REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS EU Voluntary Review on progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Date: 2023-05-15
Institutions: European Commission, Secretariat-General
Subjects: EU environmental policy, UNO, area of freedom, security and justice, climate change policy, digital transformation, economy, international cooperation, social policy, sustainable development, the EU's international role

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 15.5.2023  COM(2023) 700 final  REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS EU Voluntary Review on progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development       {SWD(2023) 700 final} - {SWD(2023) 701 final} - {SWD(2023) 702 final} - {SWD(2023) 703 final}  
 
 
Contents 
1. 

Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 2 

2.  Delivering on the SDGs in the European Union ......................................................................... 4 

A whole-of-government approach.................................................................................................... 4 

The added value of the European Union ......................................................................................... 6 

Working together as one Union towards the SDGs ........................................................................ 6 

3.  Key transformations – the EU’s highlights ................................................................................. 7 

Planet and prosperity – European Green Deal ............................................................................... 7 

People and prosperity – an economy that works for people and a Europe fit for the digital age
 ........................................................................................................................................................... 10 

People and peace – promoting our European way of life and a new push for European 
democracy ........................................................................................................................................ 15 

Partnership – a stronger Europe in the world .............................................................................. 20 

4.  Lessons learnt and looking ahead to 2030 ................................................................................. 23 

Conclusions .......................................................................................................................................... 24 

1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
1. Introduction 

The first Voluntary Review of the European Union – a Union of 447 million citizens and 
27 countries  –  on the implementation of the  2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 
shows  that  the  EU  is  fully  committed  to  delivering  the  17  Sustainable  Development 
Goals  (SDGs).  The  2030  Agenda  is  indivisibly  linked  to  the  Paris  Agreement  on  climate 
change1 and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development2

. 

The  European  Union  (EU)  has  firmly  placed  sustainable  development  at  its  core  and  is 
making  efforts  to  advance  the  2030  Agenda,  both  at  home  and  around  the  world,  by 
supporting partner countries in their implementation efforts. 

Under the leadership of President von der Leyen, the Commission has presented an ambitious 
policy  programme  to  deliver  on  sustainability  in  the  EU  and  beyond.  The  SDGs  are  an 
intrinsic part of the President’s political programme3 and lie at the heart of the policymaking 
on  internal  and  external  action  across  all  sectors.  With  the  von  der  Leyen  Commission,  the 
SDGs have been put at the heart of major deliverables such as the European Green Deal and 
Recovery  and  Resilience  Plans.  SDGs  are  mainstreamed  in  the  European  Semester  cycle  of 
economic  and  fiscal  coordination  with  Member  States4,  the  annual  legislative  work 
programmes and the Better Regulation toolbox. This has been set out in  the 2020 document 
‘Delivering on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals - A comprehensive approach5’, and 
progress  in  achieving  the  SDGs  is  monitored  annually  by  the  European  statistical  office 
Eurostat6.   

Externally,  building  on  the  European  Consensus  on  Development7,  all  EU  institutions  and 
Member States are committed to support partner countries in implementing the SDGs. This is 
being taken further, together with the pursuit of EU priorities, in particular in the support of a 
sustainable  recovery  aligned  with  the  SDGs  through  our  new  programming  and  Global 
Gateway.  

Recent  events,  such  as  the  COVID-19  pandemic,  global  supply  chain  disruptions,  and  the 
energy crisis resulting from Russia’s war of aggression, have further complicated progress8.  

Against  this  backdrop,  this  review  renews  the  sense  of  direction  for  further  efforts  to 
build  lasting peace, ensure a better future for people and the planet,  and deliver more 
inclusive prosperity, including through partnerships. As such, it is complementary to the 
national reviews that have been completed by all EU Member States. 

The  voluntary  review  has  been  conducted  in  line  with  the  United  Nations  (UN)  voluntary 
common reporting guidelines and is based on broad consultations. Details on how the EU is 

1 
The Paris Agreement: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/paris-agreement. 
2 
Financing for Development - United Nations Sustainable Development 
3  
President von der Leyen’s Political Guidelines: A Union that strives for more- My agenda for Europe 
4              A framework for integrated surveillance and coordination of economic and employment policies across the EU 
5  
6  
7  
8 

delivering_on_uns_sustainable_development_goals_staff_working_document_en.pdf (europa.eu) 
Overview - Sustainable development goals - Eurostat (europa.eu) 
European Consensus on Development (europa.eu) 
2022 Report of the UN Secretary-General: Progress Towards the Sustainable Development Goals 

2 

 
                                                           
adding value to implementing the 2030 Agenda, both inside the EU and around the world, are 
available in the main accompanying document9, which comprises 17 dedicated SDG chapters 
and addresses the interlinkages between the SDGs, as well as in the statistical and analytical 
document10.  This  review  also  includes  a  specific  document  dedicated  to  the  participation  of 
young  people11  in  implementing  the  2030  Agenda  at  EU  level,  and  a  report  on  the 
consultation activities12 undertaken as part of this voluntary review. 

The EU and UN are indispensable partners sharing common values and objectives, including 
the 2030 Agenda. The EU is determined to protect and promote rules-based multilateralism, 
with  the  UN  at  its  core,  and  international  norms  and  standards  in  accordance  with  the  UN 
Charter.  With  growing  global  instability  halfway  through  the  implementation  of  the  2030 
Agenda,  there  is  an  increased  need  for  unity,  coordinated  diplomatic  outreach,  further 
cooperation with partners, and unprecedented investments. A number of vulnerable countries 
are  particularly  exposed  to  the  challenges  resulting  from  the  multiplicity  of  crises.  Taking 
action to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs is more urgent than ever. 

Since  2015,  the  EU  has  made  progress  across  all  SDGs,  although  this  has  not  always  been 
even. According to the most recent data13, the EU performed best on ensuring decent work 
and  economic  growth,  reducing  poverty  and  fostering  peace,  security  and  inclusive 
societies and institutions. However, external adverse shocks are putting a strain on the post-
pandemic recovery and progress on sustainable development in the EU and globally. Progress 
slowed  down  from  2020  as  a  consequence  of  the  multiple  crises,  sometimes  leading  to  a 
reverse in progress. 

All  of  this  comes  on  top  of  the  underlying  planetary  climate  and  environmental  crisis  and 
rising inequalities. More progress is needed on many SDGs, in particular on those related to 
the  protection  and  sustainable  use  of  natural  resources.  The  European  Green  Deal  in 
December 2019 brought new impetus to climate policy and action at EU level. The European 
Climate  Law14  broke  new  ground  in  2021  by  setting  legally  binding  targets  for  the  EU  to 
reach climate neutrality by 2050 and to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% 
by  2030  compared  with  1990  levels15.  Implementation  of  the  European  Green  Deal  on  the 
ground  is  gaining  momentum  and  is  expected  to  pick  up  speed  significantly  in  the  years  to 
come. 

Across  the  whole  framework,  particular  attention  needs  to  be  paid  to  impacts  on  people  in 
vulnerable  situations.  Overall,  the  situation  currently  remains  challenging,  and  further 
implementation efforts are still needed to achieve our collective vision. 

9  
10  
11  
12  

SWD(2023)700 
SWD(2023)701 
SWD(2023)702 
SWD(2023)703 
Eurostat  portal  on  Sustainable  Development  Goals  monitoring:  https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/sdi;  also  the 

13 
Europe Sustainable Development Reports by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. 
14 
15 
to achieve these ambitious targets, but the speed of reduction needs to increase significantly. 

EUR-Lex - 32021R1119 - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu) 
The level of the EU net domestic emissions in 2021 (latest data available) is broadly consistent with the trajectory 

3 

 
                                                           
2. Delivering on the SDGs in the European Union 

A whole-of-government approach 

The EU vision for sustainable development combines economic growth, a highly competitive 
social  market  economy  that  leaves  no  one  behind,  the  respect  for  human  rights  and  a  high 
level  of  environmental  protection.  Sustainable  development  is  also  an  objective  of  EU 
external action. The 2030 Agenda is implemented at EU level through an integrated whole-
of-government  approach16  that  places  the  SDGs  at  the  core  of  EU  policy,  legislation  and 
funding. All EU actions and policies contribute to delivering on the SDGs and the degree of 
success depends on collective actions at all levels – EU, national, regional and local. 

