COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Key European action supporting the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals Accompanying the document Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions Next steps for a sustainable European future: European Union action for sustainability
Date: 2016-11-22
Institutions: European Commission, Secretariat-General
Subjects: EU financial instrument, EU policy, EU relations, EU situation, European Union, economic and social cohesion, sustainable development

EN 

   EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Strasbourg, 22.11.2016  SWD(2016) 390 final   COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Key European action supporting the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals Accompanying the document Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions Next steps for a sustainable European future: European Union action for sustainability {COM(2016) 739 final}  
 
 
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 

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

Sustainable 
development 
goals 

1. End 
poverty in 
all its forms 
everywhere 

Examples of key existing European actions in this field 

External actions 

Domestic/EU oriented actions 

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 
to 
macroeconomic stabilisation, improved public finance management 
and 
transport  networks  and 
trade  frameworks,  strengthened 
increased public expenditure in social sectors. 

is  significant,  via 

the  contributions 

reduction 

-  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-

7 

 
 
-  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 

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 

-  The  EU  Cohesion  Policy  is  the  EU’s  main  investment  policy, 
whose  core mission  is  to  achieve economic,  social  and territorial 
cohesion  by 
levels  of 
reducing  disparities  between 
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 

8 

 
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  Funds1;  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. 

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. 

1 The European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIFs)  are the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Cohesion Fund (CF), the European Social Fund (ESF), the 
European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).  

9 

 
 
 
 
   
 
 
                                                            
 
 
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 
tackle  hunger,  notably  on 
to 
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 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 
the  common 
the  past  and  future  reforms  of 
respectively 
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  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 

10 

friendly 

agriculture 

in  Europe 

-  The  EU  environmental  and  climate  policy  aims  to  ensure  an 
environmentally 
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 

 
modernised food assistance approach.  

this  context 

-    The  EU  Trade  and  Investment  Policy:  the  EU  is  leading  the 
efforts  to  tackle  agricultural  export  competition  which  would 
the  EU  was 
support  farmers  world-wide.  In 
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 
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.   

in  relation 

-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. 

11 

the  EU 

underline the link with health policy aspects. To improve resource 
efficiency  in  food  production  and  reduce  impact  on  water 
resources, 
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. 

to 

 - 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 
related  policies  on  agriculture  and 
cross-cutting  way 
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 

 
-  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. 

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. 

12 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 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 

13 

 
 
-  The  EU  also  promotes  a  global  health  agenda  to  have  better 
access to medicines in developing countries, including support for 
a  permanent  waiver 
for 
pharmaceutical  products  under  the  WTO  Agreement  on  Trade-
Related Aspects of IPRs (TRIPs).  

least  developed  countries 

for 

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. 

-  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.  

-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  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 

-  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 

14 

 
 
 
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. 

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, 

15 

 
 
 
 
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 
for 
Innovation and Technology (EIT).  

the  European 

Institute 

-  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. 

16 

 
 
 
 
 
 
to 

-  Under  the  Union  Civil  Protection  Mechanism,  the  EU  is 
contributing 
integration  of 
the  development  and  better 
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 
the 
Commission  together  with  the  countries  participating  in  the  EU 
the  European 
Civil  Protection  Mechanism  have 
Medical Corps. 

inside  and  outside 

the  EU, 

launched 

- 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.  

17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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. 

to 

aiming 

enhance 

-  The  EU    has  an  active  policy  for  cooperation  in  education 
(higher  education  and  training  in  particular)  and  training  with 
the  development, 
third countries 
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 

- 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, 
the  promotion  of  civic 
equity,  non-discrimination  and 
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 

18 

 
 
in  higher  education  and  around  27,000 
building  projects 
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 
and 
Policy 
internationalisation  of  higher  education  and  improved  student  and 
academic mobility in the EU’s neighbouring partner countries. 

the  development,  modernisation 

invests 

in 

-  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 
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 

the  Humanitarian  Aid 

instrument, 

funding 

19 

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 

 
Madad Fund) and the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa.  

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.  

20 

 
 
 
 
 
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, 
empowerment, 
disseminating information on gender equality through guidelines to 
best practices and awareness raising.  

to  women's 

support 

- 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, 
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.  

increasing  female 

in 

-  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.    

-  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  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 

-  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 

21 

 
following up in the context of accession negotiations. 

issues  are  always  considered 

-  To  ensure  the  highest  quality  of  EU  humanitarian  aid  policy, 
gender 
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.  

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.  

22 

 
  
 
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. 

in 

is  supporting 

third  countries 

-  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 
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 
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 
to  water 
diplomacy  objectives,  and  on  cross-sectoral  coordination  with  an 
improved 
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. 

the  Southern  Mediterranean  Region.  From 

transboundary  basins,  contributing 

investments 

framework 

for 

for 

in 

for  a  Framework 

- 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).  
to 
The  EU  water  policy  provides 
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. 

- 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 

to  promote  a 
-  The  Common  Agricultural  Policy  aims 
sustainable management  of  natural  resources.  One  of  the  priority 
areas for rural development is restoring, preserving and enhancing 

23 

 
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. 

24 

related 

including 
to  agriculture  and 
ecosystems 
improving  water  management  and  increasing  efficiency  in  water 
use by agriculture. 

forestry, 

-  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  aim  of 

- 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 
joining  forces, 
international  organisations,  with 
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 
the  global 
importance of increasing research and development investments in 
clean energy technologies.  

Initiative  which 

Innovation 

recognises 

-  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 

25 

- 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; 
innovation  and 
the  economy;  and  research, 
decarbonising 
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 

 
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 
international 
dimension of this bottom-up initiative. 

the 

-  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 
the  Development  Cooperation 
European  Development  Fund, 

26 

cycle of economic and budgetary coordination.  

for  Climate  and  Energy, 

- Several supporting initiatives are taken, such as the Covenant of 
Mayors 
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, 
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.  

stakeholders  and 

industrial  and 

research 

-  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 

 
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).   

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 
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. 

infrastructure  and 

low-carbon 

-  The  Common  Agricultural  Policy  supports,  through  its  Rural 
for 
investments 
Development  Programs, 
generation and distribution of renewable energy (to and from the 
agricultural  holdings)  using  biomass  and  other  renewable  energy 
sources (solar and wind power, geothermal). 

infrastructures 

in 

-  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. 

27 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 

indirectly  enabling  new 

trade  development  contributed 

-  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 
sustainable  employment 
growth, 
opportunities. Support to technical and vocational training as well 
as 
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 

-  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 

28 

 
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 

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 

29 

 
Strategy 
sustainable development. 

further  strengthens 

the 

link  between 

trade  and 

-  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.  

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.   

infrastructure, 

-  Competitiveness  is  a  core  priority  of  the  Energy  Union.  The 
third  internal  energy  market  package,  guidelines  for  Trans-
European  energy 
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 

30 

 
 
assistance,  capacity  building,  and  territorial  cooperation.  Finally, 
legally  binding  cross-cutting 
sustainable  development 
principle,  which 
the 
implementation of the European Structural and Investment Funds. 

is  mainstreamed  at  all  stages  of 

is  a 

-  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 
for  special  attention:  ocean  energy, 
particular 
aquaculture, blue biotech, deep sea mining and coastal tourism. 

industries 

31 

 
 
 
 
-  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  Competitiveness  of 
Enterprises  and  Small  and  Medium-sized  Enterprises  (COSME), 
the  Emergency  Support  Instrument,  the  Connecting  Europe 
Facility and the Creative Europe Programme. 

the  Programme 

for 

32 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 
  On 
and  the  development  of  national  innovation  systems. 
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-

for transport and energy,  but  also 

- 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 
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, 
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 

including 

33 

 
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. 

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 

34 

 
 
 - 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. 

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 
sustainable 
finances 
Joint 
industrialisation 
Technology  Initiative,  a  public-private  partnership  which  will 
support biorefineries and innovative bio-processing technologies.  

innovation 
the  Bio-Based 

research  and 
through 

for 
Industries 

transport 

resilience  and 

infrastructure,  climate 

invests  EUR  41  billion 

-  As  the  EU's  first  investment  arm,  EU  Cohesion  Policy  has 
specific thematic objectives dedicated to research and innovation, 
ICT, 
risk 
prevention  and  management,  and  smart  energy  systems.  EU 
in 
Cohesion  Policy  (2014-2020) 
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 
investments  are  based  on 
a 
funding  pre-condition, 
comprehensive  plans  or 
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 
frameworks.  Finally, 

-  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  Emergency  Support 
the  Civil  protection 
Instrument  and  the  Cultural  and  Creative  Sector  Guarantee 
Facility. 

instrument, 

35 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 
inclusive  growth  for  human  development  and 
respectively 
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 
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. 

income 

  -  EU  trade  and  investment  policy  aims  to  make  trade  and 
inclusive  growth  and  sustainable 
investment  contribute 
development within countries, notably by maximising the potential 
of trade preferences, trade agreements and investment agreements 

to 

-  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 
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.  

to 

- 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 

36 

 
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 

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.  

37 

 
 
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 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. 

38 

 
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 
-  The  EU  development  cooperation  policy, 
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 

-  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 
the 
implementation of the European Structural and Investment Funds. 

is  mainstreamed  at  all  stages  of 

-  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. 

39 

 
 
119  countries  and  six  continents,  representing  more  than  600 
million inhabitants, over 8% of the world’s population. 

priorities.  EU 

-  The  urban  crises  are  one  of  the  EU  humanitarian  assistance 
supports 
programmes' 
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. 

humanitarian 

aid 

- 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.  

40 

 -  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. 

 
 
 
 
funding.  The 

-  European  cultural  heritage  benefits  from  a  range  of  EU 
policies,  programmes  and 
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.  

