European Union/EU commissioner for international Cooperation and development
Intervention by Commissioner Mimica on 19 January a.m.
Distinguished co-facilitators,
On my first day on the job as Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development I was at the UN conference on land-locked developing countries in Vienna, a very good start for my mandate. Today I am very pleased to speak to you to testify the importance the EU and its Member States attach to the post 2015 process. The EU ministers adopted conclusions on 16 December and confirmed once more the EU's willingness to engage constructively in the process and contribute to building the necessary consensus on an ambitious post-2015 agenda. We have a great opportunity to address some of the key global issues facing the world today. And to do so in a truly transformative manner.
We have collectively done a lot of work and great progress has been achieved in these halls over the past few months. This is a very sound foundation for the final preparations leading to the September Summit. I wish to personally thank the Secretary General for his leadership and commitment to the process, as well as for the recent synthesis report, which provides a key contribution to the intergovernmental process. We are also grateful to previous and current facilitators, and the UN secretariat colleagues for their dedication. I also want to recognise the deep engagement and contribution of civil society and other actors in this process. We now need to all work together in this last stretch to achieve a successful outcome in September.
From the work that we have done together so far we can draw some guiding principles and orientations which, in our view, should be the basis for our further work ahead and be integrated in the final outcome.
In particular, we welcome the proposal from the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals, as the main basis for integrating sustainable development goals into the post-2015 development agenda, as well as the Report of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing, and other inputs.
I believe we all share the view in this room that business as usual is not an option, whether in terms of human dignity, equality or sustainability. We need a shared agenda that is ambitious, transformative and inclusive, building on and completing the unfinished business of the MDGs.
To this end, we need to address the key interrelated challenges of eradicating poverty and achieving sustainable development. This must be done in a coordinated and coherent manner, leaving no-one behind and integrating successfully the three dimensions of sustainable development in a balanced way across the agenda. We think it is crucial to ensure that the agenda is founded on a rights-based approach encompassing all human rights, combating discrimination, including gender inequality and gender based violence, and one that promotes peaceful and inclusive societies, democratic governance and the rule of law.
In addition, we need an agenda that is truly global and universal, with all countries and stakeholders playing their full part, while taking into account levels of development, national contexts and capacities and respecting national policies and priorities. The EU considers that the agenda should recognise that all countries have common challenges and opportunities and a shared future. Universality is fundamental and will require commitments from all. The EU is ready to play its full part. We have a unique opportunity to make a difference together.
The EU considers that the agenda must reflect the complexity of sustainable development and poverty eradication, ensuring sustainable prosperity and well-being of people within planet boundaries. At the same time a clear and concise framework, which can be easily communicated, is also essential for ownership and effective implementation by all governments and relevant stakeholders as well as for ensuring public support for the agenda.
The agenda should also significantly increase people's ability to effectively and meaningfully participate in and contribute to the policy choices affecting them and to hold governments and other actors accountable for progress.
We are also convinced of the need for a global partnership and to ensure the necessary means of implementation for the agenda. A new global partnership for sustainable development should be based on the guiding principles of universality, shared responsibility, mutual accountability, consideration of respective capabilities, and the adoption of a multi-stakeholder approach, to mobilise action by all countries and stakeholders. National ownership and accountability will be of key importance. The private sector and civil society will have a key role to play in the implementation of the agenda.
Universality will require commitment from all. From our side we commit to playing our full part in all aspects of the agenda, including with respect to the means of implementation, and we will also expect other partners - including new and emerging actors - to contribute their fair share. We need to frame appropriate and ambitious commitments for all, taking account of levels of development, national contexts and capacities, while addressing the special needs of the least developed countries and people most in need. It is for instance crucial that all developed countries and emerging developing countries grant duty free and quota free access to their markets to LDCs.
As we take stock of progress, we see a general agreement that preparations for the Third International Conference on Financing for Development in July 2015 and the Post-2015 Summit in September should be compatible and mutually supportive. The EU considers that the Addis Conference should address the full range of means of implementation, including enabling policy frameworks as well as mobilisation and effective use of financial resources. The outcome of these and related processes should result in one, single, ambitious agenda. Likewise, we want to emphasize the importance of ongoing negotiations to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to reach an ambitious legally binding agreement applicable to all Parties in Paris in December 2015.
