1. INTRODUCTION

This staff working document gives an overview of key existing European initiatives related to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It summarises for each of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) what the main actions are that the European Union is undertaking in terms of both domestically oriented and external actions.

The overview presented is not exhaustive, but aims to highlight in particular the most recent and relevant initiatives contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. As the SDGs are interlinked, many EU actions contribute to several SDGs. In order to avoid too many repetitions EU actions have only been highlighted for those Sustainable Development Goals to which their contribution is the most relevant.

The overview below makes clear that the EU priorities, policies, funds and other actions cover all Sustainable Development Goals and provide a significant contribution to their implementation, both within the EU and through EU external action. They put the European Union on the right track to achieve a sustainable European future. Continued efforts and mainstreaming of the S in new policy initiatives will be needed to achieve the SDGs, which are often demanding and have a long-term horizon.

In the Commission Communication accompanying this staff working document, the Commission has confirmed its commitment to sustainable development and its intention to further mainstreaming it into its policy-making. To achieve this, the EU will need to put its enabling policies and funds into practice and showcase concrete results on the ground. For that - as indicated in the Commission Communication accompanying this staff working document – governance instruments including better regulation tools will be used to ensure that EU policies continue to be fit for purpose. Effective implementation of existing EU policies, of which many are linked to sustainability objectives in the long term, is also needed to continue progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals within the EU and globally, including in developing countries.

The achievement of many Sustainable Development Goals will also depend largely on action taken in Member States, as in many areas the EU supports, coordinates and complements Member States' policies or has a shared responsibility. In line with the principle of subsidiarity, the EU can in areas outside its exclusive competence only act if the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States at central, regional or local level but can rather, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved at Union level.

A sustainable future in the European Union can only be realised if all work together - the Commission, the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, the Member States, businesses, civil society organisations and citizens. EU action is to be coordinated also with our external partners bilaterally and at global level, especially to achieve further progress in developing countries, where many challenges to meet the Sustainable Development Goals are persisting.

2. KEY EUROPEAN ACTIONS SUPPORTING THE 2030 AGENDA AND THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Sustainable development goals Examples of key existing European actions in this field

External actions Domestic/EU oriented actions

1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere The most important Commission priorities contributing to this sustainable development goal are: jobs, growth and investment; a deeper and fairer internal market; a deeper and fairer economic and monetary union; migration; a stronger global actor

- One of the priorities of EU external action is to foster the sustainable economic, social and environmental development of developing countries, with the primary aim of eradicating poverty. - The EU development cooperation policy: the 2005 European Consensus on Development and its 2016 update committing the Council, European Parliament and Commission to a common vision on development policy with the primary objective of poverty eradication in the context of sustainable development. The Agenda for Change, the basis for the EU's development policy, has informed the current programming period 2014-2020, and addresses among its priorities human development through a multi-dimensional approach to poverty. The EU's assistance in the framework of development cooperation policies follows a rights-based approach, encompassing all human rights, and focuses on Least Developed Countries and Lower Income Countries, where extreme poverty is mostly concentrated. The overall contribution to poverty reduction is significant, via the contributions to macroeconomic stabilisation, improved public finance management and trade frameworks, strengthened transport networks and increased public expenditure in social sectors.

- The EU and its Member States are committed to delivering on their Official Development Aid commitments, including the collective commitment of 0.7% of GNI by 2030 and the new commitment of 0.15% of GNI by 2020 and 0.2% of GNI by 2030 to least developed countries. EU budget support is providing predictable resources for partner government's budgets for the eradication of poverty, pursuit of sustainable economic growth and the consolidation of democracies. - The European neighbourhood policy inter alia seeks to address sources of instability across sectors. As poverty is a root of instability, it makes a determined effort to support economies and improve prospects for the local population. - With its trade and investment policy the EU is committed to actively helping people around the world trade their way out of poverty. Europe has opened its markets to all imports from the world's poorest countries notably through its unrivalled Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) and Economic Partnership Agreements, and works actively to help developing countries build the capacity to take advantage of trade in particular through its Aid for Trade assistance. - The external dimension of the EU climate policy, focusing on the implementation of the Paris Agreement - the legally binding global climate deal - will through its actions in third countries help fight poverty in those countries. - The EU provides needs-based humanitarian assistance to save lives, reduce suffering, reduce risks and restore human dignity. EU humanitarian aid covers intervention areas such as food and nutrition , shelter , health care , water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation and education in emergencies. The Action Plan for Resilience in Crisis Prone Countries 2013-2020 sets the ways forward for a more effective EU collaborative action on building resilience, bringing together humanitarian action, long-term development cooperation and on-going political engagement, thereby contributing to poverty eradication. Resilience aims at protecting vulnerable populations from the shocks and stresses that keep people in poverty whilst providing services, livelihoods and opportunities to address the underlying causes of their vulnerability – to "leave no-one behind". These goals are addressed in the Action Plan on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, which reflects the implementation of the Sendai Framework across all relevant EU policies and promotes a disaster risk-informed approach for all EU policies, and in the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative that works together with volunteers in vulnerable communities. - The European Union has adopted a new development approach to forced displacement, based on joint engagement of host governments, international donors, humanitarian and development actors, local communities, civil society, diaspora and the displaced themselves. It aims to help people to cope with future crisis and shocks by investing in peoples capacities for self-reliance and resilience, while targeting and supporting the most vulnerable. - EU funding instruments such as the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, the European Neighbourhood Instrument, the European Development Fund, the Development Cooperation Instrument and the Humanitarian Aid funding instrument. - The EU supports and complements the Member States' policies in the fields of social inclusion and social protection. - The Europe 2020 Strategy and more specifically the headline target to reduce poverty and social exclusion by lifting at least 20 million people out of the risk of poverty and social exclusion. Progress towards this Europe 2020 target is encouraged and monitored through the European Semester , the EU's yearly cycle of economic and budgetary coordination. The Annual Convention for Inclusive Growth has been launched involving a wide range of stakeholders in discussing policy initiatives designed to help reach the 2020 target. - The Commission is moreover working towards a concrete European pillar of social rights, which will identify a number of essential principles which will serve as a compass for upwards convergence as regards social and labour market performances, focusing on the needs and challenges in the field of employment and social policies. One of the main areas covered is adequate social protection, including income support and access to essential services, together with other relevant principles to combat poverty, including inter alia those on fairly remunerated wages, prevention of the misuse or abuse of precarious and non-permanent employment relationships, ensuring transitions from temporary to open-ended contracts. - The proposed European Solidarity Corps will enable young people across the EU to volunteer their help where it is needed most, for example related to activities addressing social challenges, such as social exclusion and poverty. - The European Disability Strategy 2010-2020 aims at supporting the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the EU. One key issue is reducing the current existing gap on poverty risk between those with disabilities and the rest of the population. - Addressing rural poverty, the Common Agricultural Policy aims inter alia to ensure a decent standard of living for farmers and viable rural communities. Agriculture is a key vector for poverty reduction in particular in rural areas. - The Common Fisheries Policy aims for a fair standard of living for fishing communities. - The EU Cohesion Policy is the EU’s main investment policy, whose core mission is to achieve economic, social and territorial cohesion by reducing disparities between the levels of development of the various regions. For the 2014-2020 period, it provides about EUR 350 billion of investments into smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. It has a thematic objective dedicated to promoting social inclusion and combatting poverty and discrimination. It contributes to poverty reduction through its investments in housing, employment creation, regeneration of deprived urban and rural areas, the modernisation of public services and many other areas. Finally, sustainable development is a legally binding cross-cutting principle, which is mainstreamed at all stages of the implementation of the European Structural and Investment Funds. - The EU Civil Protection policy aims at strengthening resilience to disaster at all levels of EU Member States. It aims to strengthen the cooperation and coordination within the EU in the field of civil protection, in order to improve the effectiveness of systems for preventing, preparing for and responding to natural and man-made disasters. - EU funding instruments such as the European Structural Investment Funds; the Employment and Social Innovation Programme ; the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived; the Civil Protection Mechanism and the Instrument for Emergency Support within the Union.





