COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS A DECENT LIFE FOR ALL: Ending poverty and giving the world a sustainable future
Date: 2013-02-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: development aid, globalisation, international conference, peacekeeping, poverty, sustainable development, world economy

EUROPEAN 
COMMISSION 

Brussels, 27.2.2013  
COM(2013) 92 final 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 

A DECENT LIFE FOR ALL: 

Ending poverty and giving the world a sustainable future 

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COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 

A DECENT LIFE FOR ALL: 

Ending poverty and giving the world a sustainable future 

1. 

INTRODUCTION  

Two  of  the  most  pressing  challenges  facing  the  world  are  eradicating  poverty  and  ensuring 
that prosperity and well-being are sustainable. Around 1.3 billion people still live in extreme 
income poverty and the human development needs of many more are still not met. Two-thirds 
of the services provided by nature – including fertile land, clean water and air – are in decline 
and  climate  change  and  biodiversity  loss  are  close  to  the  limits  beyond  which  there  are 
irreversible effects on human society and the natural environment.  

These  challenges  are  universal  and  inter-related  and  need  to  be  addressed  together  by  all 
countries. It is not sufficient to address the challenges separately – a unified policy framework 
is needed. Such an overarching policy framework is needed to mark out a path from poverty 
towards prosperity and well-being, for all people and all countries, with progress remaining 
within planetary boundaries. It should also be closely related to issues relating to governance, 
human rights and peace and security issues, which are enabling conditions for progress. It is 
estimated  that  1.5  billion  people  are  living  in  countries  experiencing  significant  political 
conflict, armed violence, insecurity or fragility.  

In autumn 2013, a UN special event will take stock of the efforts made towards achieving the 
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), discuss ways to accelerate progress until 2015 and 
start  exchanging  on  what  could  follow  after  the  MDG  target  year  of  2015.  In  addition,  the 
commitments  made  at  the  Rio+20  Conference  in  June  2012  need  to  be  implemented, 
including  through  actions  towards  an  inclusive  green  economy.  Furthermore,  it  will  be 
necessary  to  build  further  on  this  progress  through  the  Open  Working  Group  that  was 
established in Rio. All of these inputs will provide input for the development of a post-2015 
overarching framework. 

This  Communication  proposes  a  common  EU  approach  to  these  issues.  To  do  this,  it  first 
identifies the main global challenges and opportunities. It then turns to evaluate the success of 
global poverty eradication agenda and the experience of the MDGs, as well as outlining some 
of  the  key  steps  towards  sustainable  development  as  agreed  in  Rio+20,  and  outlining  key 
actions.  It  then  describes  the  challenges  and  elements  for  a  future  framework  that  can  be 
drawn from the experience of the MDGs and the work stemming from Rio+20, in particular 
the  elaboration  of  Sustainable  Development  Goals  (SDGs),  and  indicates  how  these  can  be 
brought together within relevant UN processes. 

Based on these considerations, it proposes principles for an overarching framework for post-
2015 which would provide a coherent and comprehensive response to the universal challenges 
of poverty eradication and sustainable development in its three dimensions, thereby ensuring a 
Decent Life for All by 2030. 

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2. 

NEW GLOBAL CONTEXT, NEW CHALLENGES, NEW OPPORTUNITIES  

resources, 

The  world  has  undergone  enormous  change  over  recent  years,  including  major  shifts  in  the 
global economic and political balance, increased global trade, climate change and depletion of 
natural 
increased 
consumption  and  price  volatility  of  food  and  energy  consumption,  population  changes  and 
migration,  violence  and  armed  conflict  and  natural  and  man-made  disasters,  and  increased 
inequalities. New actors, including private and other non-governmental players, have arisen in 
the global arena.  

technological  change,  economic  and 

financial  crises, 

While  developed  and  emerging  economies  account  for  most  of  global  GDP,  the  latter  have 
now  become  the  key  drivers  of  global  growth  and  already  have  a  significant  impact  on  the 
world economy. Trends suggest that the balance is expected to shift further; by 2025, global 
economic  growth  should  predominantly  be  generated  in  emerging  economies,  with  six 
countries expected to collectively account for more than half of all global growth.  

Unemployment  remains  a  worldwide  challenge.  Some  200  million  people  are  out  of  a  job, 
among them 75 million young people. Rates of female participation in the labour market often 
remain  low,  while  social  services  remain  limited.  Furthermore,  some  621  million  young 
people  worldwide  are  not  in  school  or  training,  not  employed  and  not  looking  for  work, 
risking a permanent exclusion from the labour market. Undeclared work and the fundamentals 
for decent work, including rights at work and social dialogue, are problems in many countries. 
Most  poor  people  in  developing  countries  are  engaged  in  small-scale  farming  or  are  self-
employed. Many poor people in these countries are working in unsafe conditions and without 
the protection of their basic rights. Only 20% of the world population has access to adequate 
social protection.  

At the same time, inequalities within countries have increased in most parts of the world. The 
majority  of  the  poor  now  live  in  middle  income  countries,  in  spite  of  their  fast  growth. 
Achieving  poverty  eradication  in  such  countries  appears  to  be  one  of  the  major  challenges. 
However, longer term projections indicate that by 2050 the locus of poverty might again be 
concentrated in the poorest and most fragile countries. 

More than 1.5 billion people live in countries affected by violent conflict. Violence destroys 
lives  and  livelihoods  and  often  affects  women  and  people  in  vulnerable  situations,  such  as 
children and people with disabilities. The gap between fragile, violence-affected countries and 
other  developing  countries  is  widening.  In  April  2011,  no  low-income  fragile  or  conflict-
affected country had achieved a single MDG and few are expected to meet any of the targets 
by 2015. Poor governance, including a lack of democracy, rule of law and respect for human 
rights, 
towards  poverty  eradication  and  sustainable 
development.  

is  currently  hampering  efforts 

In  addition,  there  is  overwhelming  scientific  evidence  and  consensus  that  the  unsustainable 
use of the natural resources is one of the greatest long term threats to humankind. The effects 
of environmental degradation and climate change are already being felt and threaten to undo 
much of the progress already made in eradicating poverty, and so do natural disasters. We are 
not on track to keep temperature increases within 2°C above the temperature in pre-industrial 
times,  the  threshold  beyond  which  there  is  a  much  higher  risk  that  catastrophic  impacts  on 
natural  resources  will  occur,  posing  risks  to  agriculture,  food  and  water  supplies  and  the 
development gains of recent years. At the global level, the challenge will be to adapt and to 
mitigate impacts, including through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.  

Already today, climate change, depletion of natural resources and ecosystem degradation are 
having  a  significant  impact  on  livelihoods,  for  example  through  the  increased  number  and 

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intensity  of  natural  disasters  and  the  depletion  of  natural  capital  and  infrastructure.  Since 
1992, natural disasters have caused € 750 billion of  damage and killed 1.3 million people. The 
effects of unsustainable patterns of current economic development are still largely determined 
by developed countries and increasingly by emerging economies, while poorer countries are 
disproportionately impacted and have the least resources to cope with negative effects1. These 
countries  are  also  often particularly dependent on natural resources, in particular for sectors 
such  as  agriculture,  forestry,  energy  and  tourism,  which  aggravates  their  vulnerability  to 
degradation and depletion.  