41 

 
 
 
 
 
 
12.  Ensure 
sustainable 
consump-
tion and 
production 
patterns 

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  development  cooperation  policy  and  the  European 
Neighbourhood Policy are investing in projects which contribute 
to  sustainable  consumption  and  production  patterns  in  third 
countries. The EU for example promotes responsible supply chains 
and  responsible  business  practices  of  European  companies  in 
developing  countries.  The  EU  also  promotes  the  transition  to  an 
inclusive green economy that generates growth and creates decent 
jobs  in  partner  countries,  notably  through  the  Switch  to  Green 
initiative  that  supports  the  adoption  of  sustainable  consumption 
and production practices by the private sector and the development 
of enabling policy frameworks. It builds on the SWITCH regional 
programmes  in  Asia,  the  Mediterranean  and  Africa  which  help 
interested  consumers,  businesses  and  supporting  associations 
switch  to  a  more  sustainable  paradigm.  Concrete  initiatives  also 
include the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) and 
the  Green  Economy  Coalition,  funded  by  the  EU  through  the 
Global  Public  Goods  and  Challenges  Programme.  Moreover,  the 
EU  supports  through  a  range  of  activities  the  UN  10-Year 
Framework  of  Programmes  (10YFP)  on  sustainable  consumption 
and  production  patterns,  which  provides  a  global  framework  of 
action  to  enhance  international  cooperation  to  accelerate  the  shift 
towards sustainable consumption and production in both developed 
and  developing  countries.  The  EU  also  supports  the  sound 
management of waste and chemicals and the implementation of the 
related  Multilateral  Environmental  Agreements  by  developing 
countries. 

-  As  part  of  its  trade  policy,  including  through  free  trade 
agreements  and  preferential  trade  schemes,  the  EU  pursues 

42 

-  The  Energy  Union  contributes  to  the  sustainable  use  of  our 
natural resources and the protection of our environment through a 
manifold of initiatives and legal acts (see above under sustainable 
development goal n°7). For example, the Ecodesign legislation is 
a  tool  to  not  only  save  energy  but  also  shape  the  durability, 
reparability,  resource  efficiency,  reusability  and  recyclability  of 
products.  The  Energy  Label  guides  consumers  towards  the  most 
efficient and sustainable products. 

-  The  7th  Environment  Action  programme, 
the  agreed 
framework for EU environment policy until 2020, has as a key 
objective  to  turn  the  Union  into  a  resource-efficient,  green,  and 
competitive  low-carbon  economy.  Another  key  objective  is  to 
safeguard  EU  citizens  from  environment-related  pressures  and 
risks  to  health  and  wellbeing.  For  example,  the  EU  Forest 
its  key  principles  global  forest 
Strategy  has  as  one  of 
responsibility, promoting sustainable production and consumption 
of forest products. 

to  waste  management.  The  Package 

-  Building  on  existing  EU  policies  and  legislation,  the  Circular 
Economy  Package  establishes  a  programme  of  action  with 
the  whole  cycle  from  production  and 
measures  covering 
includes 
consumption 
commitments on ecodesign, waste prevention and reuse, ambitious 
quantitative 
reducing 
increasing 
landfilling,  obligations  to  improve  the  separate  collection  of 
waste,  as  well  as  the  promotion  of  efficient  use  of  bio-based 
resources.  It  also  fosters  methodological  developments  for 
monitoring  food  waste  volumes  and  improvements  in  food 

recycling  and 

targets  on 

 
sustainable development, promoting inclusive growth, responsible 
management  of  supply  chains,  fair  and  ethical  trade  schemes, 
human  rights  and  good  governance.  This  dimension  has  been 
further  strengthened  by  the  Trade  for  All  Strategy.  Voluntary 
Partnership  Agreements  on  tropical  timber  with  major  producer 
countries  are  a  concrete  example  of  ensuring  the  sustainability  of 
supply chains. 

-  The  EU rules  to  combat illegal,  unreported and  unregulated 
fishing  ensure  that  only  marine  fisheries  products  validated  as 
legal by the competent flag state or exporting state can be imported 
to or exported from the EU. 

that  are  vital 

-  The  EU  furthermore  is  Party  to  a  range  of  international 
agreements 
this  sustainable 
development goal, including the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm 
Conventions  and  engages 
to 
in 
International Chemicals Management (SAICM). 

the  Strategic  Approach 

for  achieving 

-  EU funding instruments such  as the European Neighbourhood 
Instrument,  European  Development  Fund, 
the  Development 
Cooperation  Instrument,  the  Partnership  Instrument  and  the 
external component of Horizon 2020.  

43 

products date marking in order to minimise  food waste all along 
the  value  chain,  from  production  to  distribution,  storage  and 
consumption.  In  order  to  fight  food  losses  and  food  waste  and 
maximise the contribution of all actors, the Commission has set up 
the EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste. 

-  The  EU  public  procurement  framework  promotes  social 
inclusion and ensures the compliance of tender awards with social 
and  labour  legislation  and  also  promotes  public  sector  entities  to 
purchase  goods  and  services  that  have  a  lower  impact  on  the 
environment, in particular through Green Public Procurement. 

-  The  EU  Eco-Management  and  Audit  Scheme  (EMAS)  is  a 
premium  management  instrument  developed  by  the  European 
Commission  for  companies  and  other  organisations  to  evaluate, 
report,  and  improve  their  environmental  performance.  EMAS  is 
open  to  every  type  of  organisation  eager  to  improve  its 
environmental  performance.  It  spans  all  economic  and  service 
sectors and is applicable worldwide. 

-  The  EU  Ecolabel  helps  consumers  to  identify  products  and 
services  that  have  a  reduced  environmental  impact  throughout 
their  life  cycle,  from  the  extraction  of  raw  material  through  to 
production, use and disposal. Recognised throughout Europe, EU 
Ecolabel is a voluntary label promoting environmental excellence. 

- The EU Chemicals Policy covers regulation on persistent organic 
pollutants;  trade  in  hazardous  chemicals;  fluorinated  gases;  and 
hazardous  waste.  The  "REACH"  framework  aims  to  improve 
the protection of human health and the environment from the risks 
the 
that  can  be  posed  by  chemicals,  while  enhancing 
competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry.  

 
 
 
 
 
- Through its policy on digitizing the European industry the EU 
also  promotes  the  development  of  sustainable  consumption  and 
production patterns, for example through large scale pilots on the 
Internet of Things. 

- The EU promotes corporate social responsibility in the EU and 
encourages  enterprises  to  adhere  to  international  guidelines  and 
principles.  Corporate  Social  Responsibility  should  be  company 
led,  and  public  authorities  can  play  a  supporting  role  through  a 
smart  mix  of  voluntary  policy  measures  and,  where  necessary, 
complementary  regulation.  For  example,  large  companies  and 
groups are now obliged to disclose  information on policies, risks 
and  results  as  regards  environmental  matters,  social  and 
employee-related aspects. 

- One of the common agricultural policy's main objectives is to 
provide  a  stable,  sustainably  produced  supply  of  safe  food  at 
affordable  prices  for  consumers.  This  includes  for  examples  an 
EU  framework  on  organic  farming,  and  the  integration  of 
environmental  concerns,  such  as  biodiversity,  water  management 
and use and climate change, into the Common Agricultural Policy. 
The agricultural policy is committed to sustainable use of natural 
resources  and  the  environmentally-sound  management  of  waste, 
also for food losses.  

-  Similarly,  the  Common  Fisheries  Policy  aims  to  ensure  that 
fishing  and  aquaculture are  environmentally,  economically  and 
socially sustainable and that they provide a source of healthy food 
for  EU  citizens.  It  aims  at  eliminating  discards  which  is  a 
considerable contribution towards the reduction of food waste. A 
central element of the Common Fisheries Policy is that it aims to 
guarantee  that  only  legal  fishery  products  enter  the  European 
market  through  the  EU's  policy  against  illegal,  unreported  and 

44 

 
 
unregulated fishing and the use of catch documentation scheme. 

and 

research 

resource 

efficiency, 

innovation, 

- EU Cohesion Policy invests in the protection of the environment 
and 
the 
competitiveness  of  SMEs  and  the  low-carbon  economy,  totalling 
more than EUR 150 billion for 2014-2020. These investments can 
be  used  to  promote  sustainable  consumption  and  production, 
including  by  supporting  energy  and  resource  efficiency  in  SMEs 
and innovation in these areas. For example, cohesion policy has a 
specific  investment  priority  on  waste  management,  where  it 
supports Member States and regions and so boosts progress on the 
circular  economy.  There  is  also  a  funding  pre-condition  (i.e.  ex-
ante  conditionality)  related  to  the  correct  implementation  of  EU 
waste legislation, which ensures that the necessary conditions are 
in  place  for  effective  and  efficient  EU  investments.  Finally, 
legally  binding  cross-cutting 
sustainable  development 
principle,  which 
the 
implementation of the European Structural and Investment Funds. 

is  mainstreamed  at  all  stages  of 

is  a 

-  EU  funding  instruments  such  as  the  European  Structural  and 
Investment Funds, Horizon 2020 (including through the European 
Institute of Innovation & Technology EIT) and the Programme for 
the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE). 

45 

 
 
 
 
 
 
13. Take 
urgent 
action to 
combat 
climate 
change and 
its impacts 

The most important Commission priorities contributing to this sustainable development goal are: energy union and climate; a stronger 
global actor 

-  The  EU  has  been  at  the  forefront  of  international  efforts 
towards  the  Paris  global  climate  agreement  and  the  Sendai 
Framework  for  Disaster  Risk  Reduction.  It  will  implement  the 
Paris agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention 
on  Climate  Change  and  is  committed  to  implement  the  Sendai 
Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 - 2030.  

