European Union
Post-2015 intergovernmental negotiations
- Joint session between FfD and Post-2015 processes -
21-24 April, New York
EU speaking points
for the session on follow-up and review on FfD and MoI
Friday, 24 April
delivered by
Mr. Gaspar Frontini,
Head of Unit – Policy and Coherence
DG DEVCO, European Commission
Co-facilitators,
As we stressed last week, the success of the post-2015 agenda depends on countries working together and upholding their commitments. In this regard a solid, comprehensive, efficient and effective approach to monitoring, accountability and review (MAR) will be crucial in order to assess progress during implementation.
For coherence, readability and impact, we believe there should be one overarching MAR framework for the whole post-2015 agenda covering all aspects of the sustainable development goals and targets, and all means of implementation, in a comprehensive fashion. Parallel and duplicative follow-up processes would be ineffective.
Addis should consider the key issue of monitoring, accountability and review for MoI. However, the outcome from these deliberations will need to be merged into a comprehensive post-2015 monitoring, review and accountability framework with a key, oversight role for the HLPF and avoiding duplication of existing mechanisms. A main function of the HLPF is to review progress, starting in 2016, on the implementation of commitments and outcomes of UN summits and conferences, notably those related to the post-2015 and their respective means of implementation. The reference to the HLPF in the Addis draft appear to indicate that what is envisaged there is an additional mechanism sitting alongside the monitoring framework for the post-2015 agenda. We think this would be duplicative and not efficient.
The single comprehensive mechanism for monitoring, accountability and review should track both domestic and international flows, as well as all non-financial MoI including relevant policies. This will include monitoring and reviewing of policies that are conducive to attaining the SDGs.
Implementation starts at home. National ownership and accountability will be of key importance for the post 2015-agenda and its implementation including through sustainable development strategies or commitments at the appropriate levels. We believe it would be important for all states to commit to a multi-stakeholder MAR process and to set up systems for accountability at national level. National parliaments, local governments and civil society actors play important roles in this context and so do national supreme audit institutions other independent oversight institutions.
As pointed out in the UNSG's Synthesis Report, the new agenda is built on the shared responsibility and on agreed commitments. It is a new type of accountability with a contract between people, including civil society, social partners, and the private sector, and governments. The framework should adopt a multi-layered approach, operating at local, national, regional and international level, ensuring consistency between them, and involving all relevant stakeholders.
Exchange of good practices for implementing the SDGs should take place at all levels. The regional level could provide particularly useful opportunities for peer review and learning. We welcome the reference to this in the current Addis draft. For our part we will build on our internal experience on monitoring progress, such as in the context of the renewed EU Sustainable Development Strategy, and the Europe 2020 strategy and related policies.
At the global level the single MAR framework should make full use of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, including its functional and regional commissions, as well as other relevant existing bodies or fora, especially the HLPF, in a coordinated manner to avoid duplication and limit administrative burden. The current Addis draft does not reassure us in this regard.
We also believe that a crucial element for MAR will be the availability and quality of data and the capacity for analysis. Data should to the greatest extent possible be disaggregated by gender, age and other relevant grounds. Data and statistics should be collected and developed taking account experience, best practice and expert knowledge and possibilities offered by digital and geospatial data, technologies and in situ monitoring. The collection and analysis of large amounts of data (often referred to as Big Data) and the data revolution also open new avenues. In all these areas it will be crucial to strengthen the capacity of national statistical systems. Especially LDCs and fragile and conflict-affected states need support and assistance in this endeavour.
We see no need at this stage to request the Secretary-General to convene a new inter-agency Task Force, as referred to in the current Addis draft. Instead, the priority must be to clarify the roles and functions of existing fora in the post-2015 framework, and to strengthen cooperation between existing bodies as appropriate.
Thank you.
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