The Commission’s comprehensive or “whole of government” approach to implementing the 
SDGs comprises several strands as depicted in the Figure below: 

Figure 1: The EU’s ‘whole-of-government’ approach 

At the beginning of her mandate, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen put forward A 
Union that strives for more17 - the political guidelines for 2019-2024. The President’s political 
programme integrates the SDGs into all Commission proposals, policies and strategies. All of 
the 17 SDGs feature in one or more of the six headline ambitions announced. Moreover, all 
Commissioners will ensure the delivery of the SDGs within their policy area18.  

The guidelines set out six headline ambitions: a European Green Deal; an economy that works 
for  people;  a  Europe  fit  for  the  digital  age;  promoting  our  European  way  of  life;  a  stronger 
Europe in the world; and a new push for European democracy. These priorities operationalise 

16 
17 
01aa75ed71a1. 
18  
2024/timmermans_en  

SWD(2020) 400 final: Delivering on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals – A comprehensive approach.. 
A  Union  that  strives  for  more:  https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/43a17056-ebf1-11e9-9c4e-

Mission  letters  are  found  under  each  Commissioner:  https://ec.europa.eu/commission/commissioners/2019-

4 

 
 
 
                                                           
the transformations necessary to deliver on the SDGs, notably through the green and digital 
transitions,  while  leaving  no  one  behind.  The  six  Commission  priorities  are  interconnected 
with the five Ps – People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, Partnership - of the preamble of the 
2030 Agenda. This approach is also largely consistent with the focus on a short set of entry 
points  for  transformation  recommended  by  scientists  in  the  UN  Global  Sustainable 
Development Report19. 

Figure 2: The strategy to deliver on the SDGs in the EU20 

The  current  strategy  to  fully  deliver  on  the  SDGs  consists  in  advancing  the  headline 
ambitions  through  concrete  initiatives  set  out  in  the  annual  Commission  work 
programmes21. Since 2020, every Commission work programme put the SDGs at the heart of 
EU  policymaking.  The  Joint  Declaration  of  the  European  Parliament,  the  Council  of  the 
European  Union,  and  the  European  Commission  on  EU  legislative  priorities  for  2023  and 
202422 includes a commitment to accelerate implementation of the 2030 Agenda. 

The SDGs are thus mainstreamed into EU policies and they guide policymaking and law-
making in the EU. Proposed legislation must include an assessment of how it contributes to 
delivering  on  the  SDGs23.  Based  on  this  overarching  direction,  the  whole-of-government 

Global Sustainable Development Report 2019 | United Nations 
In the figure, the SDGs are presented under a specific Commission political priority to which they are strongly 

19 
20 
associated, while noting that most SDGs contribute in varying degrees to several priorities. 
21 
documents/commission-work-programme. 
22 
23 

Text of the Joint Declaration here. 
More information about the Better Regulation agenda here. 

More information on the Commission work programmes: https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-

5 

 
 
                                                           
approach  focuses  on  delivering  concrete  internal  and  external  actions  that  will  bring  about 
tangible progress towards the SDGs. 

The added value of the European Union 

The voluntary review reflects the specific nature of the EU and various aspects of EU added 
value in implementing the 2030 Agenda. 

  Shaping policies and laws: the EU shapes  and implements  a range of policies where it 

has competence and SDGs are mainstreamed into its policymaking. 

  Financing sustainable development: the EU invests in sustainable development projects 
and programmes, both within the EU and in support of partner countries, in pursuit of the 
SDGs. 

  External  action:  the  EU  is  a  major  player  on  the  international  scene  in  support  of 

multilateralism, human rights and sustainable development. 

In  terms  of  the  EU  budget,  its  multiannual  structure  provides  stable  long-term  planning  for 
achieving  EU  objectives  and  the  vast  majority  of  EU  programmes  funded  under  the  budget 
contribute  to  the  SDGs24.  For  2021-2027,  the  budget  provides25  over  EUR 2  trillion  (in 
current  prices)  to  help  rebuild  a  post-pandemic  European  Union,  while  significantly 
accelerating delivery on the SDGs in the EU and across the world. It contributes directly to a 
greener,  more  digital,  more  inclusive,  and  a  more  resilient  Europe.  More  than  50%  of  this 
total amount will support the modernisation of the EU through the following: fair climate and 
digital transitions; preparedness, recovery, and resilience; and research and innovation. 

The  EU  budget  is  channelling  over  EUR 378  billion  to  the  EU’s  regions  and  cities, 
contributing  to  the  progress  of  several  SDGs.  Most  of  this  funding26  is  used  to  invest  in 
regional and local development to help level up the economic, social and territorial disparities 
that still exist in the EU. 

Working together as one Union towards the SDGs 

The EU institutions work closely together to set the EU’s agenda and to initiate and adopt EU 
laws, including for the pursuit of the SDGs. The European Commission draws up proposals 
for new European legislation that contribute to the SDGs and review the implementation by 
Member  States  of  the  legislative  acts  once  adopted  by  EU  co-legislators,  the  European 
Parliament  and  the  Council  of  the  European  Union,  which  represents  the  national 
governments  of the Member States.  Both  the European Parliament  and  the  Council actively 
promote  the  implementation  of  the  SDGs  in  EU  policies,  including  through  regular 
resolutions, conclusions and legislative acts. 

The Member States have the primary responsibility for ensuring sustainable development at 
national,  regional,  and  local  level.  This  includes  taking  steps  to  integrate  the  SDGs  into 
national policies and allocating resources to support their achievement. Member States report 
regularly  on  their  progress  towards  the  SDGs  through  their  respective  Voluntary  National 

24 
25 
26 
Fund Plus and the Just Transition Fund. 

 More information here 
Together with NextGenerationEU, the temporary instrument designed to boost the recovery. 
Cohesion  policy  funding:  the  European  Regional  Development  Fund,  the  Cohesion  Fund,  the  European  Social 

6 

 
                                                           
Reviews27(VNRs).  Since  2016,  all  Member  States  have  at  least  once  presented  a  review  in 
meetings of the High-level Political Forum for Sustainable Development (HLPF). Of the 27 
Member States, 23 have done it twice, including the nine Member States scheduled to present 
it again for 2023. 

The  European  Committee  of  the  Regions  and  the  European  Economic  and  Social 
Committee have made valuable contributions to this review. The European Economic and 
Social  Committee,  the  consultative  body  that  gives  representatives  of  civil  society 
organisations a formal platform to express their views, has set up a Sustainable Development 
Observatory,  which  is  committed  to  fostering  the  active  participation  of  citizens  and  civil 
society  in  making  the  shift  towards  a  more  sustainable  Europe  aligned  with  the  SDGs.  The 
Committee  of  the  Regions  works  with  all  European  territorial  associations  and  networks 
active  on  SDGs  and  collaborates  with  international  organisations,  such  as  the  OECD,  to 
advance research and gather improved data on the local implementation of the SDGs. 

Many  local  and  regional  authorities  are  increasingly  engaging  through  voluntary  local 
reviews, which help foster the delivery of SDGs close to citizens and often contain tangible 
commitments in support of the 2030 Agenda. So far, about one third of all local reviews have 
been adopted in the EU (41 out of 129)28. 

3. Key transformations – the EU’s highlights 

The EU takes a comprehensive approach to delivering on the interconnected SDGs, advancing 
several of them through key initiatives and strategies. 

Planet and prosperity – European Green Deal 

The  EU  made  moderate  progress  on  SDG 2  on  sustainable  agriculture,  SDG 6  on  water, 
SDG 7 on energy, SDG 11 on sustainable cities, SDG 12 on consumption and production and 
SDG 14 on oceans. More progress is expected in coming years on SDG 13 on climate action29 
and SDG 15 on biodiversity on land. 

Figure 3: Contribution to the SDGs of headline ambition ‘European Green Deal’ 

To  make  decisive  progress  on  climate  action  (SDG 13),  the  EU  has  recently  agreed  on  a 
renewed  regulatory  and  policy  framework  underpinning  a  higher  climate  ambition.  The  EU 
and  its  Member  States  have  fully  met  their  international  climate  commitments  to  reduce 

27 
28 
29  

Map and links to EU Member States voluntary national reviews here. 
More information about localising SDGs in the EU can be found here and here. 
As measured against the more ambitious targets of the European Climate Law  

7 

 
 
                                                           
greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020, compared with 1990. The European Green Deal 
strives to make Europe the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050. It is explicitly 
designed as an integral part of the strategy to implement the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs30. 