-  The  EU  is  stepping  up  its  international  climate  diplomacy  to 
maintain the political momentum and support other countries in the 
implementation of the Paris Agreement and their climate plans. In 
this  respect,  the  EU  remains  committed  to  scaling  up  the 
mobilisation  of  international  climate  finance.  The  EU  will 
contribute globally to reaching the headline targets agreed in Paris. 
The  EU  has  contributed  to  reach  a  successful  agreement  in  the 
International  Civil  Aviation  Organisation  (ICAO)  on  a  global 
market-based  measure  for  international  aviation  emissions.  It  has 
also  focused  its  diplomatic  outreach  and  attention  to  negotiations 
in  the  International  Maritime  Organisation  (IMO)  where  an 
agreement  to  include  hydrofluorocarbons  (HFC)  within  its  ambit 
was achieved on 15 October 2016. 

-  The  EU  is  with  its  trade  policy  playing  a  key  role  in  taking 
forward  negotiations  for  an  environmental  goods  agreement  with 
16  other  major  WTO  members.  The  aim  is  to  facilitate  trade  in 
vital  green  technologies  like  renewable  energy  generation,  waste 
management and air pollution control and contribute to combatting 
climate  change  and  protecting  the  environment.  The  EU  is  also 
including  the  fight  against  climate  change  in  the  trade  and 
sustainable  development  chapters  it  includes  in  its  trade  and 

-  The  Energy  Union  supports  the  shift  towards  a  resource-
efficient,  low-carbon  economy  to  achieve  sustainable  growth 
through  their  legal  frameworks  and  related  initiatives  (see  above 
under sustainable development goal n°7). A legislative framework 
is  put  into  place  to  support  these  policies.  Most  importantly, 
within  its  Energy  Union  Europe  has  set  up  a  2030  Climate  and 
Energy  Policy  Framework  which  sets  three  key  targets  for  the 
year  2030:  At  least  40%  cuts  in  greenhouse  gas  emissions  (from 
1990 levels), at least 27% share for renewable energy and at least 
27% improvement in energy efficiency. 

-  The  fight  against  climate  change  and  climate  change 
adaptation is mainstreamed into many policy areas.   

-  The  Europe  2020  Strategy  and  more  specifically  the  headline 
targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions 20% compared to 1990 (or 
even 30% if the conditions are right), to ensure 20% energy from 
renewables  and  to  ensure  a  20%  increase  in  energy  efficiency. 
Progress  towards  these  Europe  2020  targets  is  encouraged  and 
monitored through  the European  Semester,  the  EU's  yearly  cycle 
of economic and budgetary coordination.  

- There is an EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) which is the 
EU's  key  tool  for  cutting  greenhouse  gas  emissions  from  large-
scale  facilities  in  the  power  and  industry  sectors,  as  well  as  the 
aviation sector.  The Commission has already made a proposal for 
a  revision  of  the  Emissions  Trading  System  for  the  period  after 
2020  to  ensure  the  EU  meets  the  2030  greenhouse  gas  emission 
reduction targets. National emission reduction targets cover the 

46 

 
investment agreements and their implementation. 

- In 2015 the EU launched the Global Climate Change Alliance 
Plus (GCCA+), a seven-year thematic flagship programme to help 
the  world’s  poorest  and  most  vulnerable  places  to  facilitate  the 
transition to a climate resilient low-carbon future. 

-  The  EU  places  disaster  and  climate  resilience  as  a  central 
objective  in  its  humanitarian  assistance.  The  EU  Resilience 
Marker  is  used  in  all  humanitarian  projects  to  define  ways  to 
reduce disaster risks and to strengthen people's coping capacities to 
disasters  and  crises.  The  Action  Plan  for  Sendai  Framework  for 
Disaster  Risk  Reduction  2015  –  2030  includes  a  strong  focus  on 
climate  change  adaptation,  linking  it  to  disaster  risk  reduction 
strategies  and  their  coherent  implementation  in  EU  partner 
countries.  

international  partners 

the  EU  works  with 

-  The  energy  sector  has  a  direct  link  to  the  climate  change 
challenge.  Based  on  its  2030  Climate  and  Energy  Policy 
to 
Framework, 
implement  efficient  sustainable  energy  policies  that  meet  the 
greenhouse gas emission reduction objectives by increasing energy 
production  from  low  carbon  energy  resources,  in  particular 
renewables  while  improving  energy  efficiency,  managing  energy 
demand,  increasing  the  stability  and  transparency  of  energy 
markets,  developing  and  transferring  clean  energy  technologies 
and  intelligent  solutions.  Furthermore,  the  EU  cooperates  with 
developing  countries  in  leapfrogging  towards  sustainable  and 
modern  energy  services  for  all  or  decarbonising  their  energy  mix 
to  decouple  economic  growth  from  an  increase  in  harmful 
emissions. 

-  Combatting  climate  change  and  poverty  eradication  are 

47 

sectors  not  in  the  emission  trading  system  (such  as  building, 
agriculture, waste, transport, excluding aviation). They exist up to 
2020 and the Commission recently adopted a proposal for targets 
up to 2030, including how to integrate the land use sector into the 
EU  2030  Climate  and  Energy  Framework.  These  proposals  will 
ensure  the  EU  is  on  track  to  reduce  greenhouse  gas  emissions 
domestically by at least 40% by 2030.  

 -  Other  examples  are  the  binding  energy  efficiency  and 
renewable  energy  measures  in  place  supported  by  numerous 
sectoral policies that reduce emissions. These include regulations 
improving  the  efficiency  of  appliances  and  other  tools,  standards 
improving  CO2  efficiency  of  cars,  and  policies  improving  the 
energy performance of buildings. 

-  The  Circular  Economy  Package's  full  implementation  will 
direct  resources  and  efforts  in  the  direction  of  technologies  and 
business  models  that  will  be  more  resource  and  energy  efficient 
thus  providing  an  important  contribution  to  mitigation  of  GHG 
emissions. 

- The Transport White Paper sets out the general objective for the 
EU of cutting greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector by 
60%  by  2050.  An  example  of  action  towards  this  objective  is  a 
target on the reduction of the greenhouse gas intensity of fuels. 

- The EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change provides a 
framework  and  mechanisms  to  improve  the  preparedness  of  the 
EU  for  current  and  future  impacts  of  climate  change,  thus 
contributing  to  a  more  climate-resilient.  It  is  structured  around 
three  strategic  objectives:  promoting  action  by  Member  States; 
better  informed  decision  making;  and  "climate-proofing"  EU 
action by mainstreaming adaptation measures into EU policies and 

 
recognised as inherently linked, and supporting the poorest and the 
most  vulnerable  countries  is  a  priority.  The  EU’s  development 
cooperation  policy  as  well  as  other  policies  and  financial 
instruments  supporting  the  European  Union  external  actions  will 
contribute  to  achieving  the  20%  overall  commitment  to  climate 
relevant  actions  for  the  EU  spending  in  the  2014-2020  period.  A 
number  of  new  facilities  and  innovative  mechanisms  have  been 
designed to leverage more investments.  

-  EU funding instruments  such  as the European Neighbourhood 
Instrument,  the  Instrument  for  Pre-Accession  Assistance,  the 
European  Development  Fund,  the  Development  Cooperation 
Instrument,  the  Instrument  for  Pre-accession  Assistance,  the 
Partnership  Instrument,  the  Humanitarian  Aid  funding  instrument 
and the external component of Horizon 2020.  

programmes and promoting adaptation in key vulnerable sectors.  

-  In  addition,  promoting  integrating  Green  Infrastructure  into 
related  plans  and  programmes  can  help  restore  ecological 
connectivity, enhance ecosystem resilience and thereby ensure the 
continued  provision  of  ecosystem  services,  including  carbon 
sequestration, and climate adaptation.  

-  The  EU  Floods  legislation  establishes  a  framework  for  the 
assessment and management of flood risks. Climate change should 
be  considered  by  EU  Member  States  when  undertaking 
preliminary  flood  risk  assessments  and  when  establishing  flood 
risk management plans. 

Framework 

-  The  EU  commits  to  implement  the  Sendai  Framework  for 
Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 - 2030. The EU Action Plan for 
Sendai 
for  Disaster  Risk  Reduction 
implementation  includes  a  strong  focus  on  climate  change 
adaptation,  linking  it  to  disaster  risk  reduction,  and  fostering  a 
strengthened  coherence  between  climate  change  adaptation 
strategies and risk management plans at national level in EU. 

-The  EU  Civil  Protection  Mechanism  includes  a  general  policy 
framework for Union actions on disaster risk prevention, aimed at 
achieving  a  higher  level  of  protection  and  resilience  against 
disasters by preventing or reducing their effects and by fostering a 
culture  of  prevention,  including  due  consideration  of  the  likely 
impacts of climate change and the need for appropriate adaptation 
action. 

- 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 

48 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
businesses to be and to become socially responsible, for example 
with regard to climate action in businesses. 

-  Other  examples  include  for  example  a  green  direct  payment  to 
farmers- granted for implementing crop diversification, ecological 
focus  areas  and  permanent  grassland,  practices  whose 
environmental benefits is proven. Also, the Bioeconomy Strategy 
considers  how  our  economy  can  move  away  from  using  fossil 
carbon, fostering instead a sustainable use of biomass to diminish 
our CO2 footprint. 