Development  and  growth  contribute  to  human  prosperity  and  well-being,  but  also  to 
environmental  challenges,  such  as  resource  depletion  and  pollution,  which  are  likely  to 
become more acute over time. These negative effects are mostly determined by the 5.7 billion 
people  that  do  not  live  in  extreme  income  poverty,  which  leads  to  a  significant  increase  in 
global  demand  and  consumption,  putting  additional  strain  on  natural  resources.  Progress 
towards an inclusive green economy through sustainable consumption and production patterns 
and  resource  efficiency,  including  in  particular  low  emission  energy  systems,  is  therefore 
essential.  

In  order  to  satisfy  increasing  demand,  it  is  estimated  that  global  agricultural  production  in 
2050 will have to increase by 60% over 2005 levels, putting increasing pressure on already-
scarce natural resources, in particular land, forests, water and oceans. At the same time, there 
are  indications  that  up  to  half  of  global  food  production  is  wasted.  Given  urbanisation  and 
population growth, water use is projected to increase by 50% by2025, by which time roughly 
5.5 billion people  – two thirds  of the projected global population – will  live in  areas facing 
moderate to severe water stress.  

Looking ahead, these challenges must be viewed in the context of demographic trends: it is 
projected  that  the  world  population  will  reach  more  than  9  billion  by  2050,  with  the 
population  of  sub-Saharan  Africa  set  to  more  than  double.  Together,  Africa  and  Asia  will 
represent nearly 80% of the world's population by 2050. The increase in the world's median 
age is expected to affect developing countries most, with consequences for health services and 
pensions, as well as tax revenues. 

It is in this context that the follow up to Rio+20 and the MDG review special event take place. 
We  need  to  keep  in  mind  that  the  challenges  are  interrelated  and  require  a  coherent  and 
comprehensive response, supportive also of other international processes, such as climate and 
biodiversity negotiations. 

3. 

3.1. 

BUILDING ON THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE MDGS AND RIO+20  

Taking stock of MDG achievements  

The  EU  remains  committed  to  doing  its  utmost  to  help  achieve  the  MDGs  by  2015,  in  line 
with its policy framework as set out in the Agenda for Change2 and the European Consensus 
on Development3. 

The  MDGs  embody  a  fundamental  global  agreement  to  end  poverty  and  to  further  human 
development.  They  have  in  the  last  decade  proven  to  be  a  valuable  tool  to  raise  public 

1 

2 
3 

Least  Developed  Countries  comprise  more  than  880  million  people  (about  12  per  cent  of  world 
population) but account for less than 2 % of world GDP. 
COM(2011) 637 final 
2006/C 46/01 

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awareness,  increase  political  will  and  mobilise  resources  to  eradicate  poverty.  Impressive 
progress has been made:  

•  According  to  the  World  Bank,  the  share  of  people  living  on  less  than  USD  1.25  a  day 
(2005 prices) fell from 43% in 1990 to 22% in 2008. It is likely that the target to halve the 
proportion of people living in extreme poverty was reached in 2010. 

•  The target to halve the proportion of the population without access to safe drinking water 
was achieved globally in 2010 – between 1990 and 2010 over two billion people gained 
access. 

•  Globally,  primary  school  enrolment  has  increased  to  an  average  of  89%,  with  girls  now 

almost as likely to be enrolled as boys. 

•  Children are significantly less likely to die of disease or malnutrition. 
•  Global HIV infections continue to decline and access to anti-retroviral drugs has expanded 

widely. 

The  global  partnership  for  development  has  complemented  national  efforts  towards  the 
MDGs. Since 2000, annual global Official Development Assistance (ODA) has increased by 
nearly  70%,  to  EUR  96  billion,  and  the  share  of  ODA  going  to  Least  Developed  Countries 
(LDCs)  has  more  than  doubled.  The  EU  and  its  Member  States  collectively  are  the  largest 
donor, providing an annual EUR 53 billion in ODA (2011), or more than half of global ODA. 
In parallel, the implementation of the aid and development effectiveness principles and targets 
has  contributed  to  greater  ODA  impact.  The  phenomenal  growth  in  trade  has  been  a  major 
factor  in  progress:  between  2000  and  2009  developing  country  exports  rose  by  80%, 
compared  to  40%  for  the  world  as  a  whole  The  EU  is  the  biggest  trading  partner  for 
developing  countries  and  has  led  the  way  in  granting  duty-free  and  quota-free  access  to  all 
LDC products, under the Everything But Arms initiative. Furthermore, EU-funded research, 
such as through the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership, has also 
contributed to the achievement of the MDGs. 

Challenges  to  the  achievement  of  the  MDGs  however  remain,  with  sub-Saharan  Africa  in 
particular  lagging  behind.  Globally,  1.3  billion  people  still  live  in  extreme  income  poverty. 
More than 850 million people do not have enough to eat. About 61 million children are still 
out of school. Women continue to be the subject of discrimination and confront severe health 
risks,  in  particular  to  maternal  health  and  their  sexual  and  reproductive  health  and  rights. 
Violence affects one third of all women in their lifetime and undermines efforts to reach any 
MDG.  An  estimated  2.5  billion  people  are  without  access  to  decent  sanitation  facilities  and 
780 million people still lack access to clean and safe drinking water. 7 million people living 
with HIV/AIDS still do not have access to treatment. The world is still far from reaching the 
target of full  and productive employment and decent work for all. Only 20% of the  world's 
population has access to adequate social protection. Unsustainable use and management of the 
Earth's limited resources puts at risk the lives and well-being of future generations.  

In addition, success is unevenly distributed not only between countries – in particular with a 
striking lack of progress towards the MDGs in fragile and conflict affected states – but also 
within  countries  -  including  those  that  already  have  the  means  to  provide  better  lives  and 
futures for their population.  

Yet the overall picture, especially in view of technological advances and economic progress 
achieved  by  many  emerging  and  developing  countries  since  the  MDGs  were  developed, 
shows that elimination not just reduction of poverty in a single generation is within reach. 

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3.2.  Main Rio+20 outcomes and commitments  

The Rio+20 Conference confirmed a common global vision for an economically, socially and 
environmentally sustainable future  for  the planet  and for present and future  generations and 
underlined  that  many  challenges  remain  to  be  addressed.  Rio+20  recognised  the  green 
economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication as an important 
pathway for achieving sustainable development, set in motion a process to develop universal 
sustainable  development  goals  (SDGs)  and  agreed  to  take  action  towards  sustainable 
development. These actions will also help inform the process of developing SDGs and will, in 
the  longer  term,  also  contribute  to  their  realisation.  Rio+20  also  agreed  to  reform  the 
institutional  framework  for  sustainable  development,  to  set  in  place  a  structure  that  can 
deliver the follow-up to the Conference and to work further on means of implementation. It is 
important  that  the  EU  now  implements  promptly  the  commitments  taken  at  Rio,  actively 
engages  in  these  processes  and  takes  the  necessary  action  both  within  the  EU  and 
internationally. 

3.3. 

Implementation: Actions at EU and international level  

the 

to  pursue 

sustainable  development, 

The  EU  will  continue 
including  by 
implementingRio+20  commitments  through  a  range  of  overarching  policies,  in  particular 
through  its  overarching  strategy  for  smart,  inclusive  and  sustainable  growth  -  Europe  2020. 
This  covers,  inter  alia,  resource  efficiency,  low  carbon  economy,  research  and  innovation, 
employment,  social  inclusion  and  youth.  The  implementation  and  regular  review  of  the 
Europe 2020 Strategy, which builds on the integrative approach initiated by the EU Strategy 
for  Sustainable  Development,  should  contribute  to  greater  coherence,  mainstreaming  and 
integration  of  the  three  dimensions  of  sustainable  development  in  EU  policies  at  large. 
Sustainable development objectives will be made operational through a range of key policies 
under  preparation,  including  the  reform  of  the  Common  Agricultural  and  the  Common 
Fisheries  Policies,  the  forthcoming  7th  Environmental  Action  Programme,  the  Innovation 
Union, Horizon 2020 and the Social Investment Package.  

