Post-2015 intergovernmental negotiations
EU Statement on the draft version of the outcome document of 30 July 2015
31 July 2015, New York
Co-facilitators,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU and its Member States.
As I have emphasised yesterday, we are grateful to you for the revised draft and for your efforts to address some of our concerns. There are improvements, but there are also some areas still need to be substantially strengthened. We all agree that this is a critical area for the success of the agenda.
Therefore today I would like to come back with concrete text suggestions that will put in more operational terms the points we raised yesterday. There are a number of issues we are not happy with, however given that we have reached the last day of negotiations; I will limit myself to the most essential issues. We are on the last day and what we aim for is to help you help us to reach consensus.
Our main comments are the following:
Starting with Means of Implementation, which is the most important item for us - there we see two issues: first how this Agenda relates to the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA) and second how we refer to the Addis outcome in this text.
As regards the link to Addis, we would propose the following, using language from the AAAA:
In para 38, second sentence, to add "together with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda" after "The new Agenda".
Para 40 should read as follows:
"The means of implementation targets under goal 17 and under each SDG are key to our agenda and of equal importance with the other goals and targets. The new Agenda, including the sustainable development goals, can be met within the framework of a revitalized global partnership for sustainable development, supported by the concrete policies and actions as outlined in the outcome document of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Addis Ababa from 13-16 July 2015. We welcome the endorsement by the General Assembly of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, which is integral to the new Agenda, and we recognize that its full implementation is critical for the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals and targets."
Para 55 should read as follows:
"We reaffirm our strong commitment to the full implementation of this new Agenda. Achieving an ambitious post-2015 development Agenda, including all the sustainable development goals, will require an equally ambitious, comprehensive, holistic and transformative approach with respect to the means of implementation, combining different means of implementation and integrating the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. This should be underpinned by effective, accountable and inclusive institutions, sound policies and good governance at all levels. We recognize that we will not be able to achieve our ambitious Goals and targets without a revitalized and enhanced Global Partnership and comparably ambitious means of implementation. The Addis Ababa Action Agenda which is integral to the new Agenda, has identified and addressed critical gaps relevant to the post-2015 development agenda. It has established a holistic and forward looking framework and committed to concrete actions to deliver on the promised agenda. The revitalized Global Partnership will facilitate an intensive global engagement in support of implementation of all the goals and targets, bringing together Governments, civil society, the private sector, the United Nations system and other actors and mobilizing all available resources."
Finally, para 57 should read:
“This Agenda, including the sustainable development goals, can be met within the framework of a revitalized global partnership for sustainable development, supported by the concrete policies and actions as outlined in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.”
This for us would solve the problem of the link. Provided that the relationship to AAAA is clarified as just proposed, we see two options. The one is the proposal made by Japan to delete paras 58 to 67, and we have a preference for this option. The other option would be to continue to engage in describing the Addis outcome, in which case we would have drafting suggestions to rebalance what we think is currently a selective and unbalanced summary. I will not go into those in this intervention, as we prefer the first option.
I continue now with comments on the rest of the document:
Let me reiterate, that we, together with many other member states, very much support the new short version of the preamble.
With regard to the Declaration, we would like to see the following changes:
Para 2: please add before the second to last sentence the following additional sentence: "We reaffirm that poverty eradication and sustainable development are mutually reinforcing and intrinsically linked."
Para 4: we reiterate our point, made also by several other delegations, that we need to bring back language on all economic and social groups.
Para 5: please add the following sentence at the end of the para: "The Agenda requires commitment from all; we have a responsibility to make a difference together."
Para 9: add water in the list of natural resources.
We support para 11 as it stands.
Para 12: as emphasised many times, we cannot support the second part of the para and we would like you to delete the following part: "… including, inter alia, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, as set out in principle 7 thereof."
In Para 19 the fourth sentence should read: "We reaffirm that each country’s national sovereignty over their natural resources should be respected". This is in line with Rio language.
Para 20: we strongly call for a deletion of the words "all internationally recognized" before human rights and support keeping the rest of the paragraph as it stands.
Para 30: as mentioned many times, we cannot support the paragraph as it stands and propose the following wording:
"Unilateral economic, financial or trade measures should be in accordance with international law, the UN Charter and the obligations under the World Trade Organisation."
Para 31: as mentioned yesterday, we have a clear preference for 31 alt.
Para 32: as all other types of ecosystems are listed, we suggest to also include "forests" to the list which we believe to be a mere omission. Otherwise we fully support this paragraph as it stands.
Para 39: Please add, at the end of the second sentence, the following wording "…and of shared responsibility".
Para 43: The second sentence should read:
"To support accountability to our people, we will provide for an overall systematic and integrated multi-stakeholder follow-up and review at the various levels for this Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda."
Goals and targets
We repeat: concerning the reference to the OWG report in the footnote of the introduction, we suggest a simple reference to the GA resolution 68/309. Otherwise we can accept this section as it stands.
Follow-up and Review
Para 75: add "the report of its 47th session will be"
Para 77: add "regular" in the first sentence before “reviews” and before national reports at the beginning of the third sentence
Para 78 should read: "We also commit to conduct regular reviews of progress at the national and sub-national levels which are country-led and country-driven. Such reviews should enable the effective participation of and draw on contributions from civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders. National parliaments as well as other institutions can also support these processes."
Para 80: last sentence should read: "Inclusive and transparent regional processes will draw on national-level reviews and contribute to follow-up and review at the global level, including at the High Level Political Forum on sustainable development (HLPF) with the participation of all interested countries, relevant regional organizations and other stakeholders."
Para 82: add the following addition at the end of the second to last sentence:
"…including by making recommendations for further action at national, regional and global level."
Para 85: please delete "intergovernmental" before "bodies" in the second sentence
Para 86: the first sentence at the end should read: "… which is fully integrated with the follow-up and review framework of this Agenda."
Finally, in reaction to some remarks made in the room, let me say that we regret that our proposal on SRHR has not been retained and wish to stress that we will not be able to accept any further weakening of the language on this issue or more generally on gender equality.
Co-facilitators,
we will continue to work with you and all partners in a constructive manner and we look forward to the conclusion of our work by the end of today. We trust we will be able to do so under your able your leadership.
Thank you.