2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture The most important Commission priorities contributing to this sustainable development goal are: jobs, growth and investment; a deeper and fairer internal market; a deeper and fairer economic and monetary union; migration; a stronger global actor

- The EU development cooperation policy: the Agenda for Change focuses on sectors setting the foundations for inclusive and sustainable growth thanks to their multiplier impacts on developing countries' economies, such as sustainable agriculture and access to energy. This involves inter alia support to agricultural growth in developing countries with a focus on small-scale farmers, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, fighting under nutrition and stunting, and strengthening resilience to climate, economic and political shocks of the most vulnerable populations. A coherent set of EU development policies further defines the scope of EU action on food and nutrition security, namely the 2010 EU Policy framework to assist developing countries in addressing food security challenges, the 2012 Communication on Resilience and the 2013 Communication on Nutrition. The EU also pursues human development actions to tackle hunger, notably on malnutrition (EU Food and Nutrition intervention and global initiatives like Scaling Up Nutrition) and on ensuring sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture, contributing to meeting food demand. - The EU provides needs-based humanitarian assistance to the people hit by man-made and natural disasters with particular attention to the most vulnerable victims. This also includes the provision of nutritious and safe food, such as emergency food assistance and treatment of severe acute under-nutrition in crisis situations. The Action Plan for Resilience in Crisis Prone Countries 2013-2020 includes food and nutrition security as priority areas. The EU also supports the new international Food Assistance Convention (FAC), which promotes an up to-date and modernised food assistance approach. - The EU Trade and Investment Policy: the EU is leading the efforts to tackle agricultural export competition which would support farmers world-wide. In this context the EU was instrumental in the adoption in 2015 of the Nairobi WTO agreement to "eliminate all forms of agriculture export subsidies". The EU is fully open to all products from least developed countries and has included open terms in its economic partnership agreement (trade preferences, Economic Partnership Agreements). The EU promotes policy coherence for development in relation to agriculture and trade, and EU funds are no longer used to subsidise exports outside the EU. Also in its other trade and investment relations with third countries the EU pays particular attention to food security, sustainable agriculture and fisheries, as it the case for the European Neighbourhood Policy, the Enlargement policy, the Common Agricultural Policy and the Common Fisheries Policy. -Through its work on food policy at multilateral and bilateral level and the use of the “Better Training for Safer Food” training tool (BTSF) the Commission builds capacity in third countries to increase the understanding of international and European sanitary and phytosanitary standards. The EU agricultural and sanitary and phytosanitary standards policies intend to secure a sustainable food value chain for all. - Further support to third countries is provided through the EU's research and innovation policy. Horizon 2020 for example supports the EU-Africa Research and Innovation Partnership on food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture as well as the EU-China Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology Flagship Initiative. - EU funding instruments such as the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, European Neighbourhood Instrument, European Development Fund, Development Cooperation Instrument, the Humanitarian Aid funding instrument and the external component of Horizon 2020. - The Common Agricultural Policy is helping European farmers to contribute meeting the food demand of more than 500 million Europeans and on international markets (agro-food exports are worth over EUR 120 billion). The common agricultural policy's main objectives are to provide a stable, sustainably produced supply of safe and high quality food at affordable prices for consumers. Sustainability was and will remain a key factor in respectively the past and future reforms of the common agricultural policy. It supports several sustainable agricultural practices through its green direct payments and rural development measures, such as agri-environment and organic farming measures. It also promotes healthy diets among schoolchildren through the EU School Fruit and Vegetables and Milk Scheme. - The Common Fisheries Policy aims to ensure that fishing and aquaculture are environmentally sustainable, competitive and economically viable, contribute to the availability of food supplies, with a fair standard of living for those who depend on fishing activities and aims to promote aquaculture. - The EU environmental and climate policy aims to ensure an environmentally friendly agriculture in Europe thereby contributing to sustainable agriculture, in view of the protection, preservation and improvement in the quality of water, air and soil, in the abundance of bio-diversity and in preservation and enrichment of the EU's landscape. Examples include the 7th Environment Action Programme (the agreed framework for EU environment policy until 2020), the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, or European rules on the sustainable use of pesticides which underline the link with health policy aspects. To improve resource efficiency in food production and reduce impact on water resources, the EU is also promoting sustainable nutrients management in agriculture. The National Emission Ceilings Directive for air pollutants, the Member States' targets to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions as well as the proposal to integrate the land use sector into the EU 2030 Climate and Energy Framework are policy tools that incentivise Member States to take additional sustainable action in their agriculture sectors. - The EU is also contributing through its innovation policy. For example, a European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural productivity and Sustainability was set up. Also, Horizon 2020, the EU Research and Innovation programme invests in projects related to the societal challenges of food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture. A new activity to mobilise resources and stakeholders around a common research and innovation agenda for food and nutrition security is FOOD 2030. FOOD 2030 will explore at EU level what is needed to transform and future-proof our food systems to be sustainable, resilient, competitive, diverse, responsible and performant in their provision of accessible, healthy and sustainable food and diets for all. - EU food policy aims to ensure all food marketed in the EU is safe through coherent farm-to-table measures and adequate monitoring. The EU's regulations and standards contribute in a cross-cutting way to related policies on agriculture and environment. The policy on food waste, food information, food reformulation, food safety and crisis preparedness are all relevant examples in this respect. For example, the Better Training for Safer Food initiative provides for tailor-made training at EU level to ensure the correct implementation of EU sanitary and phytosanitary standards and foster harmonisation between its Member States. Also, EU nutrition initiatives include work with Member States on an action plan addressing childhood obesity. - EU funding instruments such as the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund, the European Structural and Investment Funds, the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived, the Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE), Horizon 2020 and the Emergency Support Instrument.

3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages The most important Commission priorities contributing to this sustainable development goal are: jobs, growth and investment; a digital single market; a deeper and fairer internal market; a deeper and fairer economic and monetary union; migration; a stronger global actor

- In its bilateral and multilateral cooperation the EU pursues cooperation on health issues with third countries and international organisations, setting a general framework for cooperation on public health. This is done mainly through the EU development cooperation policy, the European Neighbourhood Policy and the EU Enlargement Policy. The EU for example promotes the reduction of communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDs, hepatitis & tuberculosis in its neighbouring countries. Moreover, in its development cooperation policy and its partnerships at the global level, the EU favours broad sector support to strengthen health systems and work towards universal health coverage, allowing countries to tackle issues such as health workforce, health sector financing, maternal and child mortality, infectious and non-communicable diseases, access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, and health crises prevention, preparedness and response. Also, at the global level the EU supports global health initiatives such as the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). - The EU also supports health research in developing countries. It for example participates in the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) to support collaborative research that accelerates the clinical development of new or improved interventions to prevent or treat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa Programme. - The EU also promotes a global health agenda to have better access to medicines in developing countries, including support for a permanent waiver for least developed countries for pharmaceutical products under the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of IPRs (TRIPs). - The EU is moreover actively participating to the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020, with a focus on low-income countries which are presenting the highest road traffic fatality rates. - The EU provides needs-based humanitarian assistance to the people hit by man-made and natural disasters. Health is both a core sector of humanitarian aid interventions, and the main reference for measuring overall humanitarian response. Humanitarian health programmes seek to save lives, and limit disability and disease in emergencies by ensuring access to free health services. The European Commission and the countries participating in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism have launched the European Medical Corps, to help mobilise medical and public health teams and equipment for sudden emergencies, inside and outside the EU. - The EU also cooperates with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and other relevant UN bodies as well as G7/G20. - The EU and its 28 Member States are Parties to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) with reporting commitments and obligations and the EU has recently ratified the Illicit Trade protocol adopted under this Framework Convention. - The EU cooperates internationally in the fight on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is recognised as a global threat at UN level and supports the implementation of the World Health Organization Global Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance. The Commission is contributing towards global antimicrobial resistance efforts, working with partner countries outside the EU and through various global and regional activities. - The EU supports affordable and essential medicines and vaccines for all. The EU orphan medicinal legislation has triggered investments for the development of medicines for communicable diseases for instance, and the European Medicines Agency gives scientific opinions in the context of World Health Organization cooperation for the evaluation of certain medicinal products intended for markets outside the EU. For well-known substances, the EU also promotes the World Health Organization Prequalification programme for vaccines. - The EU supports the global implementation of the International Health Regulations, on cross-border health threats and outbreak response, and contributes to global initiatives to strengthen preparedness and response to health emergencies.