The EU has consistently provided development cooperation in order to contribute to the full 
implementation of the MDGs. Through its external action and notably the implementation of 
the  Agenda  for  Change,  the  EU  will  continue  facilitating  progress  towards  the  MDGs  and 
sustainable development in developing countries, with a specific focus on the least developed 
and the ones most in need. At the same time, a number of actions need to be carried out in 
order to contribute to the implementation of Rio+20 commitments.  

The main current EU activities to implement Rio+20 are brought together in Annex I.  

3.4. 

Institutional 
implementation 

framework 

for 

sustainable  development  and  means  of 

Rio+20 started a process to reinforce the institutional framework for sustainable development, 
including  strengthening  the  role  of  the  UN  General  Assembly  (UNGA)  and  ECOSOC.  A 
major  decision  was  to  establish  a  High-Level  Political  Forum  (HLPF)  on  sustainable 
development,  which  will  replace  the  UN  Commission  on  Sustainable  Development.  The 
HLPF will follow up and review progress in the implementation of the outcomes of Rio+20 
and is also mandated to strengthen the science-policy interface, which will be crucial for the 
implementation  of  SDGs.  It  should  be  directly  linked  to  ECOSOC,  currently  under  reform, 
and work at a higher political level (UNGA) at regular intervals. These linkages provide an 
opportunity  to  enhance  coherence  with  the  on-going  work  on  the  review  of  the  MDGs  and 
discussions on development post-2015.  

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Another  important  outcome  of  Rio+20  was  the  decision  to  strengthen  and  upgrade  the  UN 
Environment Programme (UNEP) and, in particular, the decision on universal membership for 
its  Governing  Council.  This  has  now  been  confirmed  by  the  decision  on  new  institutional 
arrangements  for  UNEP  at  its  recent  Governing  Council.  The  decision  to  establish  a  UN 
Environment  Assembly  is  an  important  step  forward,  consistent  with  the  EU's  ambition  to 
transform  it  in  the  longer  term  into  a  UN  agency.  The  EU  will  take  an  active  role  in 
implementing  this  revised  institutional  framework.  Ensuring  the  appropriate  participation  of 
the EU in both the HLPF and the reformed UNEP will be a priority. 

Rio+20  also  decided  to  promote  clean  and  environmentally-sound  technologies  and  to 
establish  an  intergovernmental  expert  committee  to  prepare  options  for  a  sustainable 
development financing strategy. The committee needs to ensure coherence and coordination 
and  avoid  duplication  of  efforts  as  regards  the  financing  for  development  process.  The  EU 
will participate in this process in line with the overall approach to financing and other means 
of implementation, as indicated below.  

3.5. 

Public Consultation 

A number of public consultations and dialogues have been held by the Commission on future 
perspectives  of  poverty  eradication  and  sustainable  development.  These  consultations  have 
helped guide a number of aspects of proposals contained in this Communication. An overview 
of these consultations is outlined in Annex II. The Commission will continue active dialogue 
on all these issues with all stakeholders and civil society. 

4. 

INTEGRATING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY ERADICATION IN A POST-
2015 OVERARCHING FRAMEWORK 

At international level and at the UN, much of the work on poverty eradication and sustainable 
development  has  been  carried  out  in  separate  strands  within  different  communities  –  one 
stemming from the Millennium Declaration and the other from the series of UN summits on 
sustainable development. In reality, these two strands have always had common elements; for 
example,  the  MDGs  address  environmental  issues  through  MDG7  and  sustainable 
development has always placed poverty eradication as a priority objective. 

In  order  to  effectively  address  the  challenges  of  poverty  eradication  and  sustainable 
development, as a major and interlinked global challenge, the review of MDGs and the work 
on  elaborating  SDGs  need  to  be  brought  together  towards  one  overarching  framework  with 
common priority challenges and objectives, so as to ensure a decent life for all by 2030 and 
give the world a sustainable future beyond it.  

In autumn 2013, a UN special event will take stock of the efforts made towards achieving the 
Millennium  Development  Goals  (MDGs),  discuss  ways  to  accelerate  progress  before  2015 
and  exchange  views  on  what  could  follow  after  the  MDG  target  year  of  2015.  The  first 
session,  in  September  2013,  of  the  High  Level  Political  Forum  established  by  the  Rio+20 
Conference will in addition look at the follow-up to the commitments made at Rio+20 in June 
2012. It will also be necessary to progress through the Open Working Group on Sustainable 
Development Goals (SDGs) that were established in Rio. All of these inputs will provide the 
framework for the agreement of a Post-2015 Overarching Framework. 

In order to further elaborate thinking on goals, the EU will continue its open dialogue with all 
relevant stakeholders. This will contribute to the EU's active input into the work of the Open 
Working Group  on SDGs, which will  make recommendations for action to the  UN General 
Assembly. 

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This  section  describes  the  lessons  learnt  from  the  MDG  review  and  the  work  on  the 
elaboration of SDGs and the kinds of priority elements that emerge from both of these. Then 
it indicates briefly in practical terms  how these can be brought together within relevant UN 
processes. Then, based on this, some of the key principles of an overarching framework are 
brought together in the final section. 

4.1. 

Priority elements for the overarching framework 

Drawing  on  MDG  experience  and  the  work  stemming  from  Rio+20  on  sustainable 
development  and  considering  current  trends,  the  EU  considers  that  a  number  of  challenges 
can be identified for the post-2015 overarching framework. 

There  is  a  fundamental  link  between  global  environmental  sustainability  and  poverty 
eradication.  It  will  not  be  possible  to  eliminate  poverty  and  ensure  a  decent  life  for  all 
without, at the same time, addressing global environmental sustainability, and the other way 
around.  Climate  change,  natural  disasters,  biodiversity  loss  and  the  degradation  of  oceans, 
freshwater sources, land and soil have a particularly negative impact on the world’s poorest 
populations.  To  be  able  to  act  on  these  issues,  the  overarching  framework  needs  to  act  as  a 
catalyst for good governance, transparency, social cohesion and the empowerment of women, 
in all countries and internationally, all of which are essential for sustainable development and 
the eradication of poverty. 

As  agreed  in  the  Rio+20  outcome  document,  goals  for  sustainable  development  (SDGs) 
should be universally applicable to all countries, while taking into account different national 
realities, capacities and levels of development and respecting national policies and priorities, 
should  incorporate  the  three  dimensions  of  sustainable  development  and  should  be  action-
oriented, concise and easy to communicate and limited in number. The EU proposals made in 
the  run-up  to  Rio+20,  indicated  that  they  should  also  focus  on  resources  which  represent 
public  goods  and  basic  "pillars  of  life,"  such  as  energy,  water,  food  security,  oceans, 
sustainable consumption and production, as well as social inclusion and decent work. At the 
same time, goals should also be coherent with existing international agreements, such as goals 
and targets on climate change and biodiversity, as well as social protection floors.  

They  should  address  the  three  overarching  objectives  of  sustainable  development:  poverty 
eradication, changing unsustainable consumption and production patterns and protecting and 
managing the natural resource base of economic and social development. 

Post-2015 goals would need to span into the future and aim at laying the drivers to achieve a 
sustainable future: with a shared vision for 2050, goals and targets should aim at the timescale 
of 2030. 