- To respond to challenges and investment needs related to climate 
change,  the  EU  aims  to  spend  at  least  20%  of  EU  spending  in 
the  period  2014-2020  on  climate  change-related  actions.   To 
achieve this increase, climate actions have been integrated into all 
major  EU  spending  programmes,  in  particular  cohesion  policy, 
energy,  transport,  research  and  innovation  and  the  Common 
Agricultural  Policy.  Relevant  EU  funding  instruments  include 
inter  alia  the  European  Fund  for  Strategic  Investments,  the 
European Structural and Investment Funds, Horizon 2020, and the 
Programme  for  the  Environment  and  Climate  Action  (LIFE),  the 
European  Agricultural  Guarantee  Fund,  and  the  Civil  Protection 
Mechanism.  It  is  for  example  estimated  that  for  the  European 
Structural  and  Investment  Funds  the  allocation  to  climate-related 
actions will be about EUR 115 billion or 25% of the Funds for the 
2014-2020  period.  For  Horizon  2020,  the  EU  Framework 
Innovation  climate-related 
Programme 
expenditure  is  expected  to  exceed  35%  of  the  overall  budget  for 
2014-2020  period.  The  EU  budget  annual  allocation  to  climate 
action has exceeded the 20% target in 2016 and will remain close to 
it  over  2017-2020.  The  EU  budget  is  set  to  deliver  slightly  above 
EUR 200 billion as a total climate related spending in the 2014-2020 
period. 

for  Research  and 

49 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
14.  
Conserve 
and 
sustainably 
use the 
oceans, seas 
and marine 
resources for 
sustainable 
development 

The most important Commission priorities contributing to this sustainable development goal are: jobs, growth and investment; a 
stronger global actor 

- The EU is party to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, 
which  sets  out  the  legal  framework  within  which  all  activities  in 
the  oceans  and  seas  must  be  carried  out.  It  is  also  party  to  the 
relevant regional and international conventions on marine pollution 
prevention and on the conservation and sustainable management of 
marine resources such as the UN Fish Stocks Agreement, the UN 
Food  and  Agriculture  organisation's  Code  of  Conduct  and  Port 
State  Measures  Agreement,  Regional  Fisheries  Management 
Organisations and Arrangements, Regional Seas Conventions, the 
Convention on Biological Diversity and its Nagoya Protocol, The 
London  Convention  and  its  Protocol  and  the  Convention  on 
International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). 

-  The  recently  set  out  EU  policy  on  International  Ocean 
Governance sets out a list of actions that focuses on securing safe, 
secure,  and  sustainable  development  of  our  oceans  at  the  global 
level  through  better  and  more  effective  rules  as  well  as  more 
effective knowledge and research. 

 -  Bilateral  Sustainable  Fisheries  Partnership  Agreements 
under the Common Fisheries Policy allow EU vessels to fish only 
surplus  resources  in  waters  of  third  countries  and  support  partner 
countries' capacity for sustainable fisheries management.  

-  The  Common  Fisheries  Policy  main  objectives  are  to  achieve 
environmentally,  economically  and  socially  sustainable  fisheries 
and to contribute to the availability of food supplies. It applies the 
precautionary  approach  to  fisheries  management  and  implements 
the ecosystem-based approach to it in order to ensure that negative 
impacts  of  fishing  activities  on  the  marine  ecosystem  are 
minimised, and that aquaculture and fisheries activities prevent the 
degradation  of  the  marine  environment.  Under  the  Common 
Fisheries  Policy  the  EU  is  committed  to  take  decisions  based  on 
best  available  science  and  to  restore  and  maintain  populations  of 
living marine biological resources above biomass levels which can 
produce  maximum  sustainable  yield.  Other  key  elements  are  to 
increasingly  move  towards  the  long-term  management  of  stocks 
and  the  introduction  of  landing  obligation.  EU  rules  moreover 
ensure that only legally caught fish enters the European market, so 
that  the  EU  is  not  supporting  illegal  fishing  activities  by  other 
States that export marine fisheries products to the EU. 

-The  7th  Environment  Action  Programme, 
the  agreed 
framework  for  EU  environment  policy  until  2020,  commits  the 
EU to protect the Union's natural capital to (inter alia) reduce the 
impact  of  pressures  on  marine  waters,  in  order  to  achieve  or 
maintain good environmental status. 

-  EU  rules  on  illegal,  unreported  and  unregulated  fishing 
ensure  that  all  Member  States  implement  their  international 
obligations  to  manage  their  fisheries  resources  and  fishing  fleets 
sustainably.  They  also  ensure  that  only  legally  caught  fish  enters 
the  European  market,  so  that  the  EU  is  not  supporting  illegal 

 - The Marine Strategy Framework  offers a comprehensive and 
integrated  approach  to  the  protection  of  the  marine  environment 
and natural resources and creating a framework for the sustainable 
use  of  our  marine  waters,  including  through  ecosystem-based 
management. The marine strategy involves many implementation 

50 

 
  
fishing  activities  by  other  States  that  export  marine  fisheries 
products to the EU. 

-  The  EU  actively  supports  the  development  of  a  legally  binding 
instrument  on  the  conservation  and  sustainable  use  of  marine 
biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction under the United 
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. 

- Through its development policy the EU supports the protection 
of  the  marine  environment  and  sustainable  fisheries  management 
in developing countries.   

-  In  its  trade  and  investment  policy,  the  EU  has  increased  the 
priority given to  the sustainable management and conservation of 
natural resources, such as biodiversity and fisheries, notably by the 
inclusion  of  dedicated  provisions  in  the  trade  and  development 
chapters  of  its  trade  and  investment  agreements,  in  addition  to  
commitments to core multilateral environmental agreements. 

-  The  EU  research  and  innovation  policy  is  providing  further 
support, for example through the "Galway Statement" of 2013 on 
the  launch  of  a  European  Union,  Canada  and  United  States  of 
America  and  Canada  Research  Alliance  on  Atlantic  Ocean 
research  cooperation.    The  Commission  also  supports  the  G7 
Future  of  the  Oceans  Initiative  agreed  on  by  the  Science  and 
Technology Ministers in 2016.  

-  EU  funding  instruments  include  the  external  component  of 
Horizon  2020,  the  European  Neighbourhood  Instrument,  the 
European  Development  Fund,  the  Partnership  Instrument  and  the 
Development  Cooperation  Instrument  as  well  as  the  European 
Development Fund.  

51 

are 

through 

a  Common 
addressed 
challenges,  which 
Implementation  Strategy  between  the  Commission  and  the 
Member States and a regional approach to the implementation of 
its objectives. The Birds and Habitats legislation complement the 
Marine Strategy Framework by protecting 5% of the EU sea area 
through  a  network  of  Marine  Protected  Areas  part  of  'Natura 
2000'. 

- To tackle marine litter and pollution, the EU uses a wide set of 
instruments,  including  regulation  on  waste  management  and 
prevention,  port  reception  facilities  for  ship  generated  waste  and 
cargo  residues.  While  there  is  no  internal  quantitative  target  for 
the  coverage  of  marine  protected  areas  in  relation  to  overall 
marine  and  coastal  surface  area,  the  EU  is  bound  by  its 
commitments  as  a  Party  to  the  Convention  on  Biological 
Diversity.   

-  There  is  a  framework  in  place  for  eco-system-based  maritime 
spatial  planning in  Europe.  While each EU country  will  be free 
to  plan  its  own  maritime  activities,  local,  regional  and  national 
planning in shared seas will be made  more compatible through a 
set of minimum common requirements. 

-  There  are  also  EU  recommendations  on  Integrated  Coastal 
Zone  Management  which  define  the  principles  of  sound  coastal 
planning and management. 

- The Civil protection Mechanism covers actions in the field of 
prevention of, preparedness for and response to marine pollution. 

-  The  EU  research  and  innovation  policy  is  providing  further 
support.  The  EU  Joint  Programming  Initiative  on  Healthy  and 
Productive  Oceans  serves  as  a  coordinating  and  integrating 

 
strategic  platform,  open  to  all  EU  Member  States  and  countries 
associated  to  Horizon  2020  investing  in  marine  and  maritime 
research.  Another  example  is  the  EU  support  to  related  research 
and  innovation  activities  through  the  BLUEMED  initiative 
together  with  EU  Member  States  bordering  the  Mediterranean 
Sea. 

-  Other  examples  of  EU  strategies  and  legislation  linked  to  the 
protection  of  the  marine  environment  are  the  EU  Biodiversity 
Strategy; the Water Framework, Habitats and Birds, and Wildlife 
legislation;  the  circular  economy  package;  the  EU  framework  on 
drinking water, urban waste water treatment and nitrates pollution 
prevention;  and  the  EU  strategy  for  the  Baltic  Region.  EU  air 
pollution  policy  reduces  deposition  of  pollutants  leading  to 
eutrophication and acidification. Also REACH, the EU framework 
to  improve  the  protection  of  human  health  and  the  environment 
from  the  risks  that  can  be  posed  by  chemicals  deals  for  example 
with contaminants in seafood and marine litter.  

- EU funding instruments such as Horizon 2020, the Programme 
for  the  Environment  and  Climate  Action  (LIFE),  the  European 
Maritime and Fisheries Fund and the Civil Protection Mechanism. 

52 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15. Protect, 
restore and 
promote 
sustainable 
use of 
terrestrial 
ecosystems, 
sustainably 
manage 
forests, 
combat 
desertificatio
n, and halt 
and reverse 
land 
degradation 
and halt 
biodiversity 
loss 

The most important Commission priorities contributing to this sustainable development goal are: jobs, growth and investment; a 
stronger global actor 

- The EU is a Party to all leading international conventions and 
protocols  relevant  to  this  goal,  including  the  Convention  on 
Biological  Diversity  and  related  conventions,  the  UN  Convention 
to  Combat  Desertification,  the  Convention  on  International  Trade 
the  International  Tropical  Timber 
in  Endangered  Species, 
Agreement  and  others.  The  EU  provides  financial  and  technical 
assistance to developing countries to implement these conventions. 
The  EU  is  contributing  to  the  objective  under  the  Convention  on 
Biological Diversity to double total biodiversity-related funding to 
developing  countries  from  all  sources  and  to  achieve  a  land-
degradation  neutral  world.  The  EU  is  also  engaged  in  the  UN 
Forum on Forests, the UN's voluntary Global Soil Partnership and 
is Party to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for 
Food and Agriculture. 