A solid advance was made on SDG 12 on responsible consumption and production. The EU’s 
resource  and  energy  efficiency  improved  in  recent  years  and  the  value  added  from  the 
environmental goods and services sector31 has been growing. The EU has proven that green 
growth  is  possible:  GDP  growth  can  be  achieved  simultaneously  with  greenhouse  gas 
emission  reduction.  However,  the  EU  is  still  far  from  meeting  its  target  of  doubling  the 
circular  material  use  rate  of  materials  coming  from  collected  waste  by  2030,  compared  to 
2020. The EU’s updated circular economy action plan32 sets out several key initiatives that 
will  help  the  EU  to  reduce  pressure  on  natural  resources  and  create  sustainable  growth  and 
jobs. Its implementation will be instrumental in closing this gap. 

More  progress  is  needed  on  SDG 15  on  terrestrial  ecosystems,  while  the  state  of  marine 
ecosystems has improved somewhat (SDG 14). In line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 
2030 and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework of December 2022, the 
EU intends to protect at least 30% of its land areas and 30% of its sea areas by 2030. The EU 
Forest  Strategy  for  203033  put  emphasis  on  the  EU  forest  protection,  restoration  and 
sustainable  forest  management  as  contribution  to  SDG  15.  The  EU  Soil  Strategy34  sets  a 
medium-term  objective  for  2030  focusing  on  combatting  desertification,  restoring  degraded 
land and soil. The proposal for a Nature Restoration Law35 sets out binding targets to restore 
degraded ecosystems, particularly those with the most potential to capture and store carbon. 

So  far,  progress  on  SDG 6  on  water  has  been  mixed.  Improved  wastewater  treatment  has 
reduced  organic  pollution  in  European  rivers,  lakes  and  seas.  At  the  same  time,  excess 
nutrients  industrial  pollutants,  pharmaceutical  residues,  cosmetics  and  pesticides  in  water 
remain of concern. Although the hygiene situation is generally very good, differing levels of 
access to water services and sanitation continue among Member States, with some vulnerable 
groups at a disadvantage. 

EU  results  on  SDG  2  on  malnutrition  and  sustainable  agriculture  are  mixed.  Progress 
achieved has been put under pressure as a consequence of Russia’s war of aggression against 
Ukraine.  Prices  of  agricultural  goods  have  increased  in  the  EU  and  globally.  The  EU  has 
stepped  up  support  to  help  those  most  affected  by  the  devastating  effects  of  rising  food 
insecurity  globally.  Between  2020  and  2024,  the  EU  is  investing  EUR 8  billion  for  food 
security  worldwide.  In  the  EU,  action  has  focused  on  supporting  farmers  most  affected  by 
higher  input  costs.  These  measures  have  been  combined  with  actions  addressing  structural 
changes to promote sustainable and resilient agriculture, fisheries and food systems as well as 

COM(2019) 640 final of 11 December 2019 
The environmental goods and services sector is the part of the economy engaged in producing goods and services 

30 
31 
that are used in environmental protection activities and resource management. 
32 
33   
34  
35 

COM(2020) 98 final of 11 March 2020 
COM(2021)572 final 
COM(2021)699 final 
Nature restoration law (europa.eu) 

8 

 
                                                           
healthier diets as set out in the Farm to Fork Strategy36. This strategy sets concrete targets to 
transform  EU  food  systems  by  2030  and  promotes  a  global  transition  to  sustainable  food 
systems. 

Also  against  the  background  of  the  energy  crisis  stemming  from  the  Russian  invasion  of 
Ukraine, the EU has stayed the course on its path to decarbonisation.  In 2022, the EU made 
great strides to diversify energy supplies, increase energy efficiency, and accelerate the roll-
out of renewable energy. Nearly EUR 300 billion is available to support related investments 
in  Member  States.  From  August  2022  to  March  2023,  the  EU  reduced  its  consumption  of 
natural  gas  by  18%  compared  with  the  average  for  the  same  months  of  the  five  previous 
years37. Decarbonisation of energy systems is part of the structural long-term solution that is 
being rolled out. The 2030 targets for renewables deployment and energy efficiency are being 
revised upwards. With the proposal for a Net-Zero Industry Act, the EU is also taking steps to 
ensure that its net-zero industrial capacity is up to achieving its climate and energy goals. The 
most recent data included in the EU SDG indicator set  do not  yet fully  reflect these effects, 
including  the  reduced  energy  supplies  and  related  price  spikes;  nevertheless,  significant 
progress towards affordable and clean energy (SDG 7) can be expected in the coming years. 

In relation to SDG 11 on sustainable cities, cities and urban areas are home to almost 75% of 
EU  citizens.  They  provide  many  opportunities  for  employment,  and  economic  and  cultural 
activity,  but  many  residents  face  environmental  and  social  challenges.  Housing  issues, 
pollution and crime are some of the most serious challenges faced in urban areas. Sustainable 
and integrated urban development is crucial to deploy the green, just and digital transition and 
corresponding EU priorities at  the local  level,  leaving no place behind. That  is  why the EU 
made  three  new  voluntary  commitments  in  2022  to  contribute  to  the  acceleration  of  the 
delivery of the UN New Urban Agenda. 

Climate neutrality 

The  European  Climate  Law38,  adopted  in  2021,  is  unique  in  that  it  sets  legally  binding 
targets to reach climate neutrality by 2050 and to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at 
least 55% by 2030 compared with 1990 levels39. Implementation of the European Green Deal 
on the ground is in its early stages, and we can expect the results to pick up significantly in 
the years to come. 

Legislative proposals  operationalise  these 55%  reduction  targets  across economic sectors. A 
cornerstone  of  this  package  is  carbon  pricing,  in  the  form  of  the  EU  Emissions  Trading 
System, which is the world’s first major carbon market, and it remains the biggest one. EU 
institutions have recently agreed on strengthening and expanding emissions trading, reducing 
national  emissions  across  the  transport,  building,  waste,  and  agriculture  sectors,  ending  the 

36 
37 
38 
39 
to achieve these ambitious targets, but the speed of reduction needs to increase significantly. 

See more details here: https://food.ec.europa.eu/horizontal-topics/farm-fork-strategy_en. 
Source: Eurostat. Link 
EUR-Lex - 32021R1119 - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu) 
The level of the EU net domestic emissions in 2021 (latest data available) is broadly consistent with the trajectory 

9 

 
                                                           
sale  of  new  CO2  emitting  cars  in  the  EU  by  2035  (with  a  flexibility  for  e-fuels),  and 
increasing carbon removals through land use, forestry and agriculture. 

Climate  change  and  biodiversity  protection  need  to  be  addressed  on  a  global  scale 
through concrete actions by all countries.  In terms of financing, under the Paris Agreement, 
developed  countries  committed  to  mobilising  around  EUR 84  billion  every  year  to  support 
developing  countries. The  EU  and  its  Member  States  are  the world’s  largest  providers  of 
public climate finance – EUR 23.04 billion in 2021.  

Through  its  international  partnerships,  the  EU  pursues  the  objectives  of  the  European 
Green Deal at global level and progress towards the relevant SDGs. Some 35% of the budget 
of  the  Neighbourhood  Development  and  International  Cooperation  Instrument  -  Global 
Europe (NDICI-GE)40 contributes to climate action (SDG 13), including through support for 
sustainable energy (SDG 7). The EU has also pledged to double its international funding for 
biodiversity (SDGs 15 and 14), in  particular for  the most  vulnerable countries, in  the 2021-
2027 period. The EU has also stepped up its support on sustainable agriculture (SDG 2), water 
resources  (SDG 6)  and  sustainable  consumption  and  production  (SDG 12),  including  the 
circular economy in partner countries. As described further below, the EU is rolling out  the 
Global  Gateway41,  its  strategy  for  sustainable  investments  in  infrastructure  globally.  This 
serves  as  its  positive  offer  to  partner  countries  to  support  the  achievement  of  the  SDGs, 
including  through  private  sector  mobilisation.  This  includes  supporting  infrastructure  in 
sustainable  energy  and  climate  change,  notably  through  flagships  as  the  Africa-EU  Green 
Energy Initiative, the initiative for green transition in Latin America and the Caribbean, or the 
Water,  Energy  and  Climate  Change  initiative  in  Central  Asia.  These  actions  are  undertaken 
following  a  Team  Europe  approach,  which  brings  together  the  EU,  its  Member  States,  and 
national  development  banks,  as  well  as  the  European  Investment  Bank  and  the  European 
Bank for Reconstruction and Development. 

People  and  prosperity  –  an  economy  that  works  for  people  and  a  Europe  fit  for  the 
digital age 

An economy that works for people 

By helping economies  grow and by reducing poverty and inequality, the EU is  also making 
direct  contributions  to  several  interconnected  SDGs.  Significant  progress  was  made  on 
reducing  poverty  and  social  exclusion  (SDG 1)  and  on  the  economy  and  the  labour  market 
(SDG 8). However, only moderate progress was made on reducing inequalities (SDG 10). 