- EU funding instruments such as the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, the European Neighbourhood Instrument, the European Development Fund, the Development Cooperation Instrument, the Civil Protection Mechanism, the Humanitarian Aid funding instrument and the external component of Horizon 2020. - The EU supports, coordinates and complements the Member States in their health policy. Member States have the main responsibility for their health care policy and for the organisation of their healthcare. Universal health coverage is an objective of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Several EU policies are contributing to healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages: - In relation to addressing communicable diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and hepatitis, the Commission supports Member States and civil society organisations at combatting these major serious diseases through joint actions and action plans in the EU and its neighbouring countries. The Commission is updating and extending its work to help meet the target of ending AIDS and tuberculosis and combating hepatitis. In addition, the EU has specific responsibilities to coordinate action to address serious cross-border health threats, which cover communicable disease health threats and other health threats (biological, chemical, environmental). - In relation to chronic, non-communicable diseases and mental health and well-being the Commission co-funds joint actions with Member States on chronic diseases and ageing, mental health, cancer, dementia, physical activity, nutrition and obesity and concluded a joint action on alcohol under the Health Programme. - European Reference Networks are facilitating access to diagnosis and treatment of rare and complex diseases across Member States. The EU is moreover investing in the health workforce which includes joint actions to support Member States to invest in health workforce planning and health workforce skills analysis. -In the area of vaccination, the Commission supports the Member States in shaping measures to address scarcity of vaccines and to increase vaccine coverage. - The EU regulates on tobacco control (for example on advertising and product regulation) and is also working with the Member States on the implementation of the related legislation through a joint action under the Health programme. - The EU aims for effective, accessible and resilient health systems and has defined ‘increasing accessibility to healthcare’ as one of the three pillars for an EU agenda for health systems. In the context of the European Semester the EU has developed country-specific knowledge on health systems, complemented by its "State of Health in the EU" Cycle. It cooperates with Member States in this respect inter alia on eHealth, health technology assessment and rare diseases through the cross-border care legislation. - The EU is also active in relation to antimicrobial resistance: an Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance is in place. An evaluation taking place in 2016 supports continued action at the EU level and follow up actions are planned. It is based on a 'One Health' approach taking into account all potential sources and all sectorial aspects. - In relation to serious cross-border threats to health, the EU has a framework in place to improve preparedness and strengthen the capacity to coordinate response to health emergencies across the EU, including cooperation on antimicrobial resistance and helping Member States implement the International Health Regulations. This framework includes an early warning and response system and a mechanism for the coordination of response. - The EU youth strategy also pays particular attention to the health and well-being of the young people. The Commission also supports Member States with the implementation of the Action Plan of Childhood Obesity and of the Action Plan on Youth Drinking and on Heavy Episodic Drinking. - The proposed European Solidarity Corps will enable young people across the EU to volunteer their help where it is needed most, for example related to activities addressing social challenges, such as health and demographic challenges. - With environmental stressors such as air and noise pollution having significant impacts on health, the EU climate and environmental policy also increases health and well-being, for example through its ambitious climate policies as well as through specific air quality, noise, and industrial emissions legislation or through its water policy. - EU Cohesion Policy is the EU’s main investment policy, whose core mission is to achieve economic, social and territorial cohesion, by reducing disparities between EU regions, also in terms of endowment of health services. EU Cohesion Policy has a thematic objective dedicated to promoting social inclusion and tackle poverty and discrimination by for example investing in health and social infrastructure, reducing inequalities in terms of health status and promoting social inclusion through improved access to social, cultural and recreational services. In addition, there is a funding precondition (i.e. ex-ante conditionality) on existence of a policy framework on health, which ensures that the necessary prerequisites for effective and efficient EU investment are in place. Finally, sustainable development is a legally binding cross-cutting principle, which is mainstreamed at all stages of the implementation of the European Structural and Investment Funds. - The EU is promoting research and innovation with the framework programme Horizon 2020 which invests in innovative solutions that help tackle the adverse effects on human health related to pollution, climate change, and transport safety. Horizon 2020 for example contributes EUR 1 billion to the fight against antimicrobial resistance. Innovation in the healthcare sector is also supported via the Innovative Medicines Initiative, which was set up as a joint undertaking between the EU and the pharmaceutical industry, as well as via the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing and the Health Knowledge and Innovation Community within the European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT). - The Commission is moreover working towards a concrete European pillar of social rights, which will identify a number of essential principles which will serve as a compass for upwards convergence as regards social and labour market performances, focusing on the needs and challenges in the field of employment and social policies. One of the main areas covered is adequate social protection, including health care and sickness benefits, and long term care, and access to essential services. - The EU set a road safety target of halving European road deaths by 50 % by 2020. A mix of measures aims at making users, vehicles and infrastructure safer. - Under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, the EU is contributing to the development and better integration of transnational detection and early warning and alert systems, in order to enable a rapid response, also in relation to health issues. To help mobilise medical and public health teams and equipment for sudden emergencies inside and outside the EU, the Commission together with the countries participating in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism have launched the European Medical Corps. - The European Disability Strategy 2010-2020 contains actions to foster access to health services and related facilities for persons with disabilities. - The EU is strengthening the ecosystem of social economy enterprises and actors in the EU, a lot of them working in the health sector and bringing innovative concrete added value to it. - EU funding instruments such as the Health Programme, the European Structural and Investment Funds, the Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE), Horizon 2020 (including through the European Institute of Innovation & Technology EIT), the Fund for European Aid to the most Deprived, the Civil Protection Mechanism and the Emergency Support Instrument.

4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportuni-ties for all The most important Commission priorities contributing to this sustainable development goal are: jobs, growth and investment; a digital single market; a deeper and fairer economic and monetary union, a deeper and fairer internal market; a stronger global actor

- In its cooperation with partner countries the EU pursues its support to education mainly in the framework of the EU development cooperation policy, the European Neighbourhood Policy and the EU Enlargement Policy. The Agenda for Change for example sets a target of minimum 20 % expenditure on social inclusion and human development. These policies recognise the vital role of education and training in building the foundation for human, social and inclusive economic development. Education and training is also an essential means to address wider global challenges related to peace, stability and prosperity, to strengthen societal resilience, pluralism and coexistence, and also to prevent and counter violent extremism and radicalisation. Improving gender equality is a long-standing priority in EU's education programmes. In addition, the EU supports global education initiatives such as the Global Partnership for Education. - The EU has an active policy for cooperation in education (higher education and training in particular) and training with third countries aiming to enhance the development, modernisation and internationalisation of education and training in the EU and beyond, inter alia by promoting peer-to-peer learning and comparison with education systems worldwide. The EU's Erasmus+ mobility and inter-university cooperation programme is an invaluable instrument for establishing lasting academic and cultural ties, which also promote the EU in partner countries. The programme also seeks to build the capacities of higher education institutions in developing partner countries. Overall Erasmus+ funding for developing regions will support around 150,000 mobility exchanges of university students and staff, 1000 capacity building projects in higher education and around 27,000 scholarships for Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees, primarily for partner countries across the world. Another example is the support provided to higher education in Africa through the Joint Africa-EU Strategy, notably contributing to the harmonisation and enhancement of higher education on the African continent. - The European neighbourhood policy and the EU Enlargement Policy invests in the development, modernisation and internationalisation of higher education and improved student and academic mobility in the EU’s neighbouring partner countries. - The EU provides needs-based humanitarian assistance to the people hit by man-made and natural disasters with particular attention to the most vulnerable victims. EU humanitarian aid helps children affected by conflict and disasters through, among others, support to 'Education in Emergencies', which offers educational services and measures support to children in conflicts and complex emergencies. - As Parties to the UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, the EU and its Member States also promote the ratification and implementation of the Convention by third countries. - EU funding instruments such as the European Development Fund, the Development Cooperation Instrument, the European Neighbourhood Instrument, the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, the Humanitarian Aid funding instrument, the Partnership Instrument and the external component of Horizon 2020. Education is also a key dimension European Union Trust Funds such as the Regional Trust Fund for the Syrian crisis (the Madad Fund) and the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa. - Each EU Member State is responsible for its own education and training system. EU-level policy cooperation is designed to support, coordinate or supplement Member States' actions in addressing common challenges. - A key element is the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training (ET 2020), which is a forum for the exchange and dissemination of best practices and support for policy reforms. Member States agreed under Education and Training 2020 seven benchmarks that are monitored annually, on early school-leaving; tertiary education attainment; early childhood education and care; underachievement in reading, maths and science; employment rate of recent graduates and adult participation in learning. Since end 2015 reinforced attention is also given to inclusive education, equality, equity, non-discrimination and the promotion of civic competences. - The new Skills Agenda for Europe launches a number of actions to ensure that the right training, the right skills and the right support is available to people in the European Union. It aims at making better use of the skills that are available; equip people with the needed skills to help them find quality jobs and improve their life chances through making vocational education and training first choice and ensure upskilling pathways. The EU invites Members States, social partners, the industry and other stakeholders to work together to improve the quality and relevance of skills formation; make skills more visible and comparable; and to improve skills intelligence and information for better career choices. The new Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition is the new flag ship initiative. - The Erasmus+ programme is a key contributor at EU level on skills enhancement, improved career prospects and employability of young people, while increasing understanding of different cultures, by supporting learning mobility across borders of students, trainees, apprentices, volunteers and other youth exchanges. It will support at least 4 million mobilities in the period 2014-2020. -The Commission is moreover working towards a concrete European pillar of social rights, which will identify a number of essential principles which will serve as a compass for upwards convergence as regards social and labour market performances. One of the proposed rights is that “all persons shall have access to quality education and training throughout the life course”. Moreover, other related areas covered are equal opportunities and access to the labour market, which pay particular attention to skills, education and lifelong learning. - EU Cohesion Policy has a thematic objective dedicated to education, training and vocational training for skills and lifelong learning. In addition, sustainable development is a legally binding cross-cutting principle, which is mainstreamed at all stages of the implementation of the European Structural and Investment Funds. EU cohesion funds support inclusive, non-segregated and equal access to education. - The Europe 2020 Strategy includes a specific “education headline target” to reduce the rates of early school leaving below 10% and to ensure that at least 40% of 30-34 year-olds complete higher education. Progress towards these Europe 2020 targets is encouraged and monitored through the European Semester , the EU's yearly cycle of economic and budgetary coordination. - In line with the UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, the EU promotes its implementation across its EU wide policies. - The Common Agricultural Policy provides, through its rural development programs, possibilities for training and other types of activities (workshops, coaching, demonstration projects etc.) to persons engaged in the agricultural, food and forestry sectors, land managers and SMEs operating in rural areas. - With regard to culture, the role of the EU is to help address common challenges in its Member States, such as the promotion of cultural diversity, including through education. As Party to the UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, the EU promotes its implementation across all its policies. - EU funding instruments such as the European Structural and Investment Funds, the Union Programme For Education, Training, Youth and Sport (Erasmus+ programme), Horizon 2020 (including through the European Institute of Innovation & Technology EIT) and the Emergency Support Instrument.

