C 157/10
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
3.5.2023
42. urges the future Spanish Presidency to organise a high-level debate on the boost needed at EU level to implement the SDGs on time.
This debate should be in the General Affairs Council at ministerial level and send a clear signal to the European Commission on the importance of SDGs;
Challenges and ways forward
43. highlights the need for better linkages between SDGs and NRRPs, as funding is the main obstacle for 47 % of cities and regions in the implementation of the SDGs (7) and there is still EUR 225 billion available for Member States from the RRF;
44. also encourages all levels of government to mainstream the SDGs in their budget and financial tools to address the funding gap;
45. stresses the importance of EU support to develop training and capacity-building activities, as capacity in terms of both skills and staff is a challenge for 44 % of cities and regions (8);
46. calls on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop and implement sustainability strategies in their businesses, as only 24 % of them currently have specific plans to reduce their carbon footprints (9); stresses the need to support SMEs in this process and to step up the corresponding measures at European, national, regional and local level;
47. calls for better and more structured coordination between levels of government with the EU leading by example, including through more inclusive governance of the European Semester and a structured dialogue with stakeholders on the SDGs;
48. calls for more leadership from the EU institutions in communicating about the SDGs.
Not all stakeholders are familiar with the framework, and prioritising the SDGs at EU and national level could help strengthen political commitment at all levels and further raise awareness about SDGs on the ground;
49. recommends, based on OECD recommendations, using the SDGs to prioritise implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights and enhancing social and community services for socially disadvantaged groups, incentivise the decarbonisation of buildings; expand sustainable infrastructure for cyclists, pedestrians and electric vehicles, and enhance stakeholders’ participation in the localisation of SDGs for recovery;
50. considers that, in order to complement the green taxonomy and help implement the Green Deal, the Commission should urgently put forward a proposal to establish a social taxonomy.
Without a social taxonomy, investors and undertakings lack clear guidance as to which investments provide added value from a social point of view.
This makes it difficult to finance socially motivated activities in healthcare, social housing and social services, among other areas;
51. proposes that the EU institutions and Member States should support and finance the launch of training and education initiatives to promote capacity building in public entities and private organisations in the design and implementation of SDG reports and strategic plans;
52. stresses that education is a fundamental right, irrespective of financial means, and further suggests to the levels of government responsible for education delivery that more sustainable development concepts could be introduced in educational curricula, from nursery to university level;
53. proposes the launch of an EU inter-institutional communication campaign that clearly links the fulfilment of the SDGs with improvements to the quality of life of citizens in all territories;
(7) (8) (9)
OECD (2022) ‘The Sustainable Development Goals as a framework for COVID-19 recovery in cities and regions’, OECD Regional Development Papers, No 26, OECD Publishing, Paris.
OECD (2022) ‘The Sustainable Development Goals as a framework for COVID-19 recovery in cities and regions’, OECD Regional Development Papers, No 26, OECD Publishing, Paris.
European Commission, 2022: Eurobarometer: EU SMEs working towards sustainability: https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/news/eurobarometer-eu-smes-working-towards-sustainability-2022-03-28_en