At the UN High-Level Political Forum on sustainable development (New York, 17-19 July), the delegation from the European Parliament’s development committee, led by Linda McAvan (S&D, UK) called on the European Commission to draft a clear roadmap for achieving the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) as quickly as possible (see EUROPE 11824).
“Delivering on the SDGs is primarily a political choice. What we need is the political will to work together to develop the right policies in order to achieve them. The EU has a key role to play in this regard. It must lead by example”, she said on Tuesday 18 July.
Her colleague Arne Lietz (S&D, Germany) said: “We need to start filling the gaps! More needs to be done in most policy areas, for instance in relation to the global value chain in garment and textiles”, as was underlined in New York.
The previous day, European International Cooperation and Development Commissioner Neven Mimica spoke on behalf of the EU (see EUROPE 11813). He assured the international community that the EU was firmly committed to implementing the 2030 sustainable development agenda and its 17 SDGs and to supporting and defending civil society, whose role in implementing the agenda will be crucial.
The commissioner also took the opportunity to present the new European Consensus on Development that will align EU development policy with the SDGs (see EUROPE 11803 and 11800). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)