5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls The most important Commission priorities contributing to this sustainable development goal are: justice and fundamental rights; a stronger global actor and a union of democratic change

- Gender equality is at the core of European values and enshrined in the EU political and legal framework. The EU strategy and action plan to promote gender equality and women's empowerment 2016-2020 aims at transforming the lives of girls and women through EU external relations by focusing on ensuring girls and women’s physical integrity, promoting their economic and social rights and their empowerment and strengthening their voice and participation. - The EU pursues a twin-track approach to gender equality in its development cooperation policy: gender mainstreaming and gender specific actions in a number of areas. Activities range from capacity-building, support to women's empowerment, disseminating information on gender equality through guidelines to best practices and awareness raising. - The EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy is emphasizing the importance of mainstreaming human rights and gender issues across policy sectors and institutions. Gender Equality is thus to be included in the political and policy dialogue with partner countries. For example there are EU guidelines on violence against women and girls. Gender equality is also integrated in the EU crisis management missions and operations. - The European Neighbourhood Policy applies a gender mainstreaming policy in its relations with third countries. In the EU enlargement process, gender equality is included as one of the requirements in the action plans that the European Commission is following up in the context of accession negotiations. - To ensure the highest quality of EU humanitarian aid policy, gender issues are always considered in EU humanitarian operations, for example through the EU humanitarian Gender-Age Marker and through support to programmes and projects linked to reproductive health in emergencies, including sexual and gender-based violence. The EU Action Plan for Resilience includes a gender perspective by underlining the role of women in building resilience in households and communities affected by crisis. - EU Trade policy supports the external projection of the EU's work on Corporate Social Responsibility including through supportive provisions in its trade agreements. - EU funding instruments such as the European Neighbourhood instrument, the Instrument for Pre- Accession Assistance, the European Development Fund, the European Instrument for Democracy & Human Rights, the Partnership Instrument and the Humanitarian Aid funding instrument. - The EU has made significant progress over the last decades with regard to gender equality. This is mainly thanks to equal treatment legislation, gender mainstreaming (integration of the gender perspective into all other policies), and specific policy and funding measures for the advancement of gender equality. - The strategic engagement for gender equality (2016-2019) sets the framework for the EU's future work towards gender equality, and is accompanied by proposed concrete actions. It sets out the Commission's work plans towards improving gender equality, in increasing female labour market participation, reducing the gender pay, earnings and pension gaps and thus fighting poverty among women, promoting equality between women and men in decision-making, and combating gender-based violence and protecting and supporting victims. - As part of the European Semester, the EU's yearly cycle of economic and budgetary coordination, several Member States have been receiving Country-Specific Recommendations in the area of gender equality, including the availability of quality affordable (full-time) childcare, reducing financial disincentives to work or work more for second earners, the gender pay gap and the harmonisation of retirement age for men and women. - The Commission is moreover working towards a concrete European pillar of social rights, which will identify a number of essential principles which will serve as a compass for upwards convergence as regards social and labour market performances, focusing on the needs and challenges in the field of employment and social policies. Some of the main areas covered include equal opportunities, gender equality and work-life balance. - The EU prepares an Annual Report on equality between women and men in order to monitor progress made in the area of gender equality at EU level. - The Commission believes that Corporate Social Responsibility is important for the sustainability, competitiveness, and innovation of EU enterprises and the EU economy and as such supports businesses to be and to become socially responsible, inter alia through the respect of gender equality in businesses. - In the context of EU Cohesion Policy's efforts to achieve economic, territorial and social cohesion, a range of cross-cutting principles are mainstreamed: there are legally binding ex-ante conditionalities - including a horizontal one on the promotion of equality between men and women, the integration of a gender perspective and non-discrimination based on sex - which are determining the access to dedicated funding from the European Structural and Investment Funds. In addition, cohesion policy has a thematic objective dedicated to social inclusion, poverty and discrimination. Supporting women in work is another priority. - EU funding instruments such as the Justice Programme, the Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme, Horizon 2020, the European Structural and Investment Funds and the Emergency Support Instrument.

6. Ensure availability and sustainable manage-ment of water and sanitation for all The most important Commission priorities contributing to this sustainable development goal are: jobs, growth and investment; a stronger global actor.

- The EU in its external relations, its development cooperation policy (through the European consensus and the Agenda for Change), the European Neighbourhood Policy and the EU Enlargement Policy is supporting third countries in the achievement of this sustainable development goal through bilateral assistance programmes or regional initiatives. The EU Enlargement Policy promotes the extension of EU norms to candidate countries covering water quality, waste water treatment, but also water management and flood prevention. A concrete example of such a regional initiative is the Sustainable Water Integrated Management (SWIM) programme, a Regional Technical Assistance Programme that contributes to the dissemination and effective implementation of integrated water resource management policies and sustainable practices in the Southern Mediterranean Region. From the development cooperation perspective, support to the water sector is not only focusing on access to safe drinking water and sanitation, wastewater and pollution, but also on integrated water management including for transboundary basins, contributing to water diplomacy objectives, and on cross-sectoral coordination with an improved framework for investments in multi-purpose infrastructure. Given the food-water-energy nexus, water and sanitation are important components in a range of actions in thematic fields such as rural development, energy, climate adaptation and mitigation, regional integration, environment and peace and security. - Horizon 2020, the Union framework programme for research and innovation supports European water research and innovation, which is an important driver in support of the implementation of sustainable solutions to several water challenges in different part of the world. - The EU provides needs-based humanitarian assistance to the people hit by man-made and natural disasters, also in the field of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). - EU funding instruments such as the Development Cooperation Instrument, the European Development Fund, the European Neighbourhood instrument, the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, the Partnership Instrument, the Humanitarian Aid funding instrument and the external component of Horizon 2020. - Protection of water resources, water ecosystems and of the water we drink and bathe in is at the cornerstones of EU environmental policy, as confirmed in the 7th Environment Action Programme (the agreed framework for EU environment policy until 2020). The EU water policy provides for a Framework to comprehensively address water protection and for achieving good ecological status for inland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwater. It comprises regulation including on drinking water, bathing water and urban waste water, prevention of pollution caused by nitrates, industrial emissions, pesticides and persistent organic pollutants. EU air pollution policy reduces deposition of pollutants leading to eutrophication and acidification. The EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change recognizes sustainable water management as critical to addressing the impacts of climate change in Europe. The transition to a circular economy should also lead to greater resource efficiency for example by improving the conditions for water re-use in several sectors. - The European Innovation Partnership on Water facilitates the development of innovative solutions to address major European and global water challenges. At the same time, the European Innovation Partnership on Water supports the creation of market opportunities for these innovations, both inside and outside of Europe. - The Common Agricultural Policy aims to promote a sustainable management of natural resources. One of the priority areas for rural development is restoring, preserving and enhancing ecosystems related to agriculture and forestry, including improving water management and increasing efficiency in water use by agriculture. - EU Cohesion Policy has a thematic objective dedicated to preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency and in the period 2014-2020 invests almost EUR 15 billion on water management, with a focus on improving infrastructure for drinking water supply and wastewater treatment in the less developed regions. In addition, there is a funding pre-condition (i.e. ex-ante conditionality) related to the correct implementation of the EU water legislation, which ensures that the necessary conditions are in place for effective and efficient EU investments. Finally, sustainable development is a legally binding cross-cutting principle, which is mainstreamed at all stages of the implementation of the European Structural and Investment Funds. - The EU health and food safety policy also contributes to high standards on water and sanitation in terms of preventing the spread of communicable diseases and promoting universal healthcare and reducing cross-border health risks in EU Member States and through EU sanitary and phytosanitary regulations in the field of food safety. - EU funding instruments such as the European Structural Investment Funds, the Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE), Horizon 2020 (including through the European Institute of Innovation & Technology EIT), the Civil Protection Instrument and the Emergency Support Instrument.