-  The  EU  promotes  sustainable  forest  management,  the  fight 
against  deforestation,  forest  degradation  and  illegal  logging.  The 
EU's Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Action 
Plan (FLEGT) involves a set of demand and supply side measure 
to help developing countries improve forest governance and ensure 
the  legality  of  the timber  they  export,  and  promotes  sustainable 
forest management. The EU also supports REDD+, an initiative at 
international  level  to  combat  deforestation  and  forest  degradation 
in the tropics. 

- The EU supports the fight against wildlife crime, as an external 
dimension of the EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking. 

- The EU actively supports the development at the UN of a legally 

53 

the  agreed 
-  The  7th  Environment  Action  programme, 
framework  for  EU  environment  policy  until  2020,  sets  as  one  of 
its three main priority objectives to protect, conserve and enhance 
the Union’s natural capital. In this framework several EU policies 
have been put in place.  

-  The  EU  Biodiversity  Strategy  to  2020  -  which  reflects  the 
commitments  by  the  EU  towards  the  Convention  on  Biological 
Diversity'  Strategic  Plan  for  Biodiversity  -  sets  out  targets  and 
actions  needed  to  reverse  negative  trends,  to  halt  the  loss  of 
biodiversity  and  the  degradation  of  ecosystem  services  by  2020 
and restore them as far as feasible. 

-  The  EU  Habitats  and  Birds  legislation  is  the  cornerstone  of 
nature protection in the EU. It provides comprehensive protection 
to  all  wild  bird  species  naturally  occurring  in  the  Union  and  to 
over 1000 most valuable animals and plant species and 200 types 
of  habitat  through  the  EU-wide  Natura  2000  network  of 
protected areas, covering 18% of EU land area and 5% of EU sea 
area. 

-  The  EU  has  legislation  in  place  to  ensure  environmental 
assessments are carried out so that the environmental implications 
of  decisions  are  taken  into  account  before  these  decisions  are 
made.  This  applies  both  for  individual  projects,  such  as  a  dam, 
motorway, 
Impact 
factory 
Assessments),  and  for  public  plans  or  programmes  (Strategic 
Environmental Assessments).  

(Environmental 

airport 

or 

 
binding  instrument  on  the  conservation  and  sustainable  use  of 
marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction under the 
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. 

-  In  its  trade  and  investment  policy  the  EU  has  increased  the 
priority given to  the sustainable management and conservation of 
natural  resources  (biodiversity,  forests  and  timber  and  wildlife), 
notably  by  the  inclusion  of  dedicated  provisions  in  the  trade  and 
development  chapters  of  its  trade  and  investment  agreements,  in 
addition  to  commitments  to  core  multilateral  environmental 
agreements.  

-  Environmental  policies  for  biodiversity  also  include  regulation 
on  invasive  alien  species  and  on  access  and  benefit-sharing  of 
genetic  resources.  EU  air  pollution  policy  reduces  deposition  of 
pollutants leading to eutrophication and acidification. 

-  Sustainable  forest  management,  ensuring  the  protection  of 
forests, is a key pillar of rural development is and is at the heart of 
the  EU  Forest  Strategy.  The  Strategy  highlights  that  forests  are 
not  only  important  for  rural  development,  but  also  for  the 
environment  and  biodiversity, 
industries, 
bioenergy, and in the fight against climate change.  

forest-based 

for 

- The Action Plan for the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk 
Reduction  2015  –  2030  implementation  includes  a  strong  focus 
on  linking  EU  internal  and  external  disaster  risk  reduction 
priorities  with  the  biodiversity  strategies  and  eco-system-based 
approaches.  

-  Adopted  as  part  of  the  EU's  Forest  Law  Enforcement, 
Governance and Trade Action Plan (FLEGT) Action Plan, the EU 
Timber  legislation  prohibits  the  placing  on  the  EU  market  of 
illegally logged timber and requires market operators in the EU to 
exercise due diligence on the legality of their supply chain. 

-  The  EU  actively  mainstreams  environmental  objectives  in  its 
cooperation  with  partner  countries,  for  example  with  developing 
countries  and  the  enlargement  and  European  Neighbourhood 
Policy  third  countries.  The  EU  also  contributes  to  specific 
sustainable 
programmes  on  conservation, 
management  of  terrestrial  and  marine  ecosystems,  in  particular 
combatting 
promoting 
and 
sustainable 
forest  management,  wildlife 
conservation, and resilience building.  It is also supporting a range 
of  countries  to  value  ecosystem  services  and  develop  natural 
capital accounts.  

desertification 
land, 

restoration  and 

deforestation, 

and 

soil 

- The EU supports the development of an international instrument 
under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea for the 
conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas 

54 

- EU Water Policy also contributes substantially to maintain and 
improve biodiversity, by setting ecological objectives for all water 
bodies,  including  those  nurturing  wetlands  and  water-dependent 
terrestrial ecosystems.  

is  ensuring 

- One of the three objectives of rural development policy under the 
Common  Agricultural  Policy 
the  sustainable 
management  of  natural  resources.  It  provides  opportunities  to 
support the restoration and maintenance of habitats in agricultural 
and  forest  areas  through  agri-environment-climate  payments  and 
specific  support  to  compensate  for  disadvantages  resulting  from 
the implementation of the Natura 2000 legislation. The Common 
Agricultural  Policy  also  helps  the  maintenance  of  agriculture  in 
remote areas – such as mountain areas – where land abandonment 
would have adverse effects on ecosystems. Other measures under 

 
beyond national jurisdiction.  

-  EU  funding  instruments  such  as  the  European  Development 
Fund,  the  Development  Cooperation  Instrument,  the  Partnership 
Instrument, the external component of Horizon 2020, the European 
Neighbourhood  Instrument  and  the  Instrument  for  Pre-accession 
Assistance 

the rural development policy can also have a positive impact such 
as the support to organic farming, to afforestation and creation of 
woodland,  establishment  of  agroforestry  systems  and  prevention 
and restoration of damages to forests from forest fires and natural 
disasters  and  catastrophic  events  through  rural  development 
measures.  The  Common  Agricultural  Policy  also  provides 
opportunities  to  support  the  promotion  of  sustainable  forest 
management  and  foresees  combatting  of  desertification  and 
restoration  of  degraded  soil  and  the  prevention  of  biodiversity 
loss. 

-  The  EU  promotes  sustainable  use  of  pesticides  as  part  of  its 
policy  by  reducing  the  risks  and  impacts  of  pesticide  use  on 
human  health  and  the  environment  and  by  promoting  the  use  of 
Integrated  Pest  Management  and  of  alternative  approaches  or 
techniques such as non-chemical alternatives to pesticides. 

-  The  EU  Thematic  Strategy  for  Soil  Protection  aims  at 
promoting  a  sustainable  use  of  soil,  preventing  further  soil 
to 
degradation  and  preserving 
integrate the land use sector into the 2030 Climate and Energy 
Policy Framework will incentivise climate-friendly land use and 
forestry. 

its  functions.  The  proposal 

- The EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change promotes 
the  use  of  ecosystem-based  adaptation,  including  sustainable 
forest  management,  which  not  only  enhances  resilience  to  the 
impacts of climate change, but also achieves co-benefits in terms 
of  ecosystems  and  biodiversity  protection,  as  well  as  improved 
well-being and health. 

-  The  EU  has  an  action  plan  against  wildlife  trafficking which 
sets  out  a  comprehensive  blueprint  for  joined-up  efforts  to  fight 

55 

 
 
 
 
 
 
wildlife crime inside the EU, and for strengthening the EU's role 
in  the  global  fight  against  these  illegal  activities.  The  plan  has 
three main strands – greater enforcement, better cooperation, and 
more effective prevention. 

- The Action Plan for the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk 
Reduction  2015  -  2030  implementation  includes  a  strong  focus 
on  linking  EU  internal  and  external  disaster  risk  reduction 
priorities  with  the  biodiversity  strategies  and  eco-system-based 
approaches.  

-  As  the  EU's  first  investment  arm,  EU  Cohesion  Policy  also 
addresses a wide range of EU environmental objectives, becoming 
the catalyst of the EU transition towards a smart, sustainable and 
inclusive  growth.  In  particular,  Cohesion  Policy  has  a  thematic 
objective  dedicated  to  preserving  and  protecting  the  environment 
and  promoting  resource  efficiency,  in  particular  by  investing  to 
meet  the  requirements  of  the  Union's  environmental  laws  and  to 
address needs identified by the Member States. During the period 
2014-2020 EUR 35 billion will be invested in the protection of the 
environment,  including  for  protecting  and  restoring  biodiversity 
and 
services  and  green 
infrastructure.  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. 

soil  and  promoting  ecosystem 

-  EU  research  and  innovation  policy  sets  out  nature-based 
solutions to harvest the benefits of nature for societal challenges, 
such as land and ecosystem management and restoration. 

-  EU  funding  instruments  such  as  the  European  Structural  and 
Investment  Funds,  Horizon  2020  and  the  Programme  for  the 
Environment and Climate Action (LIFE). 