Figure 4: Contribution to the SDGs of headline ambition ‘an economy that works for people’ 

EU  economic  governance  enables 

it 

to  coordinate  actively  and  effectively 

the 

40 
41 

Neighbourhood Development and International Cooperation Instrument - Global Europe (eur-lex.europa.eu) 
Global Gateway (europa.eu) 

10 

 
 
                                                           
implementation  of  the  2030  Agenda  across  the  27  Member  States  under  the  European 
Semester  –  a  framework  for  integrated  surveillance  and  coordination  of  economic  and 
employment policies across the EU. The EU’s Annual Sustainable Growth Survey outlines an 
economic policy agenda to  mitigate the negative impacts  of shocks in the short term  and to 
continue  efforts  to  support  sustainable  and  inclusive  growth  and  increase  resilience  in  the 
medium  term,  while  maintaining  flexibility  to  tackle  new  challenges.  The  approach  is 
structured  around  the  four  dimensions  of  competitive  sustainability  (fairness,  environmental 
sustainability, productivity, and macroeconomic stability). The European Semester integrates 
the implementation of the SDGs. This includes annual country reports for all Member States42 
- each highlighting progress and challenges in implementing measures for the SDGs - and a 
comprehensive  statistical  monitoring  report,  providing  an  in-depth  review  of  EU  progress 
towards achieving the SDGs. 

Overall, the objectives set by the SDGs regarding employment, education and skills, working 
conditions,  fighting  poverty  and  inequality,  and  promoting  equal  opportunities  and  social 
inclusion are being pursued at EU level through implementing the European Pillar of Social 
Rights43 and  building a Union of  equality. Adopted in  March 2021, the European Pillar of 
Social Rights Action Plan44 sets three ambitious EU headline targets for 2030 in the areas of 
employment, skills, and poverty reduction. These targets include a 78% employment rate (for 
those aged 20 to 64), a 60% participation rate in training among all adults, and reduction of at 
least  15 million  in  the  number  of  people  at  risk  of  poverty  or  social  exclusion,  including  at 
least  5  million  children  (compared  with  2019).  With  a  total  budget  of  more  than 
EUR 99 billion,  the  European  Social  Fund  Plus  is  a  key  financial  instrument  for 
implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights. 

Economic growth and employment are addressed in SDG 8. The EU economy grew by 5.4% 
in  2021,  after  a  COVID-19-related  drop  in  2020.  It  is  estimated  to  have  grown  by  3.5%  in 
2022 and to do so by 0.8% in 202345. The EU employment rate reached a new record high of 
74.7% in 2022 and labour markets have remained strong since. Unemployment and long-term 
unemployment  had  already  been  on  a  decreasing  trend  since  2014.  If  this  positive  trend 
continues,  the  EU  will  be  well  placed  to  reach  its  employment  target  of  78%  by  2030. 
However,  the  labour  market  situation  of  young  people  is  less  positive.  The  Youth 
Guarantee46 has enabled access to the labour market or education for more than 24 million 
young people since 2013.  

In relation to SDG 1, the number of people in the EU at risk of poverty or social exclusion fell 
substantially  from  104.9  million  (or  24%  of  the  EU  population)  in  2015  to  95.4  million 
(21.7%) in 2021. The number of children at risk fell from 22.3 million in 2015 to 19.6 million 
in  2021.  However,  considerable  differences  in  poverty  rates  remain  among  EU  countries. 

42 
2022 European Semester: Country Reports (europa.eu) 
43 
The European Pillar of Social Rights in 20 principles (europa.eu) 
44  
European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan (europa.eu) 
45 
 Winter 2023 Economic Forecast: EU Economy set to avoid recession, but headwinds persist (europa.eu) 
46 
The reinforced Youth Guarantee is a commitment by all Member States to ensure that that all young people under 
the  age  of  30  receive  a  good-quality  offer  of  employment,  continued  education,  an  apprenticeship  or  a  traineeship  within 
4 months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education. See more information here. 

11 

 
                                                           
Also, rural areas tend to be at higher risk of poverty due to out-migration, and limited access 
to  services,  weaker  labour  markets  and  educational  opportunities.  Regarding  SDG 10,  the 
income  gap  between  the  poor  and  the  wealthy  in  the  EU  also  remains  large  and  the  social 
inclusion  of  the  unemployed,  migrants,  minorities  or  people  with  disabilities  remains  a 
challenge. 

Fighting inequalities and leaving no one behind 

Leaving  no  one  behind  is  a  central  commitment  in  the  2030  Agenda.  Inequalities  are  an 
underlying challenge cutting across all the SDGs. 

The  EU  is  determined  to  eradicate  poverty  in  all  its  forms,  end  discrimination  and  social 
exclusion, and reduce  inequalities.  The  Treaty on the European Union lays down that the 
EU is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the 
rule  of  law,  and  respect  for  human  rights,  including  the  rights  of  persons  belonging  to 
minorities. The commitment to leave no one behind is reflected in EU’s internal and external 
policies, including by applying a rights-based approach and enhancing the focus on combating 
inequalities. 

Building a Union of equality, with a fairer and inclusive society, free of any discrimination, 
is  a  EU  priority.  The  Union  of  equality  is  based  on  policies  and  actions  creating  the 
conditions  for  everyone  to  live,  thrive  and  lead  without  discrimination.  This  has  resulted  in 
the adoption and implementation of strategies and action plans that speak directly to meeting 
the SDGs, including specifically goals 1, 4, 5, 8 and 10. Many of these are mentioned in this 
section  on  the  EU’s  highlights  and  are  further  detailed  in  the  accompanying  document 
(SWD(2023)700) . 

Concrete action has  been taken at  EU level  through policies to  promote and ensure fairness 
and  solidarity  in  the  European  social  market  economy.  Reaching  those  furthest  behind  first 
requires disaggregated data to monitor the commitments and  to design policies for the most 
vulnerable and marginalised population groups. Certain population groups, such as children, 
people  with  disabilities,  immigrants,  and  Roma,  are  at  greater  risk  of  poverty47.  The  EU 
regularly collects data pertaining to people’s socio-economic outcomes through its statistical 
office  (Eurostat)  and  its  specialised  agencies,  including  the  EU  Agency  for  Fundamental 
Rights  (FRA),  the  European  Foundation  for  the  Improvement  of  Living  and  Working 
Conditions (Eurofound), and the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE). 

To  ensure  the  full  participation  of  people  with  disabilities,  the  Strategy  for  the  Rights  of 
Persons  with  Disabilities  2021-2030  aims  to  improve  the  lives  of  those  with  disabilities 
during this decade, in the EU and beyond, including in humanitarian crises. 

Leaving  no  one  behind  and  fighting  inequalities  is  also  at  the  centre  of  EU  international 
partnerships  and  is  part  of  the  objective  of  fostering  sustainable  development.  Through  its 

47 
a matter of human and fundamental rights (June 2019). 

Focus chapter of the Fundamental Rights Agency on Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals in the EU: 

12 

 
                                                           
international partnerships, the EU is giving priority to combating inequalities and promoting 
sustainable and inclusive societies. One general objective is to capture the multidimensional 
contribution  to  combating  inequalities  in  the  design,  benchmarking  and  monitoring  of  its 
programmes. EU action also aims to combat inequalities at policy level, such as by improving 
social  protection  systems  and  fiscal  frameworks  and  addressing  inequality  in  the  face  of 
climate change and environmental degradation. Several equality flagships are being pursued 
across  the  globe  and  across  sectors:  from  social  cohesion  to  decent  work,  and  from  just 
transition to human-centred digitalisation. 

Through its international partnerships, the EU supports partner countries in improving the 
business and investment environment, private investment, increasing financial inclusion, and 
promoting trade and trade facilitation for sustainable development and value chains (SDG 8, 
9, 10). It promotes decent work by improving social, labour, and environmental sustainability 
(SDG 8),  promoting  gender  equality  (SDG 5)  and  the  empowerment  of  women  and  youth, 
combating inequalities (SDG 10), and improving vocational and educational training policies 
and  systems  (SDG 4).  Under  the  Global  Gateway  strategy,  the  EU  has  already  launched 
several projects in a Team Europe approach, with the capacity to leverage multiple sources of 
funding including private sector investments. These include the EU-African Union Investment 
Package  flagships  on  transport  strategic  corridors,  in  Western,  Central  and  Eastern  Africa, 
which will contribute to a range of interrelated SDGs. 