7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all The most important Commission priorities contributing to this sustainable development goal are: jobs, growth and investment; a digital single market; energy union and climate; a stronger global actor

- The EU and its Member States play an important role in international energy fora, in line with the external dimension of the EU Energy Union. They have been key actors contributing to the COP 21 Paris Climate Agreement enabling the transition towards a low-carbon, climate resilient economy. The EU's external energy action is underpinned by its domestic 2030 Climate and Energy Policy Framework. - The EU has been working towards rules-based energy governance worldwide. The EU has been building strategic alliances and intensifying dialogue and coordination with bilateral partners and international organisations, with the aim of joining forces, exploiting possible synergies and increasing complementarity and leverage. The EU furthermore continues to invest in clean energy technologies and cooperates with key partners to promote policies and programs that advance them, notably in the frame of the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM). In June 2016, the EU joined the Mission Innovation Initiative which recognises the global importance of increasing research and development investments in clean energy technologies. - The EU has a leading role within the Energy Community, an international organisation which aims to integrate neighbouring countries into the EU's internal energy market and thus improve cross-border energy security based on solidarity and trust. - The EU development cooperation policy: the Agenda for Change pays particular attention to the energy sector as a key driver of inclusive sustainable growth with the aim to improve access to affordable and sustainable energy, enhance energy efficiency and increase the use of renewable energy sources. In the framework of the global initiative Sustainable Energy for All, the EU has committed to helping developing countries provide access to sustainable energy services to 500 million people by 2030. - The Covenant of Mayors was a great success within the EU that inspired other regions across the globe: the Covenant of Mayors was extended towards the east with the Covenant of Mayors East programme as well as towards the southern Mediterranean countries. The 'Covenant of Mayors for Sub-Saharan Africa' for energy efficiency was also launched. The Partnership Instrument is currently extending the Covenant of Mayors to other regions, such as Asia and North and South America. The new Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, bringing together the Covenant of Mayors and the Compact of Mayors, further strengthens the international dimension of this bottom-up initiative. - In 2015 the EU launched the Global Climate Change Alliance Plus (GCCA+), a seven-year flagship programme to help the world’s poorest and most vulnerable places tackle climate change, including the energy dimension by providing financial, technical and policy support. - Also the European Neighbourhood Policy and the EU Enlargement Policy are focusing among others on access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. - EU funding instruments such as the European Neighbourhood Instrument, the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance, the European Development Fund, the Development Cooperation Instrument, the Partnership Instrument and the external component of Connecting Europe Facility and Horizon 2020. The EU has moreover contributed financially to the Global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund (GEEREF) . - The goal of a resilient Energy Union with an ambitious climate policy is at the core of the Commission's work to give EU consumers - households and businesses - secure, sustainable, competitive and affordable energy. The Commission's Energy Union Strategy from February 2015 sets out the way to achieve this along five interrelated dimensions: energy security, solidarity and trust; integrated European energy market; energy efficiency; decarbonising the economy; and research, innovation and competitiveness. - For the period up to 2020, the Energy Union is complemented by the Europe 2020 Strategy with its headline targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, to satisfy 20% of the EU's energy demand with renewables, and to increase energy efficiency by 20% by 2020. - The 2030 Climate and Energy Policy Framework is a crucial part of the Energy Union by aiming for 2030 to achieve a greenhouse gas emissions reduction of 40%, a renewables' share of at least 27% in the EU's energy mix, and an increase of energy efficiency by at least 27% (with a view to 30%). With this framework, the Energy Union will also ensure in the future secure, sustainable, competitive and affordable energy. At least 20% of the EU budget will be spent on climate action by 2020. - Progress towards these targets is ensured and monitored through the implementation of the Energy Union and its related legislation, as well as the European Semester , the EU's yearly cycle of economic and budgetary coordination. - Several supporting initiatives are taken, such as the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, integrating mitigation, adaptation and access to secure, sustainable and affordable energy at local and regional level. The Integrated Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) adopted last year, brings European countries, industrial and research stakeholders and the Commission together, to work on identifying and implementing common research and innovation objectives and actions to realise the decarbonisation of the EU energy system in the most cost-effective way. - The Commission is moreover working towards a concrete European pillar of social rights, which will identify a number of essential principles which will serve as a compass for upwards convergence. One of the main areas covered is access to essential services, such as energy, including electricity, gas and heating. - Also, the EU's digital policy aims to contribute to energy efficiency, for example through its actions on and support to smart energy grids, smart metering and smart cities. - Moreover, the generation of renewable ocean energy is one of the key maritime economic activities supported under the Blue Growth policy which aims at harnessing the economic potential of our seas and oceans in a sustainable manner. - The Commission believes that Corporate Social Responsibility is important for the sustainability, competitiveness, and innovation of EU enterprises and the EU economy and as such supports businesses to be and to become socially responsible, inter alia through the promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energy in businesses. - EU Cohesion Policy plays a crucial role in delivering the Energy Union. In particular, Cohesion Policy has a thematic objective dedicated to low-carbon economy, which includes measures for energy efficiency, renewable energy, research and innovation and adoption of low-carbon technologies, smart energy infrastructure and energy-efficient decarbonised transport sector. EU Cohesion Policy (2014-2020) invests EUR 29 billion in sustainable energy, including energy efficiency, renewable energy, smart energy infrastructure and low-carbon research and innovation. The access to the related European Structural and Investment Funds is conditional upon the correct implementation of relevant parts of EU energy legislation. Finally, sustainable development is a legally binding cross-cutting principle, which is mainstreamed at all stages of the implementation of the European Structural and Investment Funds. - The Common Agricultural Policy supports, through its Rural Development Programs, investments in infrastructures for generation and distribution of renewable energy (to and from the agricultural holdings) using biomass and other renewable energy sources (solar and wind power, geothermal). - EU funding instruments such as the European Fund for Strategic Investments, the Connecting Europe Facility, Horizon 2020 (including through the European Institute of Innovation & Technology EIT), and the European Structural and Investment Funds.

8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all The most important Commission priorities contributing to this sustainable development goal are: jobs, growth and investment; a digital single market; energy union and climate; a deeper and fairer internal market; a deeper and fairer economic and monetary union; a balanced EU-US free trade agreement; a stronger global actor