Given that the framework should have both poverty eradication and sustainable development 
as  its  overall  objectives,  the  priority  challenges  need  to  address  both  perspectives  drawing 
from  the  above.  Based  on  this  reasoning,  the  framework  could  be  constructed  around  a 
number of main elements: ensuring basic living standards; promoting the drivers for inclusive 
and  sustainable  growth  as  well  as  ensuring  sustainable  management  of  natural  resources; 
while promoting equality, equity and justice; and peace and security. In addition, whilst the 
challenge  of  addressing  planetary  environmental  boundaries  will  require  an  integrated 
response  that  will  impact  on  all  these  elements,  and  will  have  to  be  addressed  in  some  of 
them, it will also require specific action in its own right. It can therefore also be seen as an 
additional cross-cutting ingredient of an integrated post-2015 overarching framework. 

4.1.1.  Basic living standards 

The  MDGs  have  provided  a  framework  for  human  development,  setting  targets  such  as 
minimum income, freedom from hunger, full and productive employment and decent work for 

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all, access to primary education, basic health outcomes, access to water and sanitation, all of 
which form the very basis of a decent life.  

We need to finish the unfinished business of the current MDGs, filling gaps and learning the 
lessons. For example, we need to address broader issues of education and health and include 
social  protection.  Aggregate  averages  have  hidden  national  inequalities  caused  by  extreme 
poverty,  geographic  location  or  marginalisation.  We  must  move  from  purely  quantitative 
goals  to  address  quality,  for  example  in  education  and  health.  There  must  be  a  floor  under 
which  no  man,  woman  or  child  should  fall  by  the  very  latest  in  2030:  standards  by  which 
every  citizen  should  be  able  to  hold  her  or  his  government  to  account.  We  should  aim  at 
empowering people to lift themselves out of poverty. Goals to stimulate action to deliver key 
standards in education, nutrition, clean water and air will help eradicate hunger and improve 
food security, health and well-being. Goals should also stimulate action to deliver productive 
employment  and  decent  work  for  all,  including  youth,  women  and  people  with  disabilities, 
depending on countries' levels of development. Unlike the existing MDGs, they should apply 
to  every  country  and  not  only  be  a  global  target  without  individual  country  responsibilities. 
Each country has the responsibility to ensure progress towards internationally agreed goals. 

4.1.2.  Drivers for inclusive and sustainable growth 

The Commission's public consultation, as well as experience by countries that have succeeded 
in  pulling  themselves  out  of  poverty,  demonstrate  the  vital  role  played  by  key  drivers  for 
inclusive  and  sustainable  growth,  in  particular  in  providing  essential  human  development 
services and creating growth and decent jobs. Structural transformation should be sought by 
all countries in all stages of development, to allow for market-friendly, open economies that 
promote  inclusive  and  sustainable  growth,  improve  productive  capacities,  promote  private 
sector  development,  investment  and  wealth  creation,  promote  the  transition  towards  the 
inclusive  green  economy  and  ensure  that  the  benefits  are  widely  shared.  Goals  would  help 
stimulate  opportunities  for  more  inclusive  and  sustainable  growth,  supported  by  indicators 
looking beyond GDP. Many countries would be able to use these to focus on social cohesion 
as well as more sustainable agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, to deliver better nutrition, 
overcoming  water  scarcity  and  avoiding  food  waste.  Others  would  deliver  more  resource 
efficient  production,  economising  on  water  and  reducing  and  recycling  waste.  A  goal  of 
moving towards sustainable, resilient cities would deliver improvements in air quality, water, 
energy,  accessible  infrastructure,  housing  and  transport,  leading  to  solutions  that  link  with 
employment, health, economic development and also address climate change adaptation and 
disaster  prevention  and  preparedness.  Other  important  drivers  include  sustainable  energy, 
science  and  technology,  telecommunications  services,  financial  services  and  infrastructure, 
for example facilitating access to markets, as well as migration and mobility. All these aspects 
require  an  enabling  and  stable  environment  for  business,  entrepreneurship,  innovation  and 
productive employment to thrive. 

While  economic  transformation  is  necessary,  it  is  also  a  huge  challenge:  billions  in  new 
investment will be needed4. However, experience in countries that have made huge strides in 
providing  these  services  to  their  citizens  and  recent  global  initiatives  –  such  as  Sustainable 
Energy  for  All  and  Scaling  Up  Nutrition  –  have  demonstrated  that  such  an  approach  can 
provide promising results, catalysing rapid growth and investment. 

4 

For example, the International Energy Agency estimates that to provide sustainable energy services to 
all  by  2030,  approximately  an  additional  EUR  30  billion  per  year  will  need  to  be  invested  above  the 
business-as-usual  scenario.  The  FAO  estimates  that  more  than  USD  50  billion  per  year  of  additional 
public expenditure on agriculture and safety nets would be needed to reach a world free of hunger in 
2025. 

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4.1.3.  Sustainable management of natural resources 

Sustainable management and use of natural resources is essential to support economic growth 
and  employment,  in  particular  in  primary  production  sectors  like  agriculture,  fisheries  and 
forestry or services sectors such as tourism.  70% of the world's poor live in rural areas and 
depend  directly  on  biodiversity  and  eco-system  services  for  their  survival  and  well-being, 
making  them  more  vulnerable  to  scarcity  and  climate  risks.  Good  stewardship  of  natural 
resources, based on transparency, accountability and good governance, is essential for poverty 
eradication and developing sustainably towards an inclusive green economy. Action is needed 
to  promote  corporate  sustainability  reporting,  which  will  encourage  a  broad  range  of 
businesses  to  engage  in  responsible  practices.  Goals  to  move  towards  a  land  degradation-
neutral world would contribute to economic growth, biodiversity protection, sustainable forest 
management,  climate  change  mitigation  and  adaptation  and  food  security,  while  improving 
soil  quality,  reducing  erosion,  building  resilience  to  natural  hazards  and  halting  land  take. 
Given  the  global  importance  of  oceans,  protecting  and  restoring  the  health  of  oceans  and 
marine ecosystems for sustainable livelihoods goals should apply universally, helping deliver 
sustainable  fish  stocks  also  with  a  view  to  food  security,  as  well  as  reducing  significant 
hazards such as marine litter. To address these challenges, each country should steer a path to 
the  sustainable  management  of  their  natural  resources  and  establish  open  and  transparent 
governance structures, to ensure that resources are used in a manner that benefits their citizens 
in an equitable and sustainable way. 

This requires each country to ensure that resources are used in an environmentally responsible 
manner and, with respect to resources such as land, forests, rivers and oceans, so that they will 
also benefit future generations. Equally, exploitation of finite resources, such as minerals and 
groundwater, must be done in an inclusive and responsible manner that guarantees maximum 
societal benefit, in terms of the way that they are commercialised, the rate of their depletion 
and the use of the income generated. Phasing out subsidies for use of finite resources, such as 
fossil fuels, is a cost-efficient key contribution, promoting resource efficiency. States should 
also  enhance  their  cooperation  to  manage  shared  resources,  such  as  fish  stocks  and  marine 
biodiversity, in areas beyond national jurisdiction. 

It will also be necessary to adopt an integrated perspective, in order to ensure that solutions to 
resource  constraints  in  one  area  do  not  place  additional  constraints  on  another.  The  future 
agenda should commit all countries to manage and use their natural resources sustainably over 
the  coming  decades,  including  such  issues  as  transparency,  maximisation  of  income, 
protection of tenure, resilience5, including to natural disasters, and environmental protection. 
The  global  community  needs  to  stand  together  in  these  efforts.  In  particular,  private  and 
public companies must be accountable and adhere to high standards of transparency and good 
governance.  A  low  carbon  and  resource  efficient  economy  will  also  require  actions  and 
training for the specific skill sets that will be needed. 