A Europe fit for the digital age 

To successfully  deliver  on the 2030 Agenda and to  remain competitive on the  global stage, 
the EU is transforming its industry and infrastructure to become greener and more digital, and 
its economy to become more circular. The COVID-19 pandemic has reaffirmed the benefits 
of  digitalisation  in  our  everyday  lives  and  why  digital  transition  is  the  way  forward.  The 
digital and green transitions go hand in hand and mutually support each other’s potential. 

Figure 5: Contribution to the SDGs of headline ambition ‘a Europe fit for the digital age’ 

Good progress was made on industry, innovation, and infrastructure (SDG 9). EU actions 
focus  on  modernising  its  industries  and  infrastructure  by  making  them  greener  and  more 
digital.  Strengthening  digital  infrastructures  is  a  key  pillar  of  the  Digital  Decade48,  the 
programme that sets out the EU strategy for digital transformation. Productivity is highest in 
certain sectors, such as digital and clean tech, which are expected to be the growth sectors of 
the  future.  To  make  sure  they  can  thrive  in  Europe,  the  EU  has  adopted  a  Green  Deal 
industrial plan49, proposed legislation on artificial intelligence, and regulated data services and 
markets in a human-centric way. With the European Chips Act50, the EU will mobilise more 

COM(2021) 118 final of 9 March 2021 
The Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net-Zero Age is a plan to enhance the competitiveness of Europe’s net-zero 

48 
49 
industry and support the fast transition to climate neutrality. More details here COM(2023) 62 final of 1 February 2023. 
50 

COM(2022) 45 final of 8 February 2023 

13 

 
 
                                                           
than  EUR 43  billion  in  public  and  private  investments  and  set  out  measures  to  prepare, 
anticipate, and swiftly respond to any future supply chain disruptions, together with Member 
States  and international  partners. Facilitating  and simplifying access  to  financing, especially 
for small- and medium-sized enterprises, and a favourable regulatory framework are essential 
to lead the way in the green and digital transitions. Space technology in the form of satellite 
navigation  and  earth  observation  is  also  being  used  to  improve  the  resilience  and 
sustainability of agriculture, use of land and sea resources, and transport. 

At the same time, the EU is fostering innovation with its New European Innovation Agenda51, 
which aims to position the EU at the forefront of the new wave of deep-tech innovation and 
start-ups within the European Research Area. The EU’s key funding programme for research 
and  innovation,  Horizon  Europe,  with  a  budget  of  EUR 95.5  billion  for  2021-2027,  helps 
deliver on all 17 SDGs and boosts the EU’s competitiveness and growth. These measures are 
starting  to  pay  off.  The  number  of  patent  applications  to  the  European  Patent  Office  has 
grown.  However,  the  EU’s  research  and  development  intensity  has  grown  only  modestly, 
reaching 2.27% in 2021, some distance away from the 3% target for 2030. 

Education and training, skills and children 

The younger generation is a driving force in the implementation of sustainable development. 
Caring for the younger generation helps their development and growth. Targeted measures are 
combined with strong social services. 

Leaving no one behind also requires breaking the intergenerational cycles of disadvantage, an 
objective pursued by the new EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child52 and the European 
Child Guarantee53. The latter guarantees effective access of children in need to key services 
such as care, education, healthcare, nutrition and housing. 

Digitalisation also brings children opportunities and benefits, but risks too. The new Strategy 
for  a  Better  Internet  for  Kids54  aims  to  ensure  that  children  are  protected,  respected,  and 
empowered  online.  The  Commission  also  proposed  new  EU  laws  to  prevent  and  combat 
child sexual abuse online. 

On education  and training  (SDG 4), starting  from  a high level,  the EU has seen moderate 
progress  overall. On the one hand, the EU has made significant  progress in  early childhood 
education, reducing the numbers of early school leavers, promoting apprenticeships schemes 
in  vocational  education  and  training  (VET)  and  increasing  tertiary  educational  attainment. 
The  EU  is  already  home  to  close  to  5 000  higher  education  institutions  and  has  18  million 
tertiary education students. Within the EU, 57.2% of all tertiary education graduates in 2020 
were women55. On the other hand, adult participation in learning, and the share of adults with 

51 
52 
53 
54 
55 

COM(2022) 332 final of 5 July 2022 
COM(2021) 142 final of 24 March 2021 
Council Recommendation (EU) 2021/1004 of 14 June 2021 establishing a European Child Guarantee 
COM(2022) 212 final of 11 May 2022 
Eurostat: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Tertiary_education_statistics. 

14 

 
                                                           
at  least  basic  digital  skills,  have  not  improved  notably  since  2015,  and  one  in  five  young 
Europeans still lacks adequate reading, mathematics, or science competencies.  

After the European Year of Youth in 2022, 2023 is the European Year of Skills, with the 
aim  of  promoting  increased  investments  in  training  and  upskilling,  ensuring  that  skills  are 
relevant  for  labour  market  needs,  and  by  matching  people’s  aspirations  and  skills  with 
opportunities.  The  European  Year  of  Skills  will  specifically  boost  SDGs 4,  8  and  9.  The 
Erasmus+  programme,  contributes  to  improve  the  quality  and  relevance  of  education 
systems through learning mobility, institutional cooperation and capacity building worldwide. 
At  global  level,  building  on  the  2022  UN  Transforming  Education  Summit,  the  EU  will 
follow up with determined action across various priorities on education, such as the training 
of  teachers,  enhancing  equality  and  inclusion,  in  education  and  promoting  skills.  The  EU 
provides  collectively  as  Team  Europe  more  than  half  of  the  support  to  global  funds  on 
education, such as the Global Partnership for Education and Education Cannot Wait. 

Through  its  international  partnerships,  the  EU  supports  partner  countries  in  the  digital 
transition.  The  Digital  for  Development  Hub56  is  a  new  form  of  global  digital  cooperation 
with  the  EU  which  supports  regulatory  frameworks  on  digital  and  data,  and  digital  skills. 
Through the Global Gateway, the EU supports digital infrastructure innovation globally, and 
related  action  on  education  and  research,  notably  through  flagships  such  as  the  Digital 
Alliance  with  Latin  America  and  the  Caribbean  or  the  Digital  Connectivity  initiative  in 
Central Asia. 

People and peace – promoting our European way of life and a new push for European 
democracy 

Promoting our European way of life 

Security,  justice  and  strong  institutions  are  key  enablers  for  inclusive  and  socially  fair 
economic growth. Benefiting from a robust rule of law framework and solid institutions, the 
EU made strong progress towards SDG 16.  The EU also  recorded good progress until 2020 
towards  the  goals  on  health  and  well-being  (SDG 3)  and,  despite  the  setback  caused  by  the 
coronavirus pandemic, the positive trend is resuming. 

Figure 6: Contribution to the SDGs of the headline ambition ‘promoting our European way of 
life’ 

The foundations of a European Health Union have been laid to better protect the physical and 
mental  health  of  EU  citizens,  to  equip  the  EU  and  its  Member  States  with  the  means  to 
prevent  and  address  future  pandemics,  and  to  improve  the  resilience  of  the  EU’s  healthcare 

56 

Link here. 

15 

 
 
                                                           
systems.  The  EU4Health  programme57,  with  a  EUR 5.3  billion  budget  for  2021-2027,  is 
strengthening health systems. Under the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan58, supported by EUR 4 
billion in funding, of which EUR 1.25 billion comes from the EU4Health Programme, cancer 
prevention, research, and patient care are being strengthened. 

To protect everyone in the EU, the Commission has set out a new Security Union Strategy59. 
This  contributes  to  the  peaceful  and  inclusive  societies  targeted  by  SDG 16.  The  strategy 
focuses on priority areas where the EU can help  Member States in  fostering security for all 
those living in Europe. The strategy is crucial in reducing all forms of violence, ending abuse 
and trafficking, and fighting organised crime and terrorism. 

The rule of law is a fundamental value of the EU60. The EU has gradually strengthened its 
toolbox  to  promote  and  protect  the  rule  of  law  in  the  EU61.  The  toolbox  includes  both 
preventive and reactive instruments, including, for instance, the annual Rule of Law reports62, 
which allow to identify and address issues in EU Member States, or infringement procedures 
when  rule  of  law  issues  constitute  breaches  of  EU  law63.  The  European  Rule  of  Law 
Mechanism64 , with the Rule of Law reports at its centre, is a preventive tool, designed as a 
yearly cycle of close dialogue among EU institutions, together with Member States, national 
parliaments,  civil  society,  and  other  stakeholders,  to  ensure  monitoring  and  to  deliver 
recommendations. The Commission also adopted a strategy on strengthening the application 
of fundamental rights in the EU65 and reports annually on the application of the EU Charter of 
Fundamental  Rights66,  while  the  EU’s  Fundamental  Rights  Agency  reports  annually  on  the 
Charter’s implementation on the ground. 