It is clear to us that we all need to ensure a policy environment conducive to the success of the framework. All countries should promote policy coherence for sustainable development. We note in particular the importance of sound policies in areas including trade, science, migration, technology and innovation, knowledge and expertise sharing.
Another crucial aspect will be the mobilisation of resources. We recognise that ODA remains an important and catalytic element in the overall financing available for developing countries, in particular to those most in need. We take careful note of the UN Secretary General's Synthesis Report in this regard, calling on all developed countries to commit to the 0.7% target, and also on emerging countries to set targets and timelines and to increase their contribution to international public finance.
A solid, efficient and effective approach to the review, monitoring and accountability of the post-2015 agenda at national, regional and global level will be crucial in order to assess progress towards the achievement of goals and targets, including through a key oversight role of the High Level Political Forum (HLPF). Our approach should be based on openness, meaningful participation, transparency and mutual accountability, including an element of peer review. It should benefit from the necessary support from an efficient and effective UN system and involve all partners and stakeholders.
Robust and measurable indicators will be essential for reporting. As emphasised in the OWG proposal, disaggregation of data will be essential to ensure that targets are met by all relevant groups and that no one is left behind. We must look beyond Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to broader measures of progress to address a more comprehensive idea of sustainable livelihoods and well-being.
Co-facilitators,
In these challenging times, the EU continues to stress the need for effective multilateralism with a strong UN at its core. This has always been and will remain at the core of our common foreign policy. We are convinced that all countries have common challenges and opportunities and a shared future, we need to develop a new spirit of cooperation, as also underlined by the Secretary General.
Achieving a transformative agenda is a key priority for the EU and its Member States, and we stand ready to engage in an open and constructive dialogue with all partners and stakeholders to this end. We will work with all of you to ensure that our meeting in September will define a new global agenda, a new vision for the future we all want, for present and future generations.
Distinguished co-facilitators,
On my first day on the job as Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development I was at the UN conference on land-locked developing countries in Vienna, a very good start for my mandate. Today I am very pleased to speak to you to testify the importance the EU and its Member States attach to the post 2015 process. The EU ministers adopted conclusions on 16 December and confirmed once more the EU's willingness to engage constructively in the process and contribute to building the necessary consensus on an ambitious post-2015 agenda. We have a great opportunity to address some of the key global issues facing the world today. And to do so in a truly transformative manner.
We have collectively done a lot of work and great progress has been achieved in these halls over the past few months. This is a very sound foundation for the final preparations leading to the September Summit. I wish to personally thank the Secretary General for his leadership and commitment to the process, as well as for the recent synthesis report, which provides a key contribution to the intergovernmental process. We are also grateful to previous and current facilitators, and the UN secretariat colleagues for their dedication. I also want to recognise the deep engagement and contribution of civil society and other actors in this process. We now need to all work together in this last stretch to achieve a successful outcome in September.
From the work that we have done together so far we can draw some guiding principles and orientations which, in our view, should be the basis for our further work ahead and be integrated in the final outcome.
In particular, we welcome the proposal from the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals, as the main basis for integrating sustainable development goals into the post-2015 development agenda, as well as the Report of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing, and other inputs.
I believe we all share the view in this room that business as usual is not an option, whether in terms of human dignity, equality or sustainability. We need a shared agenda that is ambitious, transformative and inclusive, building on and completing the unfinished business of the MDGs.
To this end, we need to address the key interrelated challenges of eradicating poverty and achieving sustainable development. This must be done in a coordinated and coherent manner, leaving no-one behind and integrating successfully the three dimensions of sustainable development in a balanced way across the agenda. We think it is crucial to ensure that the agenda is founded on a rights-based approach encompassing all human rights, combating discrimination, including gender inequality and gender based violence, and one that promotes peaceful and inclusive societies, democratic governance and the rule of law.
