Delegation of the European Union to Colombia

07/15/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/15/2024 14:31

EU Statement – UN High Level Political Forum: General Debate on ‘From the SDG Summit to the Summit of the Future’

15 July 2024, New York - European Union Statement delivered by European Commission Director-General for International Partnerships Mr Koen Doens at the United Nations High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development General Debate: 'From the SDG Summit to the Summit of the Future'

  1. Progress towards sustainable development has been held back by an international context of profound uncertainty and geopolitical tensions. The triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss is compounded by shocks and conflicts and the destabilisation of the global landscape leading to the aggravation of global challenges and increased fragility.
  1. The impact of a host of crises, climate change and debt stress is felt by all, especially the poorest and most vulnerable. They increase poverty and inequality across the world,within and between countries.
  1. These challenges are deeply interconnected and interdependent. The 2030 Agenda and the SDGs remain our universal roadmap to tackle them, respecting our planet and leaving no one behind. They are representative of this interconnectedness.
  1. For instance, the imperative of peaceful, just, and inclusive societies compels us all to condemn aggression and conflict worldwide and reiterate our commitment to a multilateral system based on international law. This is a fundamental precondition for achieving all SDGs. Without peace, no goal can be achieved.
  1. The full implementation of the 2030 Agenda is a shared responsibility that requires strong leadership and a whole-of-society approach, with meaningful participation and engagement of all stakeholders. The EU and its Member States will remain attentive to key cross-cutting issues, in particular the promotion of gender equality and a human rights-based approach.
  1. Voluntary national reviewsare an important tool. Last year, the EU carried out its own Review. It showed how we contribute to the achievement of the SDGs through transformative domestic policies (such as the European Green Deal), but also allowed us to identify gaps and map out the way forward.
  1. We must accelerate action for the SDGs. The EU and its Member States continue to support partner countries in achieving the SDGs through international partnerships. We remain the major provider of Official Development Assistance globally with EUR 95.9 billion collectively in 2023 representing 42% of the total.
  1. But ODA alone will never allow us to reach the level of investment needed globally. With Global Gateway, the EU is offering innovative and mutually beneficial partnerships to support strategic autonomy and accelerate digital and green transitions in partner countries as well as in the EU.
  1. Using a Team Europe approach, Global Gateway leverages both private and public investments, in transformative projects, all directly supporting the SDGs.
  1. We now look forward to an ambitious and action-oriented outcome of theSummit of the Future, which we see as a unique opportunity to reinvigorate the multilateral system and make it fit for the future.