Within the EU, progress has been made over the last 5 years towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in the areas of peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16), with safer lives, fewer assaults and fewer homicides, according to the Eurostat report published on 22 June.
It also shows progress in eliminating poverty (SDG 1), good health and well-being (SDG 3), Zero hunger (SDG 2), and decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), but this report - the fourth of its kind - brings together statistical data from before the Covid-19 pandemic. “The challenge for Eurostat next year” will be enormous, European Commissioner for the Economy Paolo Gentiloni told the press.
In his view, full implementation of the UN Agenda 2030 and its 17 SDGs is a necessity of which the Commission is aware, which is why each Commissioner is responsible for implementation in their areas of competence.
This 2020 report is “very important”, as the Commission has started to integrate SDGs into the ‘European Semester’ (budgetary exercise of economic policy coordination), as foreseen in the European Green Deal, which aims at a modern, efficient and competitive economy and a just transition for all.
“This year's reports contain a chapter on sustainability and an annex showing the progress of individual Member States towards the SDGs”, the Commissioner said.
Eurostat statistics show that since 2013 the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion in the EU has been reduced by 12.5 million.
In terms of health and well-being, life expectancy is increasing, reaching 81 years. More Europeans consider themselves to be healthier (2018 figures). There are fewer smokers and the number of fatal workplace accidents is decreasing.
GDP per capita has risen sharply, the employment rate has increased from 68% to 73%, and long-term unemployment has gone from 5.5% to 2.8% between 2014 and 2019.
Agricultural production has become more sustainable: the share of organic farming in EU agriculture has increased from 5.9% in 2013 to 8% in 2018.
“Of course, these positive developments over the last 5 years are being called into question, but thanks to these efforts, the EU is better placed to address the health and economic situation”, Mr Gentiloni said. According to him, “this progress is just the beginning. We need more resilient societies”.
More work needed on SDG 13 ‘Climate Action’. The EU's 2020 target will be met (-20% greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990). “If it continues in this direction and if the Member States respect their Energy/Climate Plan, the 2030 objective should be achieved, but, despite these efforts, our countries are increasingly facing the impacts of climate change”, Gentiloni stressed.
He furthermore regretted that in the area of gender equality (SDG 5), the EU had deviated slightly from the objective, as women still had less chance of finding a job than men, with family obligations being the main cause.
Moderate progress for SDG 8. The following are concerned: - sustainable communities and cities; - quality education; - partnerships for the objectives; - responsible production and consumption; - clean and affordable energy; - the fight against inequalities; - rural life; - industry, innovation and infrastructure.
Beyond the Eurostat statistics, the Commissioner considers it “encouraging that, on the whole, Member States are making progress towards SDGs”. Countries such as Latvia and Romania are in the lower range of the EU, but are catching up, he said. Others, such as Luxembourg and Sweden, have already achieved a fairly high score, but are moving away from the SDGs in areas such as poverty and inequality reduction - parameters that will become increasingly important, Gentiloni stressed. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)