In addition, we need an agenda that is truly global and universal, with all countries and stakeholders playing their full part, while taking into account levels of development, national contexts and capacities and respecting national policies and priorities. The EU considers that the agenda should recognise that all countries have common challenges and opportunities and a shared future. Universality is fundamental and will require commitments from all. The EU is ready to play its full part. We have a unique opportunity to make a difference together.
The EU considers that the agenda must reflect the complexity of sustainable development and poverty eradication, ensuring sustainable prosperity and well-being of people within planet boundaries. At the same time a clear and concise framework, which can be easily communicated, is also essential for ownership and effective implementation by all governments and relevant stakeholders as well as for ensuring public support for the agenda.
The agenda should also significantly increase people's ability to effectively and meaningfully participate in and contribute to the policy choices affecting them and to hold governments and other actors accountable for progress.
We are also convinced of the need for a global partnership and to ensure the necessary means of implementation for the agenda. A new global partnership for sustainable development should be based on the guiding principles of universality, shared responsibility, mutual accountability, consideration of respective capabilities, and the adoption of a multi-stakeholder approach, to mobilise action by all countries and stakeholders. National ownership and accountability will be of key importance. The private sector and civil society will have a key role to play in the implementation of the agenda.
Universality will require commitment from all. From our side we commit to playing our full part in all aspects of the agenda, including with respect to the means of implementation, and we will also expect other partners - including new and emerging actors - to contribute their fair share. We need to frame appropriate and ambitious commitments for all, taking account of levels of development, national contexts and capacities, while addressing the special needs of the least developed countries and people most in need. It is for instance crucial that all developed countries and emerging developing countries grant duty free and quota free access to their markets to LDCs.
As we take stock of progress, we see a general agreement that preparations for the Third International Conference on Financing for Development in July 2015 and the Post-2015 Summit in September should be compatible and mutually supportive. The EU considers that the Addis Conference should address the full range of means of implementation, including enabling policy frameworks as well as mobilisation and effective use of financial resources. The outcome of these and related processes should result in one, single, ambitious agenda. Likewise, we want to emphasize the importance of ongoing negotiations to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to reach an ambitious legally binding agreement applicable to all Parties in Paris in December 2015.
It is clear to us that we all need to ensure a policy environment conducive to the success of the framework. All countries should promote policy coherence for sustainable development. We note in particular the importance of sound policies in areas including trade, science, migration, technology and innovation, knowledge and expertise sharing.
Another crucial aspect will be the mobilisation of resources. We recognise that ODA remains an important and catalytic element in the overall financing available for developing countries, in particular to those most in need. We take careful note of the UN Secretary General's Synthesis Report in this regard, calling on all developed countries to commit to the 0.7% target, and also on emerging countries to set targets and timelines and to increase their contribution to international public finance.
A solid, efficient and effective approach to the review, monitoring and accountability of the post-2015 agenda at national, regional and global level will be crucial in order to assess progress towards the achievement of goals and targets, including through a key oversight role of the High Level Political Forum (HLPF). Our approach should be based on openness, meaningful participation, transparency and mutual accountability, including an element of peer review. It should benefit from the necessary support from an efficient and effective UN system and involve all partners and stakeholders.
Robust and measurable indicators will be essential for reporting. As emphasised in the OWG proposal, disaggregation of data will be essential to ensure that targets are met by all relevant groups and that no one is left behind. We must look beyond Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to broader measures of progress to address a more comprehensive idea of sustainable livelihoods and well-being.
Co-facilitators,
In these challenging times, the EU continues to stress the need for effective multilateralism with a strong UN at its core. This has always been and will remain at the core of our common foreign policy. We are convinced that all countries have common challenges and opportunities and a shared future, we need to develop a new spirit of cooperation, as also underlined by the Secretary General.
Achieving a transformative agenda is a key priority for the EU and its Member States, and we stand ready to engage in an open and constructive dialogue with all partners and stakeholders to this end. We will work with all of you to ensure that our meeting in September will define a new global agenda, a new vision for the future we all want, for present and future generations.