56 

 
16. Achieve 
peaceful and 
inclusive 
societies, 
rule of law, 
effective and 
capable 
institutions 

The most important Commission priorities contributing to this sustainable development goal are: a digital single market; justice and 
fundamental rights; a stronger global actor; democratic change 

-  EU  action  in  these  areas  spans  a  wide  range  of  policies, 
instruments  and  interventions  such  as  development  cooperation, 
humanitarian aid, human rights and democracy support, migration 
policy,  diplomacy,  specific  conflict  prevention  and  peacebuilding 
interventions,  policies  countering  violent  extremism  and  tackling 
organised  crime,  etc.  Relevant  measures  contributing  to  this 
sustainable development goal are also included in association and 
stabilisation agreements, visa dialogues, other High level dialogues 
and  accession  negotiations.  Culture  and  intercultural  dialogue  for 
peaceful inter-community relations are promoted. 

-  The  EU  Global  Strategy  on  Foreign  and  Security  Policy  sets 
out the strategic direction for the full range of external action and 
integrates  the  need  for  the  EU  to  implement  the  2030  Agenda, 
including  addressing  the  security-development  nexus.  It  calls  for 
promoting  integrated  solutions  to  the  challenges  of  conflict, 
fragility  and  crisis,  recognizing  that  sustainable  development  and 
peace  and  security  are  mutually  dependent.  It  brings  together  the 
EU's diplomatic action, including mediation, action and support to 
third parties, with development engagement and other tools.    

-  The  EU  Development  cooperation  policy  through  the  Agenda 
for  Change,  the  European  Neighbourhood  Policy  and  the  EU 
Enlargement  Policy  are  contributing  towards  achieving  peaceful 
and  inclusive  societies,  rule  of  law,  effective  and  capable 
institutions.  The  EU  supports  judicial  reforms  in  the  enlargement 
and key neighbourhood countries in order to contribute to effective 
and  independent  justice  and  security  sector  systems.  Through  its 
financial assistance  and political  dialogues the EU is  promoting a 

- The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU brings together 
in a single document the fundamental rights protected in the EU. 
The Charter contains rights and freedoms under six titles: Dignity, 
Freedoms,  Equality,  Solidarity,  Citizens'  Rights,  and  Justice. 
Proclaimed  in  2000,  the  Charter  has  the  same  legal  value  as  the 
EU Treaties since the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, in 
December 2009. 

to  ensure 

-  The  EU  is  committed  to  a  better  regulation  agenda.  This  is 
about  designing  EU  policies  and  laws  so  that  they  achieve  their 
objectives in the most efficient and effective way possible. It is a 
transparency  when  preparing, 
way  of  working 
implementing  and  reviewing  policy;  to  ensure  evidence  always 
informs  policy  making  and  to  ensure  stakeholders  are  involved. 
To  ensure  that  EU  action  is  -  and  remains  -  effective,  the 
Commission  assesses  the  expected  and  actual  impact  of  policies 
and legislation and other important measures at every stage – from 
planning to implementation, review and revision. 

-  The  EU  has  legislation  in  place  to  ensure  environmental 
assessments are carried out so that the environmental implications 
of  decisions,  including  disaster  risk  implications,  are  taken  into 
account  before  these  decisions  are  made.  This    applies  both  for 
individual  projects,  such  as  a  dam,  motorway,  airport  or  factory 
(Environmental  Impact  Assessments),  and  for  public  plans  or 
programmes which are prepared for agriculture, forestry, fisheries, 
transport,  waste  management,  water 
energy, 
management,  telecommunications,  tourism,  town  and  country 

industry, 

57 

 
organisations, 

non-governmental 

inclusive  and 
broader  concept  of  security,  encompassing 
accountable  institutions  at  all  levels  to  strengthen  resilience  of 
states and societies. The EU invests in reinforcing key democratic 
actors – parliaments, civil society, independent media, human right 
election 
defenders, 
administrations  and  domestic  observers, 
local  authorities, 
anticorruption  services  and  will  continue  efforts  to  promote 
dialogue between different stakeholders. Following the adoption in 
2016  of  the  new  EU  framework  in  support  to  security  sector 
reform, the EU has set up measures to enhance the effectiveness in 
supporting  stability,  security  and  development  in  third  countries. 
Inter  alia  through  an  extension  of  the  Instrument  contributing  to 
Stability and Peace, more comprehensive assistance is foreseen for 
security sector actors in partner countries, in line with the objective 
of achieving sustainable development.  

- The EU is committed to promoting and protecting human rights 
and  to  support  accountable  and  inclusive  democracy  worldwide 
including  through  political  dialogues,  mainstreaming  of  human 
rights values and principles, and dedicated financial and technical 
assistance  programmes  (e.g.  through  the  European  Instrument  for 
Democracy  and  Human  Rights).  The  EU  has  an  Action  Plan  in 
place  on  Human  Rights  and  Democracy  covering  the  period 
2015-2019. Moreover, over the years, human rights dialogues have 
been  established  with  an  increasing  number  of  third  countries  in 
order  to  ensure  access  to  justice.  These  dialogues  are  key 
instruments  for  the  EU  to  bilaterally  engage  on  human  rights, 
including  on  specific  themes  such  as  non-discrimination,  torture, 
the  death  penalty,  freedom  of  religion  or  belief,  access  to  justice 
and  fair  trials,  freedom  of  expression  and  economic,  social  and 
cultural rights etc. Furthermore, the EU is supporting programmes 
on improving prisons, police training and  support to the judiciary 

58 

planning or land use (Strategic Environmental Assessments).  

-  Since  the  EU  has  become  a  party  to  the  UNECE  Aarhus 
Convention  on  access  to  information,  public  participation  in 
in  environmental 
decision-making  and  access  to  justice 
matters,  the  EU  has  set  up  several  legal  instruments  to  support 
public  access  to  environmental  information.  EU  legislation  also 
gives  the  public  rights  to  participate  in  decision-making  that 
affects the environment. 

-  The  EU  has  adopted  a  new  initiative,  the  Environmental 
Implementation  Review.  It  aims  to  support  delivering  the 
objectives of existing EU environmental policies and legislation in 
an  inclusive  and  participatory  manner  through  better  knowledge 
about  implementation  gaps  and  their  root  causes,  and  providing 
new solutions complementary to legal enforcement. The plan is to 
publish  country-specific  reports  every  two  years  focusing  on 
essential topics in the area of environmental legislation, followed 
by country specific dialogues, a peer-to-peer programme and other 
to  address 
support  Member  States'  efforts 
to 
actions 
implementation gaps. 

-  The  EU  is  working  towards  a  fully  functioning  common 
European area of freedom, security and justice to the benefit of 
citizens and companies. The area of freedom, security and justice 
is  based  on  the  principle  of  mutual  trust  between  the  Member 
States  and  the  principle  of  mutual  recognition  of  judicial 
decisions. Obstacles to EU citizens exercising their right to move 
freely and live in any EU country should be removed. Businesses 
need  to  be  confident  that  they  will be  able  to  effectively  enforce 
contracts  and  handle  litigation  throughout  the  EU,  without 
encountering the hurdles they still confront today. 

 
and national human rights institutions.  There is also a framework 
in  place  to  support  transitional  justice.  The  EU  also  deploys 
Election  Observation  Missions  that  promote  accountable  and 
transparent  electoral  processes  and  active  participation  of  citizens 
during the entire electoral cycle. 

-The  Instrument  contributing  to  Stability  and  Peace  is  one  of 
the key tools that the EU has to respond to crisis and/or to rapidly 
intervene  to  preserve  peace  and  prevent  conflict.  It  supports  not 
only urgent short-term actions in response to situations of crisis or 
emerging crisis, often complementing EU humanitarian assistance, 
but also longer-term capacity building of organisations engaged in 
crisis response and peace-building. 

to  crises  situations.  The  EU 

-  The  EU  responds  to  risks  of  violent  conflict,  drawing  on  the 
EU's  Conflict  Early  Warning  System  and  joint  analysis  to  drive 
effective  early  responses 
is 
mainstreaming  conflict  sensitivity 
the  programming  and 
implementation  of  its  cooperation  to  engage  in  preventive  action 
towards  conflicts.  The  EU  engages  in  international  dialogue  and 
cooperation  on  peace  building,  notably  through  the  International 
Dialogue  for  Peace  Building  and  State  Building.  The  EU  works 
towards strengthening resilience in partner countries as a means to 
address fragile situations. 

in 

-  The  EU  also  provides  support  to  this  sustainable  development 
goal through the mandates of many of our Common Security and 
Defence Policy missions and operations.   

-  The  EU  is  at  the  forefront  of  international  efforts  to  fight 
organised  crime,  combat  the  laundering  of  the  proceeds  of 
crime and to counter the financing of terrorist activities and is 
a party to relevant international conventions and mechanisms. For 

59 

-  An  EU  framework  is  in  place  in  the  field  of  civil,  criminal 
and  contract  law  to  guarantee  the  rights  of  different  parties 
involved.  Judicial  cooperation  between  the  different  Member 
States is actively promoted.    

- Effective justice systems are a prerequisite for an investment and 
business friendly environment by instilling confidence throughout 
the  entire  business  cycle.  They  are  also  crucial  for 
the 
implementation of all EU law for the strengthening of mutual trust 
and  the  fight  against  corruption,  which  has  a  direct  impact  on 
public  budgets  and  the  business  environment.  It  is  against  this 
background  that  the  improvement  of  the  effectiveness  of  justice 
systems  in  Member  States  has  been  identified  as  a  key 
component  for  structural  reforms  in  the  European  Semester, 
the annual cycle for the coordination of economic policies at EU 
level. The EU monitors with the help of the Justice Scoreboard the 
efficiency, quality and independence of the justice systems of the 
Member States. 

-  The  EU  promotes  e-government  through  its  e-government 
action plan 2016-2020, especially for cross-border public services 
in the framework of the digital single market, for example through 
a common framework for citizen's electronic identity management 
(eID). 