4.1.4.  Equality, equity and justice 

The  objectives  of  human  well-being  and  dignity  for  all  are  enshrined  in  the  Universal 
Declaration of Human Rights and the Millennium Declaration, which also explicitly recognise 
the links between human rights, good governance and sustainable development. This, as well 
as  the  commitment  to  common  fundamental  values,  was  reaffirmed  at  the  MDG  Summit  of 
2010 and the Rio+20 Conference in 2012. 

5 

COM(2012)586: The EU Approach to Resilience: Learning from Food Security Crises 

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The  importance  of  justice  and  equity,  human  rights,  democracy  and  other  aspects  of  good 
governance goes far beyond their impact on progress towards development targets on income, 
education,  health  and  other  basic  needs.  They  are  also  important  in  their  own  right,  in  all 
countries. The recent movements in North Africa and the Middle East showed the importance 
of inclusive political systems, justice and jobs, particularly for young people, and highlighted 
that  progress  on  the  MDGs  is  essential  but  not  sufficient.  Governance  will  remain  a  global 
challenge for the years ahead. 

It is important that the new post-2015 overarching framework captures these issues. The role 
of women is particularly important in unlocking the drive for sustainable development and all 
forms  of  barriers  to  equal  participation  need  to  be  removed.  The  framework  should  put 
particular emphasis on moving towards a rights-based approach to development, on reducing 
inequalities,  as  well  as  on  the  promotion  and  protection  of  women's  and  girls'  rights  and 
gender  equality,  transparency  and  the  fight  against  corruption.  It  should  also  capture  the 
fundamental  issues  related  to  equity.  To  meet  this  challenge,  goals  and  targets  should 
stimulate action needed to ensure increasing coverage by a basic set of social guarantees and 
improve their implementation. 

4.1.5.  Peace and security 

Where there is physical insecurity, high levels of inequality, governance challenges and little 
or no institutional capacity, it is extremely difficult to make sustainable progress on the key 
MDG benchmarks such as poverty, health, education or sanitation. It is therefore essential to 
address the root causes of such conditions and take action to prevent them from arising. 

This  agenda  goes  beyond  fragile  states,  however,  since  many  other  countries  also  struggle 
with  issues  relating  to  insecurity  and  violence.  Trafficking,  transnational  terrorism,  criminal 
networks  and  gang  violence  are  undermining  the  security  of  citizens  and  reducing  the 
prospects for a decent life, with women and children particularly affected. 

Addressing peace and security issues in the context of the post-2015 overarching framework 
should  use  as  a  starting  point  the  work  already  done  between  some  fragile  states  and  the 
OECD countries, the EU, the UN and Development Banks at Busan in November 2011. This 
should build on the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States that laid out an agreed set of 
Peace-building and State building Goals (PSG). 

5. 

5.1. 

TOWARDS A POST-2015 OVERARCHING FRAMEWORK 

Bringing the strands together to respond to future challenges 

Poverty  eradication  and  ensuring  that  prosperity  and  well-being  are  sustainable  remain  the 
most  pressing  challenges  for  the  future.  To  be  tackled  successfully,  they  must  be  tackled 
together,  within  a  new  overarching  framework  that  is  universal  and  directly  relevant  to  all 
countries, while recognising that different countries are affected to varying degrees and that 
their responses and contribution to global goals will vary. Even though many will continue to 
rise  above  the  level  of  extreme  poverty,  a  strong  poverty  focus  is  needed  to  make  this 
irreversible.  Unsustainable  patterns  of  current  economic  development,  impacting  the 
environment and the natural resource base, are still determined to a large extent by developed 
countries, and increasingly by emerging economies, while least developed countries also feel 
the impacts. Social exclusion and inequality, unemployment, precarious employment and lack 
of social protection also have a direct bearing on poverty and sustainable development. 

The  Millennium  Declaration,  which  remains  relevant,  should  guide  work  on  developing  the 
future framework. Building on the follow up to Rio+20, the MDG review and other relevant 
international  processes,  the  future  overarching  framework  should  set  out  the  path  for 

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eradicating poverty and towards  achieving prosperity and well-being for all,  by focusing on 
the  main  drivers  for  inclusive  and  sustainable  growth,  within  planetary  boundaries.  This 
framework should therefore bring together the three dimensions of sustainable development: 
economic, social, environmental. It should include responsibilities for all countries. 

The  underlying  objective  of  this  new  overarching  framework  should  aspire  to  provide  for 
every person, by 2030, "A Decent Life for All." This should address simultaneously the need 
for poverty eradication and the universal vision of sustainable development needed to ensure 
prosperity for current and future generations. 

The  above  sections  outlined  how  the  interrelated  processes  at  the  UN  level  should  deliver 
ingredients for a common overarching framework that are needed if the objective of a Decent 
Life  for  All  is  to  be  met.  The  final  outcome  should  be  based  on  the  results  of  constructive 
interactions with all stakeholders and among international partners. However, the EU believes 
there  are  a  number  of  already-  identifiable  general  principles  that  should  be  commonly 
acceptable. 

5.2. 

Principles for a post-2015 overarching framework 

The Commission proposes that the EU pursues the following principles in its discussions on 
the post-2015 framework: 

5.2.1.  Scope 

The  framework  should  be  universal  in  aspiration  and  coverage,  with  goals  for  all  countries, 
applying  to  all  of  humanity,  focused  on  the  eradication  of  poverty  in  all  its  dimensions, 
wherever it is found, and promoting prosperity and well-being for all people, within planetary 
boundaries. 

•  The  framework  should  integrate  the  three  dimensions  of  sustainable  development  - 
economic, social, environmental - taking into account the lessons learnt from the review 
of  MDGs  and  building  on  the  work  for  elaborating  the  SDGs,  aiming  at  poverty 
eradication  and  sustainable  development.  Goals  should  constitute  a  floor  to  living 
standards under which no person should fall, by 2030 at the very latest, and guide progress 
towards prosperity and well-being, within planetary boundaries. 
It  should  recognise  that  poverty,  prosperity  and  well-being  cannot  just  be  seen  from  a 
financial  perspective,  but  are  multidimensional  and  reflect  the  ability  of  people  to  grow 
and develop. 

• 

•  The framework should cover, in an integrated fashion: 

•  basic human development (based on updated existing MDGs and also reflecting issues 

such as social protection), 

•  drivers  for  sustainable  and  inclusive  growth  and  development  that  are  necessary  for 
structural transformation of the economy, needed to ensure the creation of productive 
capacities and employment and the transition to an inclusive green economy capable of 
addressing climate challenges, and 
the sustainable management of natural resources . 

• 

•  The framework should also address justice, equality and equity, capturing issues relating 
to human rights, democracy and the rule of law, as well as the empowerment of women 
and gender equality, which are vital for inclusive and sustainable development, as well as 
important values in their own right. It should also address peace and security, building on 
the existing work on Peace Building and State Building Goals. 

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5.2.2.  Nature and number of goals 

•  Goals should be limited in number and apply universally to all countries, but should have 
targets respecting different contexts. In order to ensure ownership and relevance, the goals 
should be tailored and made operational at the national level. Special consideration should 
be given to the needs of fragile states. 

•  Goals  should  be  elaborated  in  a  way  that  takes  into  account  the  scientific  and  research 

evidence base and related targets and indicators should be measurable. 

