European Union
STATEMENT
BY COMMISSIONER NEVEN MIMICA
at the High Level Political Forum
on Sustainable Development
New York, 17 July 2017
• J
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am honoured to deliver this statement on behalf of the European
Union and its Member States.
Almost two years into the 15-year timetable, the Secretary General's
progress report on the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda shows
that much remains to be done.
The European Union and our Member States remain fully committed to
implementing the 2030 Agenda at home and internationally. We
consider it and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change as essential
and complementary steps on a pathway towards more sustainable and
resilient future.
Let's face it - when it comes to achieving sustainability - we are all
developing countries. We all have work to do.
Ten more EU Member States will present their Voluntary National
Reviews this year - on top of four last year, and several others on track
for next year.
Within the EU, we are implementing the 2030 Agenda in two strands of
work.
Firstly, we are mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals into
our current European Union policies.
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'
; iir
!
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Since the last High-Level Political Forum, we have:
- reaffirmed our commitment to the Paris climate change agreement;
- adopted a Nature Action Plan to protect biodiversity;
- agreed an ambitious energy policy, which also addresses social,
environmental and competitiveness issues;
- adopted a European Pillar of Social Rights and conducted an indepth
report on equality between women and men in the European
Union;
and
- have been working on better directing finance towards sustainable
investment.
Furthermore, we are looking at our longer-term vision for
im.plementation beyond 2020. This will include a multi-stakeholder
SDG platform to exchange views on the key areas where additional EU
efforts will be needed.
We will report regularly on progress with implementation, starting this
year.
Externally, the 2016 EU Global Strategy for Foreign and Security
Policy provides a vision for joined-up, credible and responsive EU
engagement in the world, and places sustainable development at its
heart.
And on 7 June this year, we signed a new European Consensus on
Development , a framework for development policy for the European
Union institutions and for all our Member States fully aligned with the
2030 Agenda. It signals a new era of more coordinated and effective EU
action in development.
Like the 2030 Agenda, it is framed around the 'five Ps' and approaches
the economic, social and environmental dimensions in an integrated
manner. It addresses other interconnected challenges, such as
humanitarian action, security, migration, environment, and climate
change.
It reaffirms our commitment to a rules-based global order, with
multilateralism and the United Nations at its core, and underlines our
intention to work more closely with all our partners and countries at all
stages of development.
We will continue to target our assistance to the least-developed and
· conflict-affected countries. And strengthen our partnerships with
Middle Income and more advanced developing countries, in order to
address rising inequalities.
We will continue to promote Policy Coherence for Development as
part of the broader objective of Policy Coherence for Sustainable
Development.
Through a new European External Investment Plan, we will provide
financial, technical and policy support to lower the risk and increase the
flow of investment, particularly from the private sector, to areas where it
would otherwise not go.
·- And in September, we will launch a major initiative with the United
Nations to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.
With dedicated financing, and a renewed policy dialogue with partner
countries, we will capitalise on our respective strengths in a true
partnership approach.
This High-Level Political Forum, including the Voluntary National
Reviews and other reports, is a vital part of a robust global monitoring
and review process, which will enable us to take stock, adjust as
needed, and ultimately to make the 2030 Agenda a success.
Let me end by reiterating this:
For the European Union and our Member States the 2030 Agenda is
not optional - or reversible.
It remains our best chance of creating a better world for all.
We will implement it enthusiastically at home.
And we will work constructively and tirelessly with all our partners
across the globe to ensure that, together, we leave no one behind.
(680 words)
BY COMMISSIONER NEVEN MIMICA
at the High Level Political Forum
on Sustainable Development
New York, 17 July 2017
• J
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am honoured to deliver this statement on behalf of the European
Union and its Member States.
Almost two years into the 15-year timetable, the Secretary General's
progress report on the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda shows
that much remains to be done.
The European Union and our Member States remain fully committed to
implementing the 2030 Agenda at home and internationally. We
consider it and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change as essential
and complementary steps on a pathway towards more sustainable and
resilient future.
Let's face it - when it comes to achieving sustainability - we are all
developing countries. We all have work to do.
Ten more EU Member States will present their Voluntary National
Reviews this year - on top of four last year, and several others on track
for next year.
Within the EU, we are implementing the 2030 Agenda in two strands of
work.
Firstly, we are mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals into
our current European Union policies.
r
'
; iir
!
.l
Since the last High-Level Political Forum, we have:
- reaffirmed our commitment to the Paris climate change agreement;
- adopted a Nature Action Plan to protect biodiversity;
- agreed an ambitious energy policy, which also addresses social,
environmental and competitiveness issues;
- adopted a European Pillar of Social Rights and conducted an indepth
report on equality between women and men in the European
Union;
and
- have been working on better directing finance towards sustainable
investment.
Furthermore, we are looking at our longer-term vision for
im.plementation beyond 2020. This will include a multi-stakeholder
SDG platform to exchange views on the key areas where additional EU
efforts will be needed.
We will report regularly on progress with implementation, starting this
year.
Externally, the 2016 EU Global Strategy for Foreign and Security
Policy provides a vision for joined-up, credible and responsive EU
engagement in the world, and places sustainable development at its
heart.
And on 7 June this year, we signed a new European Consensus on
Development , a framework for development policy for the European
Union institutions and for all our Member States fully aligned with the
2030 Agenda. It signals a new era of more coordinated and effective EU
action in development.
Like the 2030 Agenda, it is framed around the 'five Ps' and approaches
the economic, social and environmental dimensions in an integrated
manner. It addresses other interconnected challenges, such as
humanitarian action, security, migration, environment, and climate
change.
It reaffirms our commitment to a rules-based global order, with
multilateralism and the United Nations at its core, and underlines our
intention to work more closely with all our partners and countries at all
stages of development.
We will continue to target our assistance to the least-developed and
· conflict-affected countries. And strengthen our partnerships with
Middle Income and more advanced developing countries, in order to
address rising inequalities.
We will continue to promote Policy Coherence for Development as
part of the broader objective of Policy Coherence for Sustainable
Development.
Through a new European External Investment Plan, we will provide
financial, technical and policy support to lower the risk and increase the
flow of investment, particularly from the private sector, to areas where it
would otherwise not go.
·- And in September, we will launch a major initiative with the United
Nations to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.
With dedicated financing, and a renewed policy dialogue with partner
countries, we will capitalise on our respective strengths in a true
partnership approach.
This High-Level Political Forum, including the Voluntary National
Reviews and other reports, is a vital part of a robust global monitoring
and review process, which will enable us to take stock, adjust as
needed, and ultimately to make the 2030 Agenda a success.
Let me end by reiterating this:
For the European Union and our Member States the 2030 Agenda is
not optional - or reversible.
It remains our best chance of creating a better world for all.
We will implement it enthusiastically at home.
And we will work constructively and tirelessly with all our partners
across the globe to ensure that, together, we leave no one behind.
(680 words)
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