-  The  European  Agenda  on  security  sets  out  the  main  actions 
envisaged  to  ensure  an  effective  EU  response  to  terrorism  and 
security threats in the European Union over the period 2015-2020. 
The  Agenda  identified  three  priorities:  tackling  terrorism  and 
preventing radicalisation, disrupting organised crime, and fighting 
cybercrime.  Other  areas  of  EU  intervention  include  the  fight 
against trafficking in human beings and firearms, the fight against 

 
corruption, financial crime and counterfeiting crime.   

- The Structural Reform Support Service (SRSS) was set up by 
the Commission in July 2015 to help EU Member States address 
implementation  challenges  of  structural  reforms,  timely  and 
adequate  transposition  of  the  Union  acquis  and  efficient  and 
effective  use  of  EU  funds.  The  Service  coordinates  and  provides 
tailor-made 
in 
cooperation with the relevant Commission services. The objective 
of providing such support to Member States is to help build more 
effective 
institutions,  stronger  governance  frameworks  and 
efficient public administrations.  

to  EU  Member  States, 

technical  support 

-  As  the  EU's  first  investment  arm,  EU  Cohesion  Policy  has  a 
thematic objective dedicated to enhancing institutional capacity of 
stakeholders  and  efficient  public 
public  authorities  and 
administration.  Through  the  Cohesion  Policy  inclusive  societies 
are  further  reinforced  by  building  non-segregated  infrastructure 
and community-based services. Also, 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  Structural  and 
Investment Funds;  the Rights,  Equality and Citizens Programme; 
the  Justice  Programme;  the  Internal  Security  Fund  and  Horizon 
2020. 

example, the EU is investing in the reduction of illicit arms flows. 
The EU has been successful in supporting the creation of a global 
Arms  Trade  Treaty  that  has  established  global  rules  for  the  arms 
trade  and  provides 
trafficking.  A 
to 
complementary example is the EU policy on trafficking in human 
beings  and  EU  cooperation  with  UNESCO  to  combat  illicit 
trafficking of cultural goods at international level.   

fight  arms 

tools 

-  Another  example  is  EU  action  in  the  area  of  child  protection, 
amongst  others  on  child  sexual  abuse,  trafficking,  protection  of 
children in asylum and migration, and child victims.  

-  EU  Trade  policy  also  contributes  as  it  for  example  aims  to 
eliminate conflict minerals from supply chains in order to stop the 
financing of armed groups through trade in conflict minerals.  

- The EU humanitarian assistance promotes the global respect of 
international  humanitarian  law  and  humanitarian  principles  by 
implementing  activities  for  the  dissemination  and  implementation 
of  international  humanitarian  law.  It  also  supports  protection 
activities and contributes to eliminating violence in crises.  

- The EU will continue to support UN reform and the participation 
of developing countries and civil society in processes and existing 
institutions, as appropriate.  

-  The  EU  supports  UN's  conflict  prevention  and  peacebuilding 
architecture and also regional organisations, including those with 
mediation and security roles such as the African Union. 

-  The  EU  cooperates  with  the  Council  of  Europe  in  the 
implementation of sustainable development goal n°16, for example  
in  fighting  corruption,  promoting  inclusive  societies,  advancing 

60 

 
judicial reforms, and promoting democratic governance. 

the 

Instrument 

- EU funding instruments such as the Instrument contributing to 
Stability  and  Peace, 
for  Nuclear  Safety 
Cooperation,  the  European  Neighbourhood  Instrument,  European 
Development Fund, the Development Cooperation Instrument, the 
Partnership 
for  Pre-accession 
Assistance,  the  European  Instrument  for  Democracy  and  Human 
Rights and the Humanitarian Aid funding instrument.  

Instrument, 

Instrument 

the 

61 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
17. 
Strengthen 
Means of 
Implemen-
tation and 
revitalise the 
global 
partnership 
for 
sustainable 
development 

The most important Commission priorities contributing to this sustainable development goal are: a stronger global actor; democratic 
change 

-  The  EU  and  its  Member  States  have  renewed  their  collective 
commitment  to  provide  0.7%  of  GNI  in  Official  Development 
Assistance 
including  a 
commitment  of  0.15-0.20%  of  GNI  as  Official  Development 
Assistance to Least Developed Countries (LDCs).  

to  developing  countries, 

(ODA) 

for  Sustainable  development.  Through 

-  The  EU  is  committed  to  the  Addis  Ababa  Action  Agenda 
(AAAA)  which  details  the  means  of  Implementation  for  the  new 
2030  Agenda 
its 
development  cooperation  policy,  neighbourhood  policy, 
enlargement  policy  and  trade  policy,  the  EU  will  further 
contribute  to  strengthening  the  means  of  implementation  and 
revitalising  the  global  partnership  for  sustainable  development. 
The  Addis  Ababa  Action  Agenda  notably  recognises 
the 
contribution  of  trade  policy  to  inclusive  growth  and  sustainable 
development,  and  includes  a  commitment  to  integrate  sustainable 
development  into  trade  policy  at  all  levels,  a  commitment  which 
was pushed through by the EU. This dimension is fully reflected in 
the Trade for All Strategy. 

-  The  EU  has  been  leading  the  way  in  integrating  sustainable 
development  objectives  into  trade  policy  and  making  trade  an 
effective  tool  to  promote  sustainable  development  worldwide.  In 
support of the 2030 Agenda, the EU will focus on implementation 
of  the  sustainable  development  dimensions  of  its  Free  Trade 
Agreements.  The  EU  is  a  strong  supporter  of  a  universal,  rules-
based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading 
system,  underpinned  by  the  World  Trade  Organisation.  The  EU 
has  the  most  open  trade  regime  in  the  world  for  developing 

62 

-  The  EU  is  committed  to  a  better  regulation  agenda.  This  is 
about  designing  EU  policies  and  laws  so  that  they  achieve  their 
objectives  in  the  most  efficient  and  effective  way  possible.  It 
ensures  that 
impacts  across  the  environmental,  social  and 
economic  pillars  of  sustainable  development  are  scrutinised 
throughout  European  policies  and  as  such  contributes  to  policy 
coherence.  Moreover, 
to  ensure 
transparency when preparing, implementing and reviewing policy; 
to  ensure  evidence  always  informs  policy  making  and  to  ensure 
stakeholders  are  involved.  To  ensure  that  EU  action  is  -  and 
remains  -  effective,  the  Commission  assesses  the  expected  and 
actual  impact  of  policies  and  legislation  and  other  important 
measures  at  every  stage  –  from  planning  to  implementation, 
review and revision. 

is  a  way  of  working 

it 

- The EU helps Member States in their fight against tax avoidance 
and  illicit  financial  flows;  it  promotes  macro-economic  stability, 
strengthened policies and institutions, knowledge and innovation, 
trade, investment and private sector engagement.    

-  A  successful  sustainable  development  agenda 
requires 
partnerships  between  the  EU,  governments,  social  partners, 
the  private  sector  and  civil  society.  Developing  and  fostering 
this  dialogue  is  an  essential  element  of  the  European  model  of 
cooperation,  of  which  for  EU  policy  making  some  examples  are 
given below:  

- The Europe 2020 strategy is a shared strategy shared among the 
European  institutions,  the  member  states  and  the  social  partners. 

 
countries,  including  duty-free,  quota-free  market  access  for  the 
least  developed  countries  and  under  Economic  Partnership 
Agreements.  The  generalised  system  of  preferences  (GSP)  has 
increased  exports  from  developing  countries  of  products  covered 
by  up  to  5%,  with  the  Everything  but  Arms  scheme  generating 
export increases of approximately 10%.  

-  Helping  people  affected  by  crises  and  disasters  is  a  global 
concern and includes coordination at the global level, as essential 
way to ensure efficient and effective provision of aid to those that 
need it most. The EU humanitarian assistance includes working 
in  close  partnership  with  a  large  number  of  humanitarian  and 
development  UN  and  Civil  Society  international  organisations, 
through  for  example,  Strategic  Dialogues,  UN  Economic  and 
Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Good Humanitarian Donorship 
platform.  The  Commission  also  supports  a  more  effective 
involvement of a broader range of actors in humanitarian contexts, 
including  of 
(OECD 
Development  Assistance  Committee)  donors,  the  private  sector 
and  regional  organisations.  The  EU  Aid  Volunteers  Initiative 
works  together  with  volunteers  in  vulnerable  communities  to 
strengthen their resilience to disasters and to build local capacities. 
local  volunteering 
Moreover, 
frameworks and schemes in third countries can be instrumental to 
increase  the  capacity  of  countries  to  cope  with  disasters  as  local 
communities are the first responders. 

local  communities,  non-DAC 

the  creation  of  national  and 

the 

-  The  EU  is  also  committed  to  development  effectiveness.  It 
participates  actively  in  the  Global  Partnership  for  Effective 
Development Cooperation. The EU and its Member States are also 
increasingly  using  Joint  Programming  to  improve  the  coherence 
and impact of EU interventions in partner  countries. The EU also 
continues  to  be  a  champion  of  aid  transparency  and  publishes 

63 

At EU level, each institution has a part to play in making sure the 
EU  is  taking  the  necessary  action  to  help  reach  the  Europe  2020 
targets.  At  Member  State  level,  full  ownership  is  essential  from 
Heads  of  States  and  governments,  including  regional  and  local 
levels.  Civil  society,  social  partners  and  other  stakeholders,  also 
have an important role to play, for example in monitoring follow-
up on the ground. 