The  proposed  New  Pact  on  Migration  and  Asylum67  aims  to  ensure  that  migration  is 
managed  in  an  effective  and  human  way,  with  fair  and  efficient  asylum  rules.  Furthermore, 
the  external  pillar  of  the  Pact  supports  partner  countries  in  managing  migration  across 
migration corridors, including cooperation with countries of origin, transit and destination. 

Solidarity to face the pandemic 

As a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, about 1.7 million excess deaths were recorded 
in  the  EU68.  Overcoming  the  pandemic  through  science  and  solidarity  has  been  a  top 
priority.  Through  the  EU  vaccines  strategy,  more  than  1.7 billion  doses  of  vaccines  against 

57 
58 
59 
60 
61 
62  
63  
64 
law/rule-law-mechanism_en. 
65 
66 
fundamental-rights/application-charter_en. 
67 
68 
period 2016-2019. 

More information here. 
More information here. 
COM(2020) 605 final of 24 July 2020 
Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). 
Commission Communication, Strengthening the rule of law within the EU, COM(2019) 343. 
Rule of law mechanism (europa.eu) 
https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-making-process/applying-eu-law/infringement-procedure_en  
https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/upholding-rule-law/rule-

COM(2020) 711 final of 2 December 2020. 
https://commission.europa.eu/aid-development-cooperation-fundamental-rights/your-rights-eu/eu-charter-

COM(2020) 609 final of 23 September 2020 
Between  January  2020  and  December  2022,  compared  with  the  average  number  of  deaths  registered  during  the 

16 

 
                                                           
COVID-19 have been delivered to all corners of Europe, 86% of the adult population in the 
EU has been fully vaccinated against the disease, and thousands of lives have been saved. 

Globally, the EU is one of the lead donors in COVAX, the COVID-19 vaccine global access 
facility. Between November 2020 and June 2022, the EU exported over 2.2 billion doses of 
vaccines  to  a  total  of  167  countries,  of  which  478  million  doses  were  donated  through 
COVAX  to  countries  in  need,  particularly  across  Africa.  The  EU’s  humanitarian  aid  also 
specifically  focused  on  ensuring  access  to  vaccines  for  the  most  vulnerable  not  covered  by 
national  vaccination  programmes.  The EU  provides collectively as Team  Europe substantial 
support  to  global  funds  on  health  and  promotes  the  reinforcement  of  global  governance  on 
health,  notably  WHO.  To  improve  global  health  security,  the  new  EU  Global  Health 
Strategy, adopted in November 2022, guides EU action for ensuring better preparedness and 
response to health threats. Looking ahead to 2030, it aims to regain the lost ground on SDG 
health targets by focusing on strengthening health systems, universal health coverage, primary 
healthcare, public health and health determinants. 

Through its international partnerships, the EU promotes the respect of human rights and the 
pursuit of human development objectives and the principle of leaving no one behind, targeting 
people  living  in  the  poorest  and  most  vulnerable  situations  and  crisis  contexts,  notably  on 
health (SDG 3), education (SDG 4), social protection (SDG 1) and gender equality (SDG 5). 
The  EU  puts  the  fight  against  poverty  at  the  heart  of  its  international  cooperation, 
mainstreaming  it  as  a  cross-cutting  objective.  The  EU  is  giving  greater  priority  to  fighting 
inequalities  by  building  inclusive  and  sustainable  societies  (SDG 10).  At  least  20%  of  the 
budget  under  the  Neighbourhood  Development  and  International  Cooperation  Instrument  - 
Global  Europe  will  contribute  to  human  development.  The  EU  undertakes  transformational 
Team  Europe  initiatives  with  a  focus  on  human  development,  such  as  ‘Manufacturing  and 
access to vaccines, medicines & health technology products in Africa’ and ‘Teachers training 
initiative in sub-Saharan Africa’ and provides dedicated support to global actions. 

A new push for European democracy 

Under  the  new  push  for  European  democracy,  the  EU  is  taking  major  actions  contributing 
directly to SDG 5 on gender equality, SDG 10 to reduce inequalities and SDG 16 to promote 
peace, justice, and strong institutions. 

Figure  7:  Contribution  to  the  SDGs  of  headline  ambition  ‘a  new  push  for  European 
democracy’ 

To  tackle  discrimination  in  the  EU  in  line  with  SDG 10  and  SDG 16,  the  Commission 
adopted  the  EU  anti-racism  action  plan69,  the  EU  Roma  strategic  framework  for  equality, 

69  

More information here 

17 

 
 
                                                           
inclusion and participation70, the LGBTIQ equality strategy71, the EU strategy on combating 
antisemitism  and  fostering  Jewish  life72  and  the  Strategy  for  the  Rights  of  Persons  with 
Disabilities 2021-203073. In addition, the Commission is fully engaged in combating any form 
of hate speech and hate crime, which are illegal under EU law74.  

In  terms  of  public  participation,  the  Commission  is  committed  to  giving  EU  citizens  a 
greater say in what the EU does and how it works for them; this is consistent with SDG 16. 
The  EU  is  actively  encouraging  the  participation  of  citizens,  businesses  and  stakeholders  in 
the EU policymaking process. Anyone – not just EU citizens – can provide feedback online 
throughout  the  entire  policymaking  cycle  via  the  Commission’s  Have  Your  Say  portal75, 
which has also  been used for this voluntary review. Overall, the Commission has published 
more than 5 000 feedback opportunities and received more than 3 million contributions. The 
Conference  on  the  Future  of  Europe76  was  a  unique  opportunity  for  structured  debates  with 
citizens  on  key  priorities,  including  how  to  deliver  on  the  SDGs.  More  than  750 000 
participants  shared  and  debated  close  to  19 000  ideas.  Building  on  the  success  of  the 
Conference  on  the  Future  of  Europe,  citizens’  panels  are  now  part  of  the  Commission’s 
policymaking  in  certain  key  areas.  The  Conference  led  to  commitments  for  new  policy 
initiatives  often  contributing  to  a  range  of  relevant  SDGs.  In  2023,  the  new  generation  of 
citizens’  panels  will  deliberate  on  initiatives  on  food  waste,  learning  mobility,  and  virtual 
worlds. 

The  year 2022 also marked the 10th anniversary of the European Citizens’ Initiative77. This 
provides a significant means of taking active part in EU policymaking, by which citizens can 
directly call on the Commission to propose new EU legislation. 

The  European  democracy  action  plan78  is  designed  to  empower  citizens  and  build  more 
resilient  democracies  across  the  EU  by  promoting  credible,  transparent,  and  inclusive 
elections, strengthening  media  freedom, and countering disinformation.  In 2023, a  year 
ahead  of  the  next  European  Parliament  elections,  the  Commission  will  present  a  defence  of 
democracy  package,  which  will  focus  on  transparency,  electoral  matters,  boosting  the  civic 
space,  and  promoting  inclusive  and  effective  engagement  by  public  authorities  with  civil 
society  organisations  and  citizens.  All  of  these,  aim  to  bolster  democratic  resilience  from 
within the EU. The package will also be able to consider several democracy-related proposals 
made  by  the  Conference  on  the  Future  of  Europe  as  regards  citizen  engagement  in 
policymaking. 

70  
71  
72 
73  
74  
75 
76 
77 
78 

More information here  
COM(2020)698 final 
COM(2021)615 final 
COM/2021/615 final. 
2008 Framework Decision on combating certain forms of expressions of racism and xenophobia. 
Have Your Say portal: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say. 
More information here. 
More information here. 
COM(2020) 790 final of 3 December 2020 

18 

 
                                                           
Given  that  disinformation  and  information  manipulation  have  a  major  adverse  impact  on 
democratic society, the EU’s work will continue to focus on disinformation and interference, 
with freedom of expression safeguarded as one of the highest values of our societies.  

Gender equality 

While the EU is a strong promoter of gender equality and has made significant progress in the 
last decades, additional efforts are needed through various actions. 