- The EU development cooperation policy: the Agenda for Change focuses on inclusive and sustainable growth for human development as one of its priorities in particular in those sectors that have stronger multiplier impact on developing countries' economies, notably sustainable agriculture and energy. EU support has been significant in supporting macroeconomic stability and growth, indirectly enabling new sustainable employment opportunities. Support to technical and vocational training as well as trade development contributed to widen employment opportunities. Employment, decent work and tackling child labour in developing countries are EU priority areas for 2014-2020 under the Global Public Good and Challenges programme. The EU promotes high standards for working conditions internationally as well as the formalisation of the informal economy. The EU supports the development of a competitive local private sector including by building local institutional and business capacity, by promoting SMEs, cooperatives, inclusive business models and social enterprises, by promoting employment for young people and women, by supporting legislative and regulatory framework reforms and their enforcement, and by facilitating access to business and financial services to foster financial inclusion, including through digital solutions. Through its budget support operations the EU promotes stability oriented macroeconomic management as a prerequisite for inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development. This includes prudent debt policies and debt management capacities, increased domestic resource mobilization, reduction of aid dependency and structural reforms to diversify partner countries' economies. The EU also supports responsible management of supply chains and responsible engagement of European companies in developing countries, including in specific sectors such as mining, logging, conflict minerals or garment. - Also the revised European Neighbourhood Policy proposes economic development as a priority, as a means for stabilisation of the regions concerned. - The EU Enlargement Policy will continue to focus efforts on sustainable economic development and competitiveness, growth and jobs. - The External Investment Plan aims to increase investment in Africa and the EU's neighbourhood by unlocking private resources, stepping up technical assistance and improving the investment climate in order to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in these partner countries. The proposed European Fund for Sustainable Development lies at the core of the External Investment Plan and is expected to trigger additional public and private investment volumes, mobilising total investments of up to EUR 44 billion based on EUR 3.35 billion contribution from the EU budget and the European Development Fund, or even EUR 88 billion if Member States and other partners match the EU contribution. - The EU is at the forefront of using its trade and investment policy to support inclusive growth and sustainable development in developing countries. Key instruments in this regard are the Everything But Arms initiative, the GSP+ arrangement and the inclusion of trade and sustainable development chapters in the EU new generation trade and investment agreements, to promote high levels of environmental and labour protection. The Trade for All Strategy further strengthens the link between trade and sustainable development. - EU humanitarian aid provides support and expertise to international organisations to help refugees' and displaced peoples' host governments to put in place legislation that gives them access to the formal labour market, decent work standards and protecting them from labour exploitation. It also focuses on child protection through linking education and protection, and strengthening crisis affected childrens' resilience through vocational training. - The EU has been active in the G20 with regard to strengthening the international economic policy coordination process as well as fostering full and timely implementation of the agreed G20 growth strategies. -The EU has been contributing to the G7 Vision Zero Fund to promote decent work and healthy workplaces in the global supply chains in developing countries, focusing mainly on the garment sector. - Cooperation with the International Labour Organisation with special focus on decent work and social protection. - EU funding instruments such as the proposed European Fund for Sustainable Development, the European Neighbourhood Instrument, the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance, the European Development Fund, the Development Cooperation Instrument, the Partnership Instrument and the Humanitarian Aid funding instrument. - The EU ensures that EU Member States coordinate their economic, social and employment policies at EU level. - The European Commission has launched in 2015 an Investment Plan for Europe to unlock over EUR 315 billion of investment over three years and deliver a powerful and targeted boost to economic sectors that create jobs and raise growth. The Investment Plan for Europe has three objectives: removing obstacles to investment by deepening the single market, providing visibility and technical assistance to investment projects and making smarter use of new and existing financial resources. The EU Capital Markets Union aims to tackle investment shortages head-on by increasing and diversifying the funding sources for Europe’s businesses and long-term projects and through fostering sustainable investment. - The Europe 2020 Strategy and more specifically the headline targets to employ 75% of the 20-64 year-olds and to fighting poverty and social exclusion. Progress towards these Europe 2020 targets is encouraged and monitored through the European Semester , the EU's yearly cycle of economic and budgetary coordination. - With its circular economy package, the EU aims to address economic and environmental concerns by maximizing efficiency in the use of resources, covering the whole value chain and through innovation, thereby enabling the development of new markets and business models. As such it contributes to sustainable economic growth. - The Commission is committed to unleash the full potential of the Single Market through the implementation of its Single Market Strategy and make it the launchpad for Europe to thrive in the global economy. - In line with the principle of subsidiarity, Member States are primarily competent for the definition of their employment and social policy, while the EU supports and complement the activities of the Member States, often by agreeing on minimum standards at the EU level. The EU has put measures in place to ensure decent working conditions, going from legislation on health and safety at work, working conditions, information and consultation of workers to legislation on tackling discrimination at work. - The Commission is moreover working towards a concrete European pillar of social rights, which will identify a number of essential principles which will serve as a compass for upwards convergence as regards social and labour market performances, focusing on the needs and challenges in the field of employment and social policies. Main areas covered are equal opportunities and access to the labour market, fair working conditions, adequate and sustainable social protection and promoting social dialogue, with a view to establishing an adequate and reliable balance of rights and obligations between workers and employers. - The EU has contributed to the elaboration of the Youth Guarantee under which Member States should ensure that, within four months of leaving school or losing a job, young people under 25 can either find a good-quality job suited to their education, skills and experience; or acquire the education, skills and experience required to find a job in the future through an apprenticeship, traineeship or continued education. The EU is moreover topping-up national spending on these schemes through the European Social Fund and the Youth Employment Initiative. - Competitiveness is a core priority of the Energy Union. The third internal energy market package, guidelines for Trans-European energy infrastructure, the renewable and energy efficiency legislation and the new governance of the Energy Union, as well as the revision of the EU Emission Trading System (ETS) and the proposal for setting Member States' targets for the sectors outside the Emission Trading System (ETS) provide the framework for the necessary investments to materialise in the coming years. - The 7th Environment Action Programme sets the vision that by 2050, we live well, within the planet’s ecological limits. It confirms that our prosperity and healthy environment stem from an innovative, circular economy where nothing is wasted and where natural resources are managed sustainably, and biodiversity is protected, valued and restored in ways that enhance our society’s resilience. - With its digital single market strategy, the EU aims to maximise the growth potential of our European Digital Economy. - As the EU's first investment arm, Cohesion Policy addresses a wide range of EU economic and social objectives. EU Cohesion Policy has thematic objectives dedicated to SME support, sustainable and quality, labour mobility and vocational training and lifelong learning. EU Cohesion Policy for the 2014-2020 period is moreover targeted towards achieving smart, sustainable and inclusive growth by providing investments of about EUR 350 billion and a number of enabling conditions, such as technical assistance, capacity building, and territorial cooperation. Finally, sustainable development is a legally binding cross-cutting principle, which is mainstreamed at all stages of the implementation of the European Structural and Investment Funds. - The EU is working to strengthen the ecosystem of social economy enterprises and actors in the EU, bringing an alternative way of doing business, for example by focusing on the social impact for the common good. - The Commission believes that Corporate Social Responsibility is important for the sustainability, competitiveness, and innovation of EU enterprises and the EU economy and as such supports businesses to be and to become socially responsible, for example with regard to working conditions. - The Common Agricultural policy supports jobs and growth in the agricultural sector and the rural economy and it fosters the economic vitality of rural areas. Specific measures are in place to assist young farmers, for example for set-up and investments and through direct payments. - The Common Fisheries Policy supports a fair standard of living for fishing communities, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture and a dynamic fisheries industry. - Blue Growth is the long term strategy to support sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sectors as a whole. Seas and oceans are drivers for the European economy and have great potential for innovation and growth. The EU singles out several particular industries for special attention: ocean energy, aquaculture, blue biotech, deep sea mining and coastal tourism. - The EU is contributing to promoting sustainable tourism and promotes local culture and tourism products, such as emerging, non-traditional tourism destinations (European Destinations of Excellence) or supports transnational projects on sustainable tourism products. - EU funding instruments such as the European Fund for Strategic Investments, the European Structural and Investment Funds, Horizon 2020, the Employment and Social Innovation programme , the Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (COSME), the Emergency Support Instrument, the Connecting Europe Facility and the Creative Europe Programme.

9. Build resilient infrastruc-ture, promote inclusive and sustainable industriali-zation and foster innovation The most important Commission priorities contributing to this sustainable development goal are: jobs, growth and investment; a digital single market; energy union and climate; a deeper and fairer internal market; a stronger global actor

- The EU development cooperation policy: the Agenda for Change and the EU policy on the role of the private sector support leveraging private sector activity and resources with a view to fostering sustainable investment, economic diversification, local value added and industrialization. This includes up-front grant funding and risk-sharing mechanisms to catalyse public-private partnerships and private investment. Blending, which combines EU grants with loans or equity from other public and private financiers, is increasingly supportive of actions on infrastructure which have a multiplier effect on sustainable development in partner countries. The EU moreover promotes industrial policies and the development of national innovation systems. On sustainable industrialisation, EU actions with partner countries are geared towards inclusive and sustainable growth and economic integration, building on partner countries' comparative advantages in the manufacturing or services sectors, including through aid for trade. The EU also promotes the development of sustainable global, regional and local value chains in developing countries. Other targets on access to financial services and technology are consistent with existing EU policy, including its involvement in initiatives such as the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion. -The European Neighbourhood Policy and the EU Enlargement Policy support this sustainable development goal by providing technical assistance and investments on agreed network priorities and technical assistance through blending facilities, bilateral assistance programmes and regional initiatives. For example, in the European Neighbourhood Policy the EU has contributed to the regional transport action plan for the Mediterranean region (2014-2020) and to a transport dialogue within the Eastern partnership aimed at extending the physical infrastructure of the Trans-European Transport networks and their governance. Those Trans-European Transport networks have already been extended to the Western Balkans. - The External Investment Plan aims to increase investment in Africa and the EU's neighbourhood by unlocking private resources, stepping up technical assistance and improving the investment climate in order to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in these partner countries. The proposed European Fund for Sustainable Development lies at the core of the External Investment Plan and is expected to trigger additional public and private investment volumes, mobilising total investments of up to EUR 44 billion based on EUR 3.35 billion contribution from the EU budget and the European Development Fund, or even EUR 88 billion if Member States and other partners match the EU contribution. As such it can provide an important contribution to the promotion of resilient infrastructure, inclusive and sustainable industrialization and innovation in Africa and Neighbourhood countries. - EU humanitarian aid places resilience as its central objective by among others supporting development of disaster and climate resilient infrastructure in different contexts around the globe (e.g. water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), Settlements and Shelter). It supports multi-stakeholder collaborations, including with the private sector and academia, to spur effective and demand-driven humanitarian innovation. These priorities are also underlined in the Action Plan on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.

