youth guarantee,
sustainable finance and the European Pillar of Social Rights. Fully exploiting
the synergies between the SDGs and the Commission's highest priorities ensures
strong political ownership so that implementation of the SDGs is not in a
political vacuum.
Activities around the world
The vision of the 2030 Agenda is fully consistent with the
objectives of EU external action, including the pursuit of sustainable
development. The Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy for the
European Union sets out the strategic direction for the EU's external action
and identifies clear links to the 2030 Agenda. It emphasises the importance of
a comprehensive approach in the EU's external actions and the need for an
integrated EU approach to increase the EU's impact in responding to and
preventing violent conflicts and crises as well as of improving coherence
between the EU and the states.
The SDGs will be a cross-cutting dimension of all the work
to take forward the Global Strategy, which underlines that there is a direct
link between the EU security and prosperity in surrounding regions, including
the EU neighbourhood countries. Echoing the SDGs, promoting resilience of
states and societies at all levels is a way to promote stability and
sustainable development globally, while reinforcing Europe's own security and
prosperity.
The new European Consensus on Development will be an
important element of the EU's global response to the challenge of the 2030
Agenda to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development by 2030
worldwide. The Commission's proposal puts forward a shared vision and framework
for action for all EU Institutions and the states, framed around the five key
themes of the 2030 Agenda: people, planet, prosperity, peace and
partnership. It places particular emphasis on cross-cutting drivers of
development, such as gender equality, youth, sustainable energy and climate action,
investment, migration and mobility, and seeks to mobilise all means of
implementation: aid, investments and domestic resources, supported by sound
policies.
EU development policy guided by the new European Consensus
on Development, EU Enlargement Policy, European Neighbourhood Policy, the
European External Investment Plan, the EU's humanitarian assistance and EU trade
policy, as well as the renewed partnership with Africa, Caribbean and Pacific,
will all make an important contribution to the achievement of the SDGs.
Perspective steps
The Commission will provide as of 2017 regular reporting of
the EU's progress towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and will
launch reflection work on developing further a longer term vision in a post
2020 perspective.
In order to promote sustainable development around the
world, the EU will continue working with external partners, using all the tools
that are available under its external policies and support in particular the
efforts in developing countries through the implementation of the new
Consensus. The Commission will also launch a multi-stakeholder Platform with a
role in the follow-up and exchange of best practices on SDG implementation
across sectors, at the member states and EU level. On 20 December the
Commission will organise a Conference in Brussels on the SDGs: "Europe's
Response to Sustainability Challenges. Delivering on the UN 2030 Agenda".
More information on SDGs:
- IP/16/3883:
Sustainable Development: EU sets out its priorities;
- Eurostat report
on sustainability.
Source: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-3886_en.htm?locale-en.
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