The European Commission remains committed to the 2030 Agenda. Under the leadership of President von der Leyen, the Commission is implementing an ambitious policy programme to deliver on sustainability in the EU and beyond.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an intrinsic part of the President’s political guidelines and lie at the heart of the policymaking on internal and external action across all sectors.
Full implementation of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda is crucial to strengthen resilience and prepare the world for future shocks as we embark on the twin green and digital transitions.
The Commission’s holistic approach for sustainability and the SDGs
The Commission has focused on delivering concrete actions that will bring tangible progress in the areas of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The President’s political guidelines and the Commission’s annual work programmes constitute this Commission’s strategy to implement the SDGs.
The President’s political programme integrates the SDGs into all Commission proposals, policies and strategies. All of the 17 SDGs feature in one or more of the six headline ambitions announced in President von der Leyen’s Political Guidelines as depicted in the figure below:
The Commission’s ‘Whole-of-Government approach’ to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals
The Commission’s comprehensive or “whole of government” approach to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) comprises several strands as depicted in the figure:
Progress in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals
Consult qualitative assessment of the progress made on each of the SDGs:
Sustainable Development Goal 1: No poverty
Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero hunger
Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good health and well-being
Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality education
Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender equality
Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clear water and sanitation
Sustainable Development Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy
Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth
Sustainable Development Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate action
Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life below water
Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on land
Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals
Working together as one Union towards the SDGs
The EU institutions work closely together to set the EU’s agenda and to initiate and adopt EU laws, including for the pursuit of the SDGs. The European Commission draws up proposals for new European legislation that contribute to the SDGs and review the implementation by Member States of the legislative acts once adopted by EU co-legislators, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, which represents the national governments of the Member States. Both the European Parliament and the Council actively promote the implementation of the SDGs in EU policies, including through regular resolutions, conclusions and legislative acts.
The Member States have the primary responsibility for ensuring sustainable development at national, regional, and local level. This includes taking steps to integrate the SDGs into national policies and allocating resources to support their achievement. Member States report regularly on their progress towards the SDGs through their respective Voluntary National Reviews.
The European Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee have made valuable contributions to this review. The European Economic and Social Committee, the consultative body that gives representatives of civil society organisations a formal platform to express their views, has set up a Sustainable Development Observatory, which is committed to fostering the active participation of citizens and civil society in making the shift towards a more sustainable Europe aligned with the SDGs. The Committee of the Regions works with all European territorial associations and networks active on SDGs and collaborates with international organisations, such as the OECD, to advance research and gather improved data on the local implementation of the SDGs.
Many local and regional authorities are increasingly engaging through voluntary local reviews, which help foster the delivery of SDGs close to citizens and often contain tangible commitments in support of the 2030 Agenda.