- EU funding instruments such as the proposed European Fund for Sustainable Development, European Neighbourhood Instrument (in particular through its Neighbourhood Investment Facility), the European Development Fund, the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance, the Development Cooperation Instrument, the external dimension of the Connecting Europe Facility and Horizon 2020, the Partnership Instrument and the Humanitarian Aid funding instrument. - The EU’s Trans-European Networks policy links regional and national infrastructure to create coherent European infrastructure systems. This includes both interconnection and interoperability, mainly for transport and energy , but also Information and Communications Technology (ICT). There are guidelines in place to make sure that all supported infrastructure projects are climate and disaster resilient. Also the Energy Union contributes to the build-up of infrastructure. The Common Agricultural Policy, through its Rural Development Programs, supports the creation, improvement and expansion of broadband infrastructures and IT applications. - The European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection sets the overall framework for activities aimed at improving the protection of critical infrastructure in Europe - across all EU States and in all relevant sectors of economic activity. The programme has also synergies with actions under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism. - The EU is working towards a smart, innovative and clean industry of the future, supporting the modernisation of Europe’s industrial base across all industrial sectors. It does so by providing financing, including targeted financing to SMEs (for example through the Investment Plan for Europe, European Structural and Investment Funds, COSME, Horizon 2020, including the European Institute of Innovation & Technology EIT), best regulatory environment (Single Market Strategy, innovative schemes encouraging flexible and innovation friendly legislation). Also, the EU aims to reap the full benefits of the digital single market by promoting the digitisation of the European industry and through its access and connectivity policies. Also the Common Agricultural Policy supports the creation, improvement and expansion of broadband infrastructures and IT applications in rural areas. - The EU is promoting eco-innovation and sustainability objectives for the European economy through its circular economy package, through its 2030 Climate and Energy Policy Framework which strives for a competitive low-carbon and climate-resilient economy, through its actions to stimulate the uptake of advanced (digital and key enabling) technologies and business models for a cleaner industry and through the promotion of corporate social responsibility in the EU by encouraging enterprises to adhere to international guidelines and principles. The EU also supports small cultural and creative enterprises to access financial services and integrate into value chains and markets. - The EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change identifies resilient infrastructure as a priority action area under the strategic objective of mainstreaming adaptation measures as a way to climate proof EU action. Guidelines for project developers on climate proof investments as well as a guide for addressing climate change adaptation in standards (with CEN-CENELEC) have been developed. - The Europe 2020 Strategy and more specifically the headline target to invest at least 3% of the EU's GDP in R&D. Progress towards this Europe 2020 target is encouraged and monitored through the European Semester , the EU's yearly cycle of economic and budgetary coordination. Horizon 2020 is the financial instrument implementing the Innovation Union , a Europe 2020 flagship initiative aimed at securing Europe's global competitiveness. Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever with EUR 77 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020) – in addition to the private investment that this money will attract. For example, Horizon 2020 finances research and innovation for sustainable industrialisation through the Bio-Based Industries Joint Technology Initiative, a public-private partnership which will support biorefineries and innovative bio-processing technologies. - As the EU's first investment arm, EU Cohesion Policy has specific thematic objectives dedicated to research and innovation, ICT, transport infrastructure, climate resilience and risk prevention and management, and smart energy systems. EU Cohesion Policy (2014-2020) invests EUR 41 billion in innovation, EUR 33 billion for the competitiveness of SMEs and EUR 70 billion for better and more sustainable transport, including a shift towards low-carbon systems, and EUR 3 billion in smart energy grids. The funding opportunities for innovation are targeted at smart specialisation priorities, based on the local growth opportunities and needs and together with industry and researchers. In the area of transport and energy infrastructures, as a funding pre-condition, the investments are based on comprehensive plans or frameworks. Finally, sustainable development is a legally binding cross-cutting principle, which is mainstreamed at all stages of the implementation of the European Structural and Investment Funds. - EU funding instruments such as the European Fund for Strategic Investments, the European Structural and Investment Funds, Horizon 2020 (including through the European Institute of Innovation & Technology EIT), the Connecting Europe Facility, the Civil protection instrument, the Emergency Support Instrument and the Cultural and Creative Sector Guarantee Facility.

10. Reduce inequality within and among countries The most important Commission priorities contributing to this sustainable development goal are: jobs, growth and investment; a deeper and fairer internal market; a deeper and fairer economic and monetary union; justice and fundamental rights; migration; a stronger global actor; democratic change

- The EU development cooperation policy, the European Neighbourhood Policy and the EU Enlargement Policy aim to reduce inequality within the countries concerned by promoting respectively inclusive growth for human development and economic development for stabilisation. As such it also aims to bridge the gap with other more developed countries. More specifically, development cooperation focuses on growth patterns that lead to structural transformation and that are conducive to more productive employment, higher incomes and decent work for all, which are central for addressing income inequalities. Moreover, EU action - for example through its budget support dialogue - centres on pro-poor fiscal policies, strengthened governance, fair and transparent tax systems, public sector management, domestic resource mobilisation and adequate and sustainable social protection, all of which contribute to tackling inequalities. The EU support also takes a comprehensive approach to human development which involves non-discriminatory access to resources and a rights-based approach, developing social protection and reducing inequality of opportunity, having regard to most vulnerable and disadvantaged. Financing instruments integrate the Agenda for Change commitment including continued support for social inclusion and human development through at least 20% of EU aid. - EU trade and investment policy aims to make trade and investment contribute to inclusive growth and sustainable development within countries, notably by maximising the potential of trade preferences, trade agreements and investment agreements for job creation, high levels of labour protection and investment generation in partner countries, notably developing ones. At the same time, the EU aims to minimise any negative impact of other trade agreements on least developed countries and other countries most in need. - One essential aspect of the common EU approach to migration is to build dialogue and partnerships with countries of origin and transit, based on solidarity and shared responsibility. To this end new results-oriented Partnership Frameworks with third countries will be developed where the EU and its Member States will act in a coordinated manner according to the situation and needs of each partner country, depending on whether they are a country of origin, country of transit or a country hosting many migrants. At the same time, the global Approach to migration and mobility provides the overarching framework for the EU external migration policy. Focused and continued attention will be needed to support partner countries to maximise the contribution of well managed migration to development including through the reduction of remittance transfer costs from the EU. - The EU provides needs-based humanitarian assistance to the people hit by man-made and natural disasters with particular attention to the most vulnerable, which often include persons with disabilities, women, children and elderly. As such it contributes to reduce inequalities within and among countries. The Action Plan for Resilience in Crisis Prone Countries 2013-2020 calls for "Equity - a people-centred approach", to bring sustainable benefits to the most vulnerable populations and households, taking into account the diversity of needs of women, children, men and the elderly. The Action Plan for the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 - 2030 implementation advocates for inclusivity and gives a special focus on vulnerable groups. - In its international relations the EU is also committed to reducing inequalities. It is for example committed to improve regulation and monitoring on global financial markets and institutions. Also, in order to reduce inequalities among countries, including those related to representation and migration, the EU is committed to enhancing voice and representation of developing countries in International Financial Institutions and reducing remittance costs, in the G20 and other international fora. - Cooperation with OECD as regards income inequalities (the OECD's flagship report on income inequalities launched jointly with the European Commission in May 2015). - When it comes to leaving no one behind, the EU encourages financial flows, including foreign direct investment, to states where the need is greatest, and has made a collective commitment to allocate 0.20% of Gross National Income (GNI) as Official Development Assistance (ODA) to the least developed countries by 2030. - EU funding instruments such as the European Neighbourhood Instrument, European Development Fund, the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance, the Development Cooperation Instrument, the Civil Protection Mechanism, the Partnership Instrument and the Humanitarian Aid funding instrument. - The EU supports and complements the Member States' policies in the fields of social inclusion and social protection. - In the framework of the European Semester the Commission provides detailed annual analyses of EU Member States budgetary and economic reform plans and provides Member States with country-specific recommendations for the next 12-18 months. The European Semester recommendations aim at structural reforms that can enhance growth, jobs and investment, and thereby also social inclusiveness. This covers e.g. fiscal and structural reform (including social policies), which both can contribute to reducing inequality. These recommendations also contribute to the objectives of the EU's long-term strategy for jobs and growth, the Europe 2020 Strategy, which is implemented and monitored in the context of the European Semester. Many decisions however remain a prerogative of the Member States, for example regarding the progressivity of tax systems and the design of the welfare systems. - The EU is working on the implementation of a new agenda for migration, as the EU’s external borders have increasingly been the scene of human tragedies to which the EU, together with its Member States, must take action. The EU aims at taking immediate action to prevent further losses of migrants’ lives. In the medium to longer term the EU is focusing on reducing the incentives for irregular migration, saving lives and securing the external borders, strengthening the common asylum policy and developing a new policy on legal migration. The European Commission’s Knowledge Centre for Migration and Demography shall underpin these policy developments and decisions with relevant knowledge and evidence-based analysis. - The proposed European Solidarity Corps will enable young people across the EU to volunteer their help where it is needed most, for example related to the reception and integration of refugees. - The EU has put in place a framework to ensure equal opportunities and to tackle discrimination based on grounds of racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation and sex . Examples are the EU laws on racial Equality (implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin in many areas of social life) and on Employment Equality (establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation). The EU for example also has a strategy in place to reduce health inequalities in the EU and promote solidarity in health, and has rules in place on the fight against racism and xenophobia. - The Commission is moreover working towards a concrete European pillar of social rights, which will identify a number of essential principles which will serve as a compass for upwards convergence as regards social and labour market performances, thereby contributing to reducing inequalities. - Also the New Skills Agenda will contribute to reducing inequalities as it aims at ensuring that people in Europe have the skills they need to participate in society and be active in the labour market.