- A key tool for ensuring a high level of coordination in external 
outreach by EU  institutions and EU  Member States  is  the Green 
Diplomacy Network (GDN), initially created in 2003. The GDN, 
managed  by  the  European  External  Action  Service,  brings 
together  foreign  ministry  officials  from  Member  States  with  the 
European Commission and the European External Action Service 
to  work  on  issues  of  climate  change  and  environment.  For  more 
than  a  decade  it  has  successfully  coordinated  EU  outreach  on 
environment  and  climate  policy  through  events,  seminars,  public 
diplomacy actions and official demarches to third countries. 

the 

Social 
-  Also 
Responsibility/Responsible  Business  Conduct  puts  focus  on 
reinforced public-private multi-stakeholders partnerships. 

on  Corporate 

Policy 

EU 

-  Another  example  is  the  nearly  EUR  77  billion  Horizon  2020 
framework  programme  for  research  and  innovation  which 
through  partnerships  pools  Europe’s  resources  to  tackle  the 
biggest challenges, support competitiveness of sectors that deliver 
high  quality  jobs,  develop  closer  synergies  with  national  and 
regional programmes, and encourage greater private investment in 
research  and  innovation.  This  results  for  example  in  Joint 
Technology  Initiatives,  Public-Public  Partnerships  or  contractual 
public-private  partnerships.  Horizon  2020 
to 
contribute  at  least  60%  of  its  budget  to  sustainable  development 

is  expected 

 
and 35% to climate action. 

- Cohesion policy is developed and implemented in a 'partnership 
principle'  engaging  a  broad  range  of  stakeholders.  Each 
programme is developed through a collective process involving a 
very  broad  range  of  stakeholders  at  European, regional  and local 
level. This includes regional and local authorities, socio-economic 
partners and civil society organisations. The partnership principle 
applies  to  all  stages  of  the  programming  process  and  their 
implementation. This approach not only helps to ensure that action 
is  adapted  to  local  and  regional  needs  and  priorities,  but  also 
facilitates  ownership  and  commitment  of  regional  and  local 
stakeholders.   

-  The  EU  has  adopted  a  new  initiative,  the  Environmental 
Implementation  Review.  It  aims  to  support  delivering  the 
objectives of existing EU environmental policies and legislation in 
an  inclusive  and  participatory  manner  through  better  knowledge 
about  implementation  gaps  and  their  root  causes,  and  providing 
new solutions complementary to legal enforcement. The plan is to 
publish  country-specific  reports  every  two  years  focusing  on 
essential topics in the area of environmental legislation, followed 
by country specific dialogues, a peer-to-peer programme and other 
actions 
to  address 
support  Member  States'  efforts 
to 
implementation gaps. 

to 

the  International  Aid  Transparency 
comprehensive  data 
Initiative  (IATI)  standard,  in  addition  to  its  OECD  reporting 
requirements.  The  EU  has  developed 
International 
Development  and  Cooperation  Results  Framework,  which  is 
reported  against  on  an  annual  basis.  The  EU  is  moreover 
committed to the use of partner country systems, and is the donor 
which makes the most use of budget support modalities. 

an 

-  In  the  run-up  to  the  Paris  Climate  Agreement,  European 
Climate  Diplomacy  played  a  key role  in  achieving  an  ambitious 
global climate agreement. The EU's and Member States' efforts to 
keep climate change high on the political agendas in all multi- and 
bilateral  dialogues  with  3rd  countries  and  close  cooperation  with 
non-state  actors  (local/  regional  governments,  civil  society, 
business  and  financial  sectors)  together  with  an  unprecedented 
mobilisation  of  our  diplomatic  services  around  the  world,  paved 
the  way  to  the  success  of  the  Paris  Climate  Agreement.  The 
European  Climate  Diplomacy  continues  to  play  a  driving  role  in 
supporting partners in the implementation of the Paris agreement. 

-  On  finance,  the  EU  aims  to  adapt  its  financing  modalities  and 
instruments  to  differing  country  contexts  and  aims  to  target  the 
most  concessional  resources  to  those  countries  with  the  least 
opportunity  to  raise  finance  elsewhere  and  the  greatest  shortfalls. 
The  EU  is  committed  to  promoting  innovative  financing  to 
developing  countries, 
through  blending.  The  EU 
regions  of  EU  external 
Blending  Framework  covers  all 
cooperation.  The  External  Investment  Plan  and  the  related 
proposed  European  Fund  for  Sustainable  Development  will 
also  be  an  important  tool  in  this  respect.  In  addition,  the  EU  is 
strengthening  close  synergies  between  blending  and  budget 
support for increased development impact. Budget support helps to 
improve  the  institutional  environment  for  private  investments  in 

including 

64 

 
 
   
areas  such  as  public  finance  management,  procurement,  sector 
development  policies,  macroeconomic  stability  and  overall 
economic  governance,  and  thus  facilitates  the  increased  use  of 
blending, including in low income countries. 

-  The  EU  continues  to  demonstrate  its  support  for  domestic 
resource  mobilisation  reforms  in  developing  countries  through 
its 'Collect More – Spend Better' initiative, as well as for improved 
tax transparency and the fight against tax evasion and avoidance. It 
is  a  member  of  the  Addis  Tax  Initiative.  Domestic  resources 
mobilisation  reforms  not  only  contribute  to  financing  but  also 
foster  the  improvement  of  economic  governance,  in  particular 
through  enhanced  accountability  of  the  government  towards 
taxpayers, more transparent and responsible management of public 
expenditure  and  the  fight  against  corruption.  The  EU's  'Collect 
the 
more–spend  better' 
implementation of the commitments to support domestic resource 
mobilisation in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. 

is  a  key  concept 

initiative 

for 

- The EU is committed together with its G20 partners to enhance 
global  macroeconomic  stability  and  promote  sound  and 
sustainable financing practices.   

 -  In  terms  of  policies,  governance  and  institutions,  the  EU 
supports  many  partner  countries  working  to  improve  their 
governance, taking account of political, economic, social, cultural 
and  environmental  dimensions.  The  EU  also  continues  to  have 
many  mutually  beneficial  sectoral  dialogues  with  third  countries, 
and  sectoral  cooperation  and  partnerships  with  third  countries  at 
national as well as at sub-regional and regional level. 

65 

 
 
 
-  On science, technology and innovation,  the  EU's  research and 
innovation  programme,  Horizon  2020, 
to 
participation  of  researchers  from  non-EU  countries.  Researchers 
from  developing  countries  can  receive  financial  grants  as  well. 
Horizon  2020  offers  a  framework  and  resources  for  the  co-
development,  co-design  and/or  co-adaptation  of  technologies  and 
solutions for a durable sustainable development. 

is  fully  open 

-  Capacity  building  lies  at  the  heart  of  the  EU's  approach  to 
development  cooperation.  The  EU  has  based  its  development 
partnerships  with  developing  country  governments  and  civil 
society  around  the  millennium  development  goals.  These  will  be 
reoriented  around  the  sustainable  development  goals,  taking  full 
account  of  developing  countries  own  priorities  and  building  on 
existing cooperation programmes. 

- The EU is committed to promoting knowledge sharing with all 
development  partners.  The  Commission  in  2009  launched 
"Capacity4Dev", a knowledge sharing platform that now has over 
19,300  members  including  staff  from  EU  Institutions,  Member 
States, partner governments, civil society, academia and the private 
sector.  Capacity4dev  aims  to  improve  capacity  development 
through  knowledge  sharing  by  consolidating  knowledge  and 
building an institutional memory, by supporting thematic expertise, 
by  enabling  cross-learning  among  practitioners  from  the  EU 
institutions  and  other  organisations  and  by  consolidating 
knowledge  sharing  tools  and  communities  of  practice  around  a 
common environment.  

- The EU is a global leader on policy coherence for development. 
By  helping  to  promote  the  positive  impact  of  EU  policies  in 
developing  countries,  this  is  an  important  contributor  to  policy 
coherence  for  sustainable  development.  For  example,  the  policy 

66 

 
around  EU's  budget 

support  programmes  on 
dialogue 
consolidating democracies, building capacity, pursuing sustainable 
and  inclusive  growth  and  eradicating  poverty,  contributes  to 
enhancing policies in partner countries and strengthen capacities.  

-  In  recent  years,  the  EU  has  significantly  strengthened  its 
partnerships  on 
sustainable  development  and  poverty 
eradication with other stakeholders, including the private sector, 
civil society, local authorities, academics, private foundations and 
southern  development  cooperation  partners.  The  EU  supports  the 
development  of  a  structured  dialogue  with  the  private  sector, 
notably  in  the  framework  of  the  European  External  Investment 
Plan, and of multi-stakeholder approaches. 

 - On data monitoring and accountability, the EU supports data 
collection initiatives in developing countries. In the framework of 
budget  support  programmes,  the  EU  for  example  supports 
technical  assistance  for  improvements  in  national  statistical 
systems and performance measurement of public policies. 

-  The  EU  is  promoting  the  use  of  Earth  observation  to 
supplement  statistical  analysis  in  the  assessment  of  indicators 
towards the attainment of the sustainable development goals. Earth 
observation  and  geospatial  information  provide  reliable,  unbiased 
and  disaggregated  data.  The  EU  is  a  major  player  in  Earth 
Observation,  particularly  being  a  co-chair  of  the  Group  on  Earth 
the  European  Earth 
Observations 
Observation  programme  Copernicus.  With  its  fleet  of  Sentinel 
satellites,  the  EU  provides  access  to  a  wealth  of  data  and 
information  in  areas ranging  from land coverage, urban evolution 
and oceans to atmospheric pollution, ecosystem protection, climate 
change, energy production and health conditions.  

(GEO)  and  managing 

67 

 
-  EU  funding  instruments  such  as  the  proposed  European  Fund 
for  Sustainable  Development,  the  European  Development  Fund, 
the  Development  Cooperation  Fund,  the  external  component  of 
Horizon  2020  and  the  European  Neighbourhood  Instrument  and 
the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance. 

68