5.2.3.  Transparency, implementation and accountability 

•  The responsibility for achieving the desired outcomes is first and foremost national. The 
mobilisation  of  all  resources  is  needed,  domestic  and  international,  private  and  public. 
Financing  and  other  means  of  implementation  should  be  addressed  in  a  comprehensive 
and  integrated  manner,  given  that  the  potential  sources  for  implementing  various  global 
goals are the same. 

•  The  framework  should  be  developed  and  implemented  in  close  partnership  with  civil 

society stakeholders, including the private sector. 

•  A time frame should be set to start acting at all levels in order to achieve the goals. This 

could have a vision towards 2050 with goals and targets for 2030. 

•  The  framework  should  be  based  on  the  individual  responsibility  of  countries  to  take 
action,  coupled  with  partnership  between  all  countries  and  stakeholders.  Goals  should 
provide  incentives  for  cooperation  and  partnerships  among  governments,  civil  society, 
including  the  private  sector,  and  the  global  community  at  large.  All  countries  should 
contribute their fair share towards reaching the goals. Goals should  also induce stronger 
accountability. 

•  The  development  of  the  framework  should  be  accompanied  by  efforts  to  enhance 

coherence at the institutional level. 

•  To allow good monitoring of progress, the statistical base should be strengthened. 

5.2.4.  Coherence 

•  The framework should be coherent with existing internationally-agreed goals and targets, 
such  as  on  climate  change,  biodiversity,  disaster  risk  reduction,  and  social  protection 
floors. 

5.3. 

Implementing the framework: country ownership and accountability 

The  responsibility  for  implementing  the  future  framework  lies  within  each  country  itself, 
involving  all  relevant  stakeholders,  including  social  partners.  The  main  drivers  for 
development  are  first  and  foremost  domestic,  notably  including  democratic  governance,  the 
rule  of  law,  stable  political  institutions,  sound  policies,  transparency  of  public  finances  and 
the  fight  against  fraud  and  corruption.  Domestic  resource  mobilisation,  legal  and  fiscal 
regulations  and  institutions  supporting  the  development  of  the  private  sector,  investment, 
decent job creation and export competitiveness are essential to make the ambition achievable 
for  all  countries.  In  this  context,  domestic  reforms  are  crucial  to  make  economic  growth 
sustainable  and  make  it  work  effectively  for  poverty  eradication,  decreased  inequalities  and 
improved well-being for all. This is true for all countries, at all levels of development. 

Nevertheless, the EU recognises that some countries will continue to need support, including 
development  assistance.  In  this  context,  more  efficient  and  effective  methods  of  investing 
development aid are emerging, ensuring that aid acts as a catalyst for development, leveraging 
investment,  including  through  innovative  financial  sources,  instruments  and  mechanisms, 
such  as  blending.  This  updated  approach  was  adopted  in  the  EU's  "Agenda  for  Change." 

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South-South  cooperation  can  make  substantial  contributions  to  shaping  global  development 
outcomes. The  principles  of  the Global  Partnership for  Effective  Development  Cooperation, 
agreed  at  the  Busan  High  Level  Forum  on  Aid  Effectiveness  in  2011,  should  be  applied 
universally. 

Beyond aid, Policy Coherence for Development plays a major role in eliminating poverty and 
achieving sustainable development. Strong consideration of the role of these policies should 
therefore  be  given  due  place  in  the  future  framework.  For  example,  in  many  developing 
countries,  the  income  available  from  trade  has  greatly  increased  and  can  be  used  to  fight 
poverty. This trend is set to continue in many developing countries and is especially important 
in sub-Saharan Africa. 

To be achievable, the overarching framework should be accompanied by an effort to ensure 
that  all  resources  are  mobilised  and  harnessed  effectively,  alongside  a  commitment  by  all 
countries to pursue a comprehensive approach to these resources and coherent and appropriate 
policies.  Goals  and  targets  will  contribute  to  stimulating  private  sector  investment.  All 
countries should report on progress towards achieving future goals in an open and transparent 
manner. 

The  EU  should  promote  a  comprehensive  and  integrated  approach  to  the  means  of 
implementation  including  financing  issues  at  the  global  level.  At  present,  financing 
discussions  related  to  climate,  biodiversity,  development  and  sustainable  development  are 
taking place in different fora, even though the potential financing sources are the same. There 
is a strong need to ensure coherence and coordination and avoid a duplication of efforts with 
regard  to  the  financing  for  development  process.  In  mid-2013,  the  Commission  plans  to 
present a Communication proposing an integrated EU approach to financing and other means 
of implementation related to the various global processes. 

6. 

NEXT STEPS 

The  EU  needs  to  engage  fully  in  the  forthcoming  international  processes  with  coherent  and 
coordinated inputs at the UN and in other relevant fora. 

In  this  respect,  the  adoption  of  this  Communication  should  be  followed  by  a  debate  with 
Council  and  Parliament  during  the  spring  of  2013  for  the  development  of  a  common  EU 
approach for the next stages of the ongoing processes, which should: 

•  ensure a comprehensive follow up to Rio+20 and guide the EU position at the UN Open 

Working Group (OWG) on SDGs, which will report regularly to the UNGA; and 

•  contribute to the preparation of the UN General Assembly Special Event on the MDGs in 
autumn 2013, including the report of the Secretary-General and the UN High Level Panel 
on post-2015, as well as the first meeting of the HLPF. 

The EU should support moving towards a post-2015 overarching framework. Discussion on 
the  basis  of  the  orientations  set  out  above  should  make  it  possible  for  the  EU  to  come  to  a 
common position on how the SDGs and the MDG review processes should best be converged 
and integrated into a single process to better deliver such a comprehensive framework. In this 
respect,  the  EU  should  also  actively  seek  a  constructive  dialogue  with  all  partners  and 
stakeholders,  in  order  to  build  common  ground,  including  through  political  dialogues  with 
third countries. 

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ANNEX I  

Main current and forthcoming actions in the EU and internationally that contribute to 
the implementation of Rio+20  

Area 

EU 

International 

Water and sanitation 

Improve  water  efficiency  and  quality 
through EU Water Blueprint 

In line with the Agenda for Change and 
international  commitments,  promote 
improved access to drinking water and 
sanitation  facilities,  improved  water 
quality  and  reduced  pollution;  as  well 
as  facilitation  of  political  dialogue  for 
shared 
and 
implementation  of  water  activities  for 
economic and sustainable growth 

resources 

water 

Energy, climate 

Improve  efficiency  and 
renewables  and 
gases through:  

share  of 
reduce  greenhouse 

Promote  international  climate  action 
through 
the  Durban  Platform  and 
UNFCCC  

-  climate  and  energy  package  and  low 
carbon roadmap for 2050  

- 2030 climate and energy policy 

- energy efficiency directive 

-  ongoing 
legislative  proposals  on 
emissions  from  cars  and  vans,  as  well 
as fluorinated GHG reduction 

International Partnership on Mitigation, 
and 
International  Cooperative 
the 
Initiatives (ICIs) 

IRENA: 
global 
renewable energy 

deployment 

of 

GEEREF:  Global  Energy  Efficiency 
and Renewable Energy Fund 

Global 
(GCCA) 

climate 

change 

alliance 

Sustainable  Energy  for  All  Initiative 
(SE4ALL)  

Biodiversity, 
land 

forests, 

EU  Biodiversity  Strategy 
to  2020, 
work  on  biodiversity  valuation  and 
ecosystem services 

Forest  Action Plan;  review of  Forestry 
Strategy  

Preparation 
Communication  

Land 

as  Resource 

Digital  Observatory 
for  Protected 
Areas  as  a  component  of  the  Global 
Earth Observation System of System of 
Systems (GEOSS) 