- The EU has taken a number of initiatives to create a safer and sounder financial sector through its banking union, such as stronger prudential requirements for banks, improved depositor protection and rules for managing failing banks. Moreover a Single Supervisory Mechanism and a Single Resolution Mechanism for banks was established. - EU cohesion policy is about reducing disparities between the various regions and the catching-up of the least-favoured regions and about promoting economic, social and territorial cohesion. It does so by investing in smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in all EU regions. Cohesion policy has a thematic objective especially dedicated to promoting social inclusion, combatting poverty and any discrimination to which it contributes in particular by building non-segregated facilities and encouraging community-based services. Finally, sustainable development is a legally binding cross-cutting principle, which is mainstreamed at all stages of the implementation of the European Structural and Investment Funds. - The EU civil protection policy considers the needs of people with disabilities among the priorities of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism activities (e.g. civil protection exercises and preparedness projects), thereby fostering disability-inclusive disaster management. - EU funding instruments such as the European Structural and Investment Funds, the Employment and Social Innovation programme, the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Civil Protection Mechanism, the Emergency Support Instrument and the Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme.

11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable The most important Commission priorities contributing to this sustainable development goal are: jobs, growth and investment; a digital single market; energy and climate; a stronger global actor

- The EU development cooperation policy, the EU neighborhood policy and the EU Enlargement Policy aim to directly or indirectly improve living conditions in cities. For example EU development cooperation policy aid to urban and peri-urban areas focuses in particular on support to slum upgrading, access to water and sanitation, urban mobility, energy and affordable housing, land access, the essential role of culture and cultural heritage and availability of public space for all, as well as energy efficiency and disaster prevention and preparedness. The EU promotes sustainable and climate resilient urbanisation as a basic tool to enhance more effective development at local level and is committed to work on social inclusion and gender issues in informal settlements. - The EU is also actively participating in international fora, for example in "Habitat III”, a major global summit, formally known as the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development . It has helped developing the Mediterranean and Eastern components of the Covenant of Mayors (see the text linked to sustainable development goal n°7), and has contributed to the Union for the Mediterranean Ministerial on Sustainable Urban Development (2011). - In June 2016, the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy and the Compact of Mayors joined efforts to create a new single global initiative, the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, resulting in the largest global coalition of cities committed to climate leadership. Built upon a unique multi-level governance model, it brings together more than 7,100 cities from 119 countries and six continents, representing more than 600 million inhabitants, over 8% of the world’s population. - The urban crises are one of the EU humanitarian assistance programmes' priorities. EU humanitarian aid supports methodologies for urban approaches to humanitarian response as well as different initiatives working on urban humanitarian crises. The Action Plan for the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 - 2030 implementation includes a strong focus on building the urban resilience to disasters. - Reinforcing cooperation on cultural heritage is one of the three main objectives of the EU strategic approach to international cultural relations. Actions in this field include research on cultural heritage, initiatives and projects aimed at combating illicit trafficking of cultural goods and protection of cultural heritage internationally in cooperation with UNESCO. - EU funding instruments such as the European Development Fund, the European Neighbourhood Instrument, the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, the Development Cooperation Instrument, the Partnership Instrument, the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace, the Humanitarian Aid funding instrument and the external component of Horizon 2020. - Cities are key actors for the sustainable development of the European Union. In the period up to 2020 the urban dimension is put at the very heart of EU Cohesion Policy. An amount of funds is earmarked for integrated projects in cities. Linked to this the Urban Agenda for the EU was adopted in 2016 so that urban areas will benefit from an innovative collaborative approach to developing and implementing policies with a local focus but a significant European dimension. In the funding period 2014 – 2020 for example, more than EUR 100 billion from the European Regional Development Fund will be invested in cities to create better opportunities for sustainable urban mobility, energy efficiency, urban renewal, research and innovation capacity and economic and social regeneration of deprived communities. Finally, sustainable development is a legally binding cross-cutting principle, which is mainstreamed at all stages of the implementation of the European Structural and Investment Funds. - The 7th Environment Action Programme, the agreed framework for EU environment policy until 2020, has as a horizontal priority objective to make the Union's cities more sustainable. Many of the EU's policies and legislation are vital for sustainable urban development such as the Clean Air Package, Air Quality and Noise Legislation, the Circular Economy Package, legislation on the environmental assessment of projects and plans, the EU's Biodiversity and Green Infrastructure Strategies, Drinking Water and Urban Wastewater Treatment legislation and the framework on energy performance of building.



- Urban areas concentrate most of the environmental challenges facing our society but also bring together commitment and innovation to resolve them. The European Green Capital Award and the Green Leaf Award are EU initiatives to bring such commitment into the centre stage. Also, the efforts of cities to improve the accessibility for persons with disabilities and older people are being recognized through the annual Access City Award. - Innovation in urban areas is fostered through EU research and innovation actions, for instance Horizon 2020 support to the transition to sustainable cities through nature-based solutions and cultural heritage-led regeneration. - The EU policy on smart cities and more specifically the European Innovation Partnership on Smart Cities and Communities brings together cities, industry and citizens to improve urban life through more sustainable integrated solutions. - The Energy Union aims to provide the necessary sustainable, save and resilient energy for our cities. The Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy supports cities in addressing climate resilience, together with taking ambitious action on climate change mitigation and access to safe, clean and affordable energy. New signatories of the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the EU's targets for 2030 and to adopt an integrated approach to tackling mitigation and adaptation to climate change. - The EU promotes sustainable urban mobility planning in cities in various ways; it has for example established guidelines and provides funding for related projects. - European cultural heritage benefits from a range of EU policies, programmes and funding. The recently agreed designation of 2018 as European Year for Cultural Heritage will help the EU and its Member States strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard cultural heritage. The protection of cultural heritage against all kinds of natural and man-made disasters occurring inside or outside the Union is also covered by the Union Civil Protection Mechanism. This is further underlined in the Action Plan for the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction implementation 2015 – 2030 that advocates for strengthened urban resilience to disasters. - The EU is working to strengthen the ecosystem of social economy enterprises and actors in the EU, most of them bringing social values in the local communities, thereby contributing to resilience and more sustainability in the medium and long run. - EU funding instruments such as the European Fund for Strategic Investments, the European Structural and Investment Funds, Horizon 2020, the Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE), the Connecting Europe Facility and the Civil Protection Mechanism.

12. Ensure sustainable consump-tion and production patterns The most important Commission priorities contributing to this sustai