The European Parliament is calling on the Commission to present a strategy for implementing the universal sustainable development programme (SDG) into the EU’s internal and external policies by 2030, as well as its 17 sustainable development goals adopted by the UN in September 2015.
The non-legislative resolution was adopted on Thursday 6 July in Strasbourg for EU action promoting sustainability (446 votes for, 57 against, 84 abstentions) and calls on the Commission and EU to be ambitious. Following the recommendations of its rapporteur, Seb Dance (S&D, United Kingdom), this watershed resolution (more than 60 pages) is the MEPs’ response to the Commission’s communication on “the next steps for a sustainable European future” that the NGOs deemed disappointing. They are delighted with Parliament's resolution.
Parliament would like the Commission to identify within its different policies, the shortcomings that need to be rectified in order to implement the sustainable development goals and calls on the Commission to update accurate indicators to ensure the strategy follow up it expects.
It highlights the importance of sustainability for the future of the EU and requests that the next EU budget is reoriented on the basis of the universal sustainable development programme.
MEPs are calling on political decision-makers to improve the way in which they tackle the impact of the supply of basic products and the use of natural resources in the EU and third countries, as well as incorporate the fight against climate change in the implementation of the sustainable development goals and unbundle economic growth from the consumption of resources
The multi-party platform on exchange of good practices, whose creation is the only concrete proposal made by the Commission, is also expected to ensure the distribution of practical knowledge on the sustainable development goals and identify barriers to attaining them, during its quarterly meetings, explained the European Parliament. This platform will be chaired by the European Vice President Responsible for sustainable development.
In his address to the European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and the Fisheries, Karmenu Vella and the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the EU, during the debate proceeding the vote on Wednesday 5 July, Seb Dance said, “I hope you will be our spokesperson in New York”.
The Estonian Vice Minister for European Affairs, Matti Maasikas, said that he was convinced that, “the EU must show leadership during the high-level UN policy Forum on sustainable development” (New York, 10-19 July) and highlighted the similarities between the demands from the Parliament and those of the Council, formulated in the conclusions adopted on 21 June last (see EUROPE 11813). Commissioner Vella, who will be speaking in New York, during the ministerial meeting on a 17 and 18 in July, thanked the Parliament for its contribution and pointed out that the universal development programme acknowledged the role of Parliaments. He stated, “I completely agree with you, it is urgent to take action at an EU and global level”.
The WWF welcomed the vote from the Parliament. Sally Nicholson from the WWF office said that, “The message is loud, clear and unanimous. Moving on sustainable development is paramount to both the EU Parliament and the Member States. It is time the Commission got to work". (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)