The  Gender  Equality  Strategy79  for  2020-2025  delivers  on  a  major  component  of  this 
commitment towards a Union of equality. With it, the EU aims at achieving a Union where 
women and men  freely  pursue their  chosen paths in  life, have  equal  opportunities to  thrive, 
and equally participate in and lead society. Gender equality also plays a key role in education, 
sustainable  economic  growth,  and  reduced  inequalities.  The  number  of  women  occupying 
leadership positions has increased and the disparities between men and women in the labour 
market have narrowed. However, gender gaps remain significant, and gender-based violence 
is still a fact of life. 

While  the  principle  of  equal  pay  for  equal  work  is  set  down  in  the  Treaty  on  the 
Functioning of the EU80, a gender pay gap still exists81. The new binding pay transparency 
measures82  will  provide  for  more  transparency  and  effective  enforcement  of  the  equal  pay 
principle.  The  EU  had  also  adopted  new  rules  to  ensure  gender  parity  on  the  boards  of 
listed companies. 

In  March  2022,  the  Commission  proposed  EU-wide  rules  to  end  gender-based  violence 
against women and domestic violence83. The proposed rules would criminalise rape based on 
lack of consent, female genital mutilation and cyber violence, and strengthen victims’ access 
to justice. 

Through its international partnerships, the EU pursues these objectives at a global level. In 
relation  to  SDG 16,  governance,  peace  and  security  provide  the  foundation  of  the  EU’s 
external  engagement  for  sustainable  development.  Progress  on  this  SDG  has  a  multiplier 
effect on all SDGs. The EU implements a human rights-based approach in delivering on the 
2030 Agenda, anchoring its actions in the protecting, respecting and fulfilling human rights84. 
It  acts  to  support  rule  of  law,  public  participation,  non-discrimination  and  equality,  and 
accountability, including dedicated action to support civil society and human rights defenders. 
The EU actively promotes youth empowerment and participation, including through its Youth 
Action  Plan  on  external  action.  The  EU  also  contributes  to  SDG 5  externally,  by 
mainstreaming gender equality in its international partnerships and ensuring that at least 85% 
of all its external actions are gender-responsive. It also takes decisive action together with the 

79 
80 
81 
82 
83 
84 

COM(2020) 152 final of 5 March 2020 
Article 157 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. 
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/sdg_05_20/default/table?lang=en 
More information here. 
COM(2022) 105 final of 8 March 2022 
SWD(2021) 179 final of 30 June 2021. 

19 

 
                                                           
UN,  such  as  through  the  Spotlight  Initiative.  It  furthermore  ensures  that  EU-funded 
humanitarian action is gender and age sensitive by means of its own humanitarian gender-age 
marker. As such, a recent assessment showed that in 2021 96% of humanitarian funding took 
gender and age considerations into account to some or a large extent. 

Partnership – a stronger Europe in the world 

The EU objectives, notably the twin green and digital transitions, and the pursuit of the SDGs, 
cannot be achieved without engaging with partner countries and at multilateral level. 

Figure 8: Contribution to the SDGs of the headline ambition ‘a stronger Europe in the world’ 

Supporting partner countries in the implementation of the SDGs became a central objective of 
EU  international  partnerships  with  the  2017  European  Consensus  on  Development85. 
Eradicating poverty, tackling discrimination and inequalities, and leaving no one behind are at 
the centre of our international  partnerships, which aim to  foster sustainable development  by 
supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. This determined action in support of the 
SDGs,  combined  with  EU  priorities,  is  being  taken  further  through  programmes  under 
NDICI-Global Europe, the main external financial instrument (including  its investment arm, 
the European Fund for  Sustainable Development  Plus). Partnering with  the private sector is 
critical  to  mobilise  the  financial  investment  needed  to  progress  towards  the  SDGs.  The  EU 
promotes innovative financial instruments, such as blending of private and public sources and 
providing guarantees to support private investments in partner countries, especially countries 
most in need. 

Global Gateway, launched in December 2021, is the EU’s offer and effective contribution to 
strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership (SDG 17), with 
a view to pursuing the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs, while contributing to the Paris Agreement. 
Global  Gateway  helps  promote  greater  public  and  private  investments  in  sustainable 
connectivity,  notably  through  transport,  energy  and  digitalisation  infrastructure,  and  related 
people-to-people  connections  (in  health  and  education).  To  support  at  the  global  level  the 
green and digital transitions together with the SDGs, Global Gateway is being rolled out by 
the  EU  and  its  Member  States  in  a  Team  Europe  approach.  In  partnership  with  partner 
countries,  Global  Gateway  aims  to  leverage  multiple  sources  of  funding  including  private 
sector  investments,  to  help  narrow  the  global  investment  gap.  The  EU  aims  to  collectively 
mobilise up to EUR 300 billion in investments by 2027, with half of this across Africa. Each 
individual Global Gateway initiative financed by the EU budget will identify and integrate the 
relevant SDGs at all stages – from design to implementation and reporting. 

Figure 9: Global Gateway and the SDGs 

85 

More information here. 

20 

 
 
                                                           
Overall,  the  EU  and  its  Member  States  are  the  leading  donors  of  official  development 
assistance  (ODA)  globally,  collectively  providing  EUR 92.8  billion  in  2022  (based  on 
preliminary OECD figures), which accounts for 43% of global assistance. This corresponds to 
0.59% of their collective gross national income (GNI). They stay committed to reaching their 
collective target of providing 0.7% of GNI as ODA by 2030 in line with the 2030 Agenda. 

The EU and its Member States, in a Team Europe approach, have supported partner countries 
towards  sustainable  recovery  aligned  with  the  SDGs.  For  this  purpose,  they  provided 
EUR 47.7 billion from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic up to the end of 2021. This 
is  accompanied  by  efforts  to  mobilise  the  private  sector  to  leverage  investments  for 
transformational impact. 

The  EU  is  strongly  committed  to  effective  multilateralism,  with  the  UN  at  its  core,  in 
particular  in  implementing  the  2030  Agenda  globally.  This  includes  engaging  with  the  UN, 
the  G7  and  G20  groups  of  nations,  the  World  Bank  Group,  the  International  Monetary 
Fund, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and others 
in this collective effort. This also means strengthening global governance where it is most 
needed, notably for global public goods, which need to be protected and managed collectively 
to progress towards the SDGs. The EU is leading efforts to deliver on climate reduction and 
mitigation, biodiversity protection and ocean governance. These efforts and partnerships will 
support the implementation of several SDGs given their interconnected nature. 

Policy coherence for development 

Policymakers  in  the  EU  need  to  consider  external  impacts  on  partner  countries  when 
implementing domestic policies. This  requirement  in  the EU Treaties is generally known as 
‘policy  coherence  for  development’.  It  is  highlighted  in  the  2017  European  Consensus  on 
Development as a crucial element of the EU’s strategy to achieve the SDGs. 

This requirement is now implemented in the context of advancing the 2030 Agenda globally. 
Its  focus  has  broadened  beyond  the  traditional  five  strategic  challenges  (trade  and  finance, 

21 

 
 
climate  change,  food  security,  migration,  and  security)  to  reflect  the  new  and  interrelated 
dynamics of the SDGs. Reporting on policy coherence for development has become part and 
parcel  of  a  comprehensive  reporting  on  SDG  implementation  and  is  therefore  addressed  in 
this voluntary review. 

The  EU  aims  at  developing  common  approaches  with  key  partners  to  foster  reliable 
partnerships  and  alliances  in  a  global  context,  thus  contributing  to  strengthening  the  rules-
based global order and international law. This includes support to international human rights 
and  international  humanitarian  law  and  their  effective  implementation,  which  is  a  condition 
for  making  progress  towards  the  SDGs,  an  objective  particularly  apposite  on  the  75th 
anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The EU and its Member States 
are  the  major  donors  worldwide  in  support  of  democracy,  rule  of  law  and  the  respect  for 
human rights. Furthermore, EU Member States were also instrumental in the adoption in April 
2023 of a UN Human Rights Council resolution reaffirming the centrality of human rights in 
the efforts to put the SDGs back on track. 