ACP-EU  Energy  Facility  and 
Africa-EU 
Cooperation Programme (RECP) 

Renewable 

the 
Energy 

CBD  Strategic  Plan  and  the  20  Aichi 
Targets 

Support  the  Economics  of  Ecosystems 
and  Biodiversity  (TEEB)  and  Wealth 
Accounting 
of 
Ecosystem Services (WAVES) 

and  Valuation 

Implement 
Natural 
Programme (ENRTP) 

the  Environment 
Resources 

and 
Thematic 

Expand  and  implement  Forest  Law 
Enforcement,  Governance  and  Trade 
initiative  (FLEGT)  and  contribution  to 
UN-REDD+  

Possibility  of  protocol  under  UNCCD, 
declaring the EU as an Affected Party 
Global Soil Partnership (with FAO) 

Compilation  of  a  New  World  Atlas  of 
Desertification with UNEP 

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Oceans 

Marine Strategy Framework; Integrated 
Maritime  Policy,  Marine  Litter  and 
Plastic Waste  

Common  Fisheries  Policy:  maximum 
sustainable 
based 
management plans, discards.  

science 

yield, 

Observation  and  modelling  of  marine 
and coastal ecosystems  

Waste, chemicals 

Resource  Efficiency  roadmap  and  EU 
waste 
REACH 
implementation 

legislation, 

Regional sea conventions 

UNCLOS Implementing agreement for 
the conservation and sustainable use of 
marine  biodiversity  in  areas  beyond 
national jurisdiction 

Illegal,  unreported  and  unregulated 
fishing 

Follow up to Honolulu commitment on 
marine litter 

Diffusion 
policies (WEEE, RoHs) 

of 

international  waste 

Implement  Basel,  Stockholm  and 
Rotterdam  Conventions,  and  SAICM 
(Strategic  Approach  to  International 
Chemicals Management) 

Food, 
agriculture 

nutrition, 

Preparation  of  Communication  on 
Sustainable Food 

Contribution to the Agricultural Market 
Information System (AMIS)  

Implement  Markets 
Instruments 
Abuse Directive (MAD) 

in  Financial 
(MIFID)  and  Market 

Implementation  of 
the  Monitoring 
Agricultural  Resources  (MARS)  and 
GEO-GLAM (Earth Observation) 

reform  of 

Proposals  on 
the 
the 
Common Agriculture Policy, including 
agricultural 
sustainable 
promoting 
production, 
production 
addressing 
capacity and climate change. 

The  European  Innovation  Partnership
and 
"Agricultural 
Sustainability" 

Productivity 

Organic food labelling 

of 
Voluntary 
Implementation 
Guidelines 
the  Responsible 
on 
Governance  of  Land,  Fisheries  and 
Forests  

Food 

EU 
Programme Instrument (FSTP); 

Security 

Thematic 

forthcoming 

Implement 
EU 
Implementation  plan  Boosting  food 
and  nutrition  security 
through  EU 
action: implementing our commitments 

Preparation  of  Communication  on 
Nutrition 

Preparation  of  Action  Plan  on 
Resilience 

Scaling-up 
(SUN) 
Movement;  New  Alliance  for  Food 
Security and Nutrition 

Nutrition 

Implementation of the Food Assistance 
Convention 

Taxes, subsidies 

Implement 
Resource Efficiency Roadmap 

relevant 

actions 

from 

Follow  up  on  subsidy  reform  through 
G20 

Clean  industry  and  life 
cycle accounting 

Implement  EU  2020  Industrial  policy: 
clean technology, bio economy 

International  Life-Cycle  Data  (ILCD) 
Network  

Preparation  of  Communication  on 
Single Market for Green Products 

European Life Cycle Database  

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Revised 
including GPP 

Procurement 

Directive, 

Contribution 
Public Procurement Initiative  

to  UNEP  Sustainable 

Adopt the European Accessibility Act 

Sustainable 
consumption and 
production and Green 
public procurement 

Resilience 

Contribution  to  the  implementation  of 
the 10 Year Framework Programme on 
Sustainable 
and 
Production 

Consumption 

Implement the Communication the EU 
approach  to  resilience:  Learning  from 
Food  Crises  on  Resilience,  and 
forthcoming Action Plan.  

Implement  the  SHARE  and  AGIR 
initiatives. 

Promotion of resilience in international 
fora  and  as  theme  in  partnerships  with 
organisations  such  as  FAO,  IFAD  and 
WFP,  UNISDR,  the  World  Bank,  and 
civil society organisations 

Implementation 
the  Hyogo 
of 
Framework  for  Action  and  elaboration 
of  a  follow-up  framework  for  disaster 
risk reduction after 2015 

Focus on main priorities outlined in the 
EUs 
reduction 
implementation plan 

disaster 

risk 

Support international initiatives such as 
the  World  Bank-managed  global 
facility  for  disaster  risk  reduction 
(GFDRR) 

Disaster risk 
management  

Implement  EU  disaster  prevention 
framework  

Integration of disaster risk management 
(prevention  preparedness, 
response) 
and disaster risk assessment in EU and 
MS planning  

European  Flood  Awareness  System, 
European Drought Observatory  

Promote  disaster  proofing 
funding instruments 

in  EU 

Cities, tourism, 
transport 

Enhance  sustainability  of  EU  cities  as 
part of the 7th EAP 

Promote 
accessible cities 

sustainable, 

resilient  and 

Implement 
actions 
sustainable and accessible tourism 

to 

promote 

Full  and  productive 
employment and decent 
work 

EU  Road  Safety,  Clean  Fuels 
Directive,  promotion  of  affordable, 
sustainable transport  

Europe 2020: Employment Guidelines, 
Joint  Employment  Reports,  National 
Youth 
Programmes, 
Reform 
Employment  package,  Employment 
and  Social  Developments  in  Europe 
Review 

Promote international labour standards, 
through  international  organisations  (in 
particular the ILO) in the EU's bilateral 
relations, 
through 
development and trade policies 

as  well 

as 

Follow-up  to  the  2012  International 
Labour  Conference  Resolution  and 
G20 youth employment strategy 

the 

Implementation 
of 
thematic 
People 
Investing 
programme 
Synergies  with  relevant  EU  thematic 
programmes, such as Non State Actors 

in 

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Social protection, social 
inclusion and 
eradicating poverty 

Promote 
the  reduction  of  poverty, 
social  exclusion  and  more  effective 
social policies through Europe 2020 

Assist  Member  States  in  structural 
reforms  through  the  Social  Investment 
Package  

The European Platform against Poverty 
and  Social  Exclusion:  A  European 
framework  for  social  and  territorial 
cohesion  

The  European  Disability  Strategy 
2010-2020 

Corporate Social 
Responsibility 

Implement  Actions  on  Corporate 
Social Responsibility  

Health 

EU Health Strategy  

European Health Indicators  

Communication 
Combating 
HIV/AIDS  in the  European Union and 
neighbouring countries 

on 

Education 

Strategic 
cooperation in education and training 

framework 

for  European 

and 

Education 
the 
implementation  of  the  Europe  2020 
strategy.  

training 

in 

in  Development,  Migration 
and 
Asylum  and  Democratisation  and 
Human Rights 

Promote  social  protection  including 
Social  Protection  Floors  (SPFs)  and 
implement  recommendations  adopted 
by  the  ILO  in  line  with  the  plans  and 
policies of partner countries; 

Continue  to  support  social  protection, 
in 
including  SPFs  where  relevant 
bilateral 
partner 
relations  with 
countries,  at  international  fora  (ILO, 
OECD,  G20  and  ASEM)  and 
in 
development cooperation. 

