Deliberate enough, it is high time to act, and quickly, to implement Agenda 2030 and its 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) from 2015, said MEPs to Commission Vice-Presidents Frans Timmermans and Jyrki Katainen, who came to present to them on Wednesday 13 February the ideas for “A sustainable Europe by 2030” (see EUROPE 12190, 12183).
While everyone welcomed the fact that this text (expected at the end of 2018) is finally on the table, the debate in an almost empty Chamber allowed MEPs to stress that, in order to take the lead in achieving the SDGs, the EU should clearly identify what to do in each relevant EU sectoral policy.
Francesc Gambús (EPP, Spain), co-rapporteur for this dossier, said that “the results of the May European elections will be strongly influenced by the choices made here and now”. He pointed out that for the water-related SDG 6, the Commission had still not submitted its evaluation report on the Framework Directive, which was due by 20 December 2018. He also called for the proper implementation of existing European legislation and for the EU to take the lead in the fight against climate change, with all countries on board.
“We believe that we must address the social and ecological crisis together”, said Udo Bullmann of Germany, on behalf of the S&D group. As an advocate of a just transition for sustainable development for all, he recalled that his political group “would pass along this message for the European elections” and called on the EU to set the course now, especially for regional and research policies.
Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (ALDE, the Netherlands) said he looked forward to concrete proposals for adapting the multiannual financial framework to meet the challenges. “The CAP is being reformed and does not meet the criteria of sustainable development, public procurement should be greener [huge market of 2 billion per year], sustainable financing is fine, but transparency is needed”, he said.
Diego Xabier Benito Ziluaga (GUE/NGL, Spain) regretted that the Commission's “primary concern was economic growth, in other words the benefits that multinationals will reap, without addressing the root of the problem: a voracious economic system”. He cited the example of agriculture, a sector that could create €1.8 billion in new wealth by 2030, according to the Commission, “without calling into question the large-scale use of pesticides or the fact that the CAP favours large farms”.
According to Tilly Metz (Greens/EFA, Luxembourg), “unlike many political decision-makers, European youth have taken the measure of the climate challenge”. Considering that “the ecological and solidarity transition can no longer wait”, she said, it was necessary to “set the right political priorities, coordinate our actions, set ourselves a roadmap with deadlines and clearly defined objectives in the fields of energy, industry, mobility and agriculture”.
Gesine Meissner (ALDE, Germany) insisted on protecting the oceans, going beyond the ‘plastic’ strategy, “because they are crucial for the future of the planet and the blue economy”.
In the opinion of Bill Etheridge (ELDD, UK), “the SDGs cannot be achieved by 2030” and nothing should be imposed from above. “We need a bottom-up approach.” (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)