Open, rules-based, and fair trade is a key tool for promoting sustainable development, and for 
increasing prosperity and well-being. The EU takes an active role to set a strong trade agenda 
to set the highest possible global standards and contribute to the implementation of the SDGs 
internationally.  Sustainability  and  the  advancement  of  the  SDGs  are  also  at  the  core  of  the 
EU’s  Trade  Policy  Review86  for  the  coming  years.  Each  new  comprehensive  bilateral  trade 
agreement  between  the  EU  and  its  partners  contains  a  trade  and  sustainable  development 
chapter promoting strong commitments for the climate, environmental and labour protection, 
and gender equality. The EU is also pursuing a new generation of investment agreements that 
aim  to  facilitate  sustainable  investment  and  include  strong  commitments  on  international 
instruments  on  human  rights,  labour  standards,  environmental  preservation,  and  good 
governance.  These  commitments  are  also  at  the  heart  of  the  EU’s  Generalised  Scheme  of 
Preferences,  notably  through  the  special  incentive  arrangement  on  sustainable  development 
and  good  governance  (GSP+).  The  EU’s  Anti-torture  Regulation  also  reflects  the  EU’s 
commitment to the eradication of torture and the death penalty. 

The  World  Trade  Organization  (WTO)  must  contribute  to  ensuring  a  sustainable,  green, 
and  inclusive  global  recovery  from  the  pandemic,  where  the  recovery  is  aligned  with  the 
SDGs. The EU was active in the negotiations that successfully resulted in 2022 in the WTO 
agreement on fisheries subsidies, thereby addressing an explicit objective laid down in the 
2030 Agenda. 

The  effective  implementation  of  the  SDGs  also  requires  that  workers  enjoy  decent  working 
conditions  globally.  The  EU  is  already  taking  strong  action  to  promote  decent  work 
worldwide, and the elimination of child labour and forced labour, consistent with the SDGs. 
Key partners in this regard include the International Labour Organization, the OECD and 
the G7 and G20. 

86 

COM(2021) 66 final of 18 February 2021 

22 

 
                                                           
The EU plays an active role in promoting sound and sustainable macroeconomic policies  at 
global  level  and  in  partner  countries.  It  does  this  through  economic  diplomacy  and 
macroeconomic dialogues as part of its bilateral relations, including in multilateral for a such 
as the G20. 

4. Lessons learnt and looking ahead to 2030 

Several valuable lessons learnt provide the basis for renewed actions to accelerate the delivery 
of the 2030 Agenda within the EU and in its international partnerships. 

Strong  institutions  and  evidence-based  law-making  to  ensure  policy  coherence  for 
sustainable development 

The  whole-of-government  approach  to  making  progress  on  the  SDGs  ensures  political 
oversight and coordination at all levels. The EU will ensure that its ambitious initiatives are 
effectively implemented  on the  ground at national,  regional,  and local  level.  The economic, 
social, environmental, and governance dimensions of sustainable development are integrated 
at  all  stages  of  policymaking  in  a  balanced  manner.  The  Commission’s  Better  Regulation 
framework87 requires that the impact assessment of every legislative proposal identifies how 
the EU action will contribute to the implementation of the SDGs. The impact assessments and 
evaluations address interlinkages, synergies, and trade-offs between the relevant SDGs. 

Leveraging the power of the budget 

The EU budget is an effective instrument to deliver major progress on the 2030 Agenda. The 
EU  has  already  made  progress  in  integrating  the  SDGs  into  its  budget  cycle.  In  the  case  of 
international  partnerships,  SDGs  are  actively  integrated  in  the  design  of  projects  and 
programmes, in results frameworks (in combination with EU priorities) and in annual reports 
on the implementation of the EU’s external action instruments. 

Communicating better with citizens and a whole-of-society approach 

Delivering  on  the  SDGs  is  not  only  a  matter  for  public  authorities;  it  also  requires  the  full 
participation of civil society and the private sector. For SDGs implementation to be effective, 
they  must  be  actively  supported  by  communication  that  engages  with  citizens,  national, 
regional,  and  local  authorities,  media,  civil  society  organisations,  the  private  sector,  and 
stakeholders  on  the  ground.  The  benefits  should  be  clearly  presented,  while  remaining 
challenges should be addressed in  a transparent  manner. The  sustained involvement  of civil 
society  organisations,  social  partners,  national,  regional  and  local  authorities,  and  EU-level 
organisations, including the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of 
the  Regions,  are  important  for  mobilising  the  national-level  stakeholders  and  regional 
communities  that  are  key  to  the  SDG  delivery.  In  this  regard,  the  European  Climate  Pact88 
facilitates  interaction  with  citizens  and  organisations  on  how  climate  action  can  support 
progress towards SDG 13 and a range of interrelated SDGs. 

87 
88 

More information here. 
European Climate Pact: https://climate-pact.europa.eu/. 

23 

 
                                                           
Monitoring and reporting 

At  a  global  level,  the  EU  actively  participates  in  the  annual  meetings  of  the  High-level 
Political Forum for Sustainable Development (HLPF), which is the main platform to follow 
up  and  review  the  implementation  of  the  2030  Agenda.  This  voluntary  review  will  be 
presented  at  the  2023  HLPF  meeting  as  the  EU’s  contribution  to  this  shared  universal  peer 
review effort. 

The Commission also reports regularly on progress towards the SDGs across EU internal and 
external  policies  and  actions.  Each  year,  Eurostat  publishes  a  report  covering  progress 
towards the SDGs, based on the most relevant SDG indicators at EU level. 

EU engagement on SDGs in the world 

The  EU  is  committed  to  supporting  the  accelerated  implementation  of  the  SDGs  at  global 
level, including in relations with partner countries and at multilateral level. EU international 
partnerships and the EU’s main external spending instrument, NDICI-Global Europe, include 
priorities that encompass the whole 2030 Agenda and its  principles, in particular leaving no 
one behind. The EU’s Global Gateway strategy will directly contribute to making progress on 
a  range  of  interlinked  SDGs.  The  EU  supports  discussions  on  the  international  finance 
architecture with a focus on the reform of multilateral development banks to ensure that they 
are fit for purpose and to make progress towards the SDGs. 

Looking ahead 

-  Further  to  the  revised  Better  Regulation  framework,  the  EU  will  ensure  that  legislative 
proposals contribute to delivering on the SDGs. 

- The EU will take further the commitment to inform on the implementation of the SDGs in 
all relevant Union programmes. 

-  Building  on  their  contribution  to  the  preparation  of  the  voluntary  review,  the  European 
Economic  and  Social  Committee  and  the  Committee  of  the  Regions  will  continue  to  play  a 
key role as platforms to regularly exchange with stakeholders on SDG implementation. 

- The EU will regularly improve its SDG indicator set, including addressing external spillover 
effects, and will further integrate SDGs across its reports. 

-  The  EU  will  continue  to  actively  integrate  the  SDGs  in  the  implementation  of  Global 
Gateway  flagships  and  sustainable  infrastructure  investments,  while  stepping  up  efforts  to 
mobilise private sector mobilisation in support of the SDGs. 

-  The  EU  will  make  greater  effort  to  address  inequalities  across  its  external  actions,  by 
helping to build inclusive and sustainable societies. 

Conclusions 

This  review  presents  the  broad  range  of  actions  that  the  EU  has  put  in  place  across  all  its 
policy areas to deliver on the SDGs, and commitments directly contributing to the SDGs. 

24 

 
Despite challenges and recent crises, the EU is fully committed and engaged in action to make 
progress on all SDGs and will continue to monitor them.  

Through its whole of government approach the EU will promote cooperative solutions, as has 
been  done  previously  to  overcome  the  pandemic,  to  accelerate  the  economic  recovery,  to 
support  Ukraine  and  to  achieve  sustainability  at  home  and  abroad.  At  the  same  time, 
European national, regional, and local authorities, social partners, civil society organisations, 
the  private  sector,  and  stakeholders  on  the  ground  need  to  continue  to  work  together  to 
address remaining challenges and find solutions that promote the SDGs. This is to be done in 
a whole-of-society approach that leaves no one behind.  

The SDG Summit in 2023 provides an opportunity for the global community to review the 
state of progress towards the SDGs and regain political momentum to accelerate the delivery. 
The SDG Summit can also advance proposals from the UN Secretary-General’s Our Common 
Agenda to speed up the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The 2024 Summit of the Future 
proposed by the UN Secretary-General and the SDG Summit share the same overall objective, 
which  is  to  create  the  conditions  for  a  sustainable,  equitable  and  inclusive  future,  with  the 
2030  Agenda  as  our  shared  roadmap.  The  EU  looks  forward  to  a  successful  SDG  Summit, 
bringing  together  all  countries  and  stakeholders  to  agree  on  ambitious  concrete  actions  to 
speed  up  implementation  of  the  2030  Agenda.  The  EU  is  committed  to  accelerating 
implementation  of  the  2030  Agenda  in  a  common  direction  for  enhanced  efforts  across  the 
globe toward sustainable development, fairness and prosperity. 

25