Implement 
the 
actions 
Communication on Social Protection in 
European 
Development 
Cooperation 

Union 

of 

Mainstreaming  of  the  rights  of  the 
child  and  indigenous  peoples’  rights, 
the  rights  of 
social 
inclusion  and 
in  EU 
persons  with  disabilities 
development policies 

Implement  the  UN  Convention  on  the 
Rights of Persons with Disabilities 

to 

Contribute 
international  CSR 
guidance  documents  for  business  and 
SMEs  (incl.  ILO,  OECD)  and  to  UN 
guidelines 

Implement  Communication  on  the  EU 
Role in Global Health 

Strengthening  of  health 
systems, 
improved  health  security  and  policy 
coherence 
geographic 
through 
instruments  and  thematic  programmes 
for better health outcomes and reduced 
health inequalities. 

Support  to  the  Global  Fund  to  Fight 
Aids,  Tuberculosis  and  Malaria,  the 
the  Global 
GAVI  Alliance 
Programme  to  Enhance  Reproductive 
Health Commodity Security  

and 

European  Observatory  on  Health 
Systems  

Develop wellbeing indicators as part of 
the Health2020 strategy 

Promote quality 
all 
through  the  Commission's  geographic 
and thematic programmes 

education 

for 

Implementation  of  the  Commission's 
international  co-operation  programmes 

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European  cooperation  on  schools  for 
the 21st century 

Gender  equality  and 
women’s empowerment  

Mainstreaming  of  gender  equality  and 
women’s rights through the EU Gender 
Action Plan 2010-2015 

Follow  up  to  Beijing  Platform  for 
Action  

in higher education and training 

initiatives,  such  as 
Support  global 
Global  Partnership  for  Education  and 
policy  dialogues  such  as  Association 
for  the  Development  of  Education  in 
Africa 

Mainstream  gender  equality  and  the 
empowerment  of  women 
in  EU 
development  policies;  implement  the 
2010-2015  EU  Gender  Action  Plan  in 
development  cooperation;  contribution 
to 
increasing 
accountability  on  financing  for  gender 
equality 

the  UN  programme 

actions 

Implement 
for  women’s 
economic  empowerment  through  the 
Investment in People programme 

Implement 
the 
Actions 
Communication  Social  Protection  in 
European 
Development 
Cooperation 

Union 

in 

Justice,  Human  Rights, 
freedoms, 
fundamental 
democracy, 
good 
governance  and  the  rule 
of law 

EU Charter on Fundamental Rights 

Implement the Aarhus Convention 

Science, technology, 
research and 
innovation 

Statistics 

Implementation  of  Horizon  2020 
providing  research  support  in  areas 
such  as  water,  energy,  agriculture, 
transport, environment, social sciences. 

Sustainable  development  will  be  an 
overarching  objective  of  Horizon 
2020  with  at  least  60%  of  total 
budget relating to this theme. 

Implement  EU  2020  Innovation  Union 
and Eco-innovation Action Plan 

Further  development  of  indicators  on 
GDP  and  beyond,  advice  on  statistics 
for overarching framework. 

in 

Implement  actions  set  out 
the 
Communications  on:  EU  Support  for 
Sustainable  Change 
in  Transition 
Societies;  Increase  the  impact  of  EU 
Development  Policy  and 
the  EU 
Strategic  Framework  and  Action  Plan 
on Human Rights and Democracy 

Implement  the  EU  DCI  programme 
Non-state Actors and Local Authorities 
in Development 

Promote  application  of  Aarhus 
institutions, 
financial 
cooperation, trade agreements 

in 
development 

Enhance  EU  international  cooperation 
in research and innovation. 

to 

Contribute 
the  Global  Earth 
Observation  System  of  System  of 
Systems (GEOSS) 

Research  under 
the  Food  Security 
Thematic Programme (2011-2013) and 
the Africa-EU Partnership 

Cooperate 
international 
with 
organisations and third countries, under 
the  lead  of  the  UNSC,  to  improve 
measurement  of  progress  and  ensure 
comparability  

EN 

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Trade  

Negotiate and implement provisions on 
trade  and  sustainable  development  in 
trade  agreements;  promote  elimination 
of  tariffs  and  non-tariff  barriers  on 
environmental goods and services at all 
levels 

Continue  to  support  “Everything  But 
Arms” initiative  

Provide  continued  support  to  Aid  for 
Trade  

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ANNEX II 

Public Consultation 
The  Commission  held  a  public  consultation6  in  the  summer  of  2012.  Around  120 
organisations  and  individuals  from  public  authorities  and  civil  society,  including  the  private 
sector and academia, contributed. The consultation revealed a consensus that the MDGs have 
rallied many and different actors behind the same development objectives and that the MDGs 
have  been  valuable  in  raising  public  awareness,  increasing  political  will  and  mobilising 
resources to eradicate poverty, as well as being powerful monitoring tools.  

Looking forward, some common views on future priorities emerged: 

•  Focus  on  poverty  within  a  wider  and  more  comprehensive  and  sustainable  vision  of 

• 

development; 
Integrate  the  three  dimensions  of  sustainable  development  (economic,  social  and 
environmental); 

•  Ensure that the process of developing the post-2015 framework is inclusive, with strong 

involvement from poor countries and civil society; 

•  Design a universal framework, relevant for all countries and with responsibilities for all; 
•  Foster the drivers for economic growth and job creation including by engaging with the 

private sector; 
Improve development financing and policy coherence for development. 

• 
Furthermore,  the  Commission  launched  a  public  consultation7  in  October  2012  on  Rio+20 
follow up. The EESC supported feedback through a series of structured dialogues. Over 125 
responses  to  the  public  consultation  were  received  from  individuals,  public  authorities, 
businesses  and  business  associations,  NGOs,  trade  unions  and  consumer  protection  groups. 
Based  on  this,  a  number  of  suggestions  have  been  taken  into  account.  A  large  number  of 
replies highlighted issues related to the inclusive green economy, in particular pointing to the 
need  for  indicators  beyond  GDP,  while  others  pointed  out  the  need  for  a  favourable  trade 
environment, eliminating environmentally harmful subsidies and environmental taxes.  

The  areas  for  possible  SDGs  mentioned  by  respondents  included  resource  and  energy 
efficiency, waste and chemicals, biodiversity, sustainable consumption and production, water 
and  sanitation,  protection  of  oceans  and  fisheries,  sustainable  transport,  sustainable 
agriculture,  gender  equality,  poverty  eradication,  climate  change  and  adaptation,  health  and 
food security. Respondents also underlined the importance of clear and long-term targets on 
making use of exiting targets and agreements. On the relationship between SDGs and MDGs, 
there was consensus that one post-2015 development framework should be created that would 
cover both.  

An  outreach  exercise  was  also  carried  out  through  EU  Delegations  in  third  countries.  More 
than  50  responses  were  received  from  countries.  Most  countries  indicated  the  need  for  a 
coherent and coordinated way of bringing together the MDGs and SDGs.  

Related consultations include those which took place on the Resource Efficiency roadmap and 
the  consultation  on  the  7th  Environmental  Action  Programme.  The  Commission  has  widely 
engaged  with  civil  society,  including  by  undertaking  a  public  consultation  prior  to  Rio+20, 
and civil society also made important inputs during the conference itself. 

6 

7 

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/how/public-consultations/towards_post-2015-development-
framework_en.htm 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/consultations/rio20_en.htm 

EN 

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