Achieving Sustainability - Is it Too Late?
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
SUMMER 2018 / ISSUE NO.12
Achieving Sustainability
Is it Too Late?
Thinking
Big
Korea's End
Democracy and of History?
its Challenges
Frank • Gvosdev • Al-Kaabi • Kanerva • Khanna
Kloke-Lesch • Montbrial • Obersteiner • Pezzini • Roa
Schmidt-Traub • Stavridis • Steele • Vardanyan • WeinsteinHorizonS Why is the EU Failing to Champion the SDGs?
Why is the EU Failing SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS)
GOAL 1 GOAL 10
to Champion the SDGs? End poverty in all its forms everywhere
GOAL 2
End hunger, achieve food security
Reduce inequality within
and among countries
GOAL 11
and improved nutrition and promote Make cities and human settlements
sustainable agriculture inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
GOAL 3 GOAL 12
Adolf Kloke-Lesch Ensure healthy lives and promote Ensure sustainable consumption
well-being for all at all ages and production patterns
T
GOAL 4 GOAL 13
HE EUROPEAN UNION is truly EU’s future that would resonate with its
Ensure inclusive and equitable Take urgent action to combat
at a crossroads. Populist move- citizens. We see an eternal recurrence climate change and its impacts
quality education and promote lifelong
ments and parties are questioning of the same, so to speak: stereotypical learning opportunities for all GOAL 14
its value for Europeans, while the United debates about more or less Europe, wid- Conserve and sustainably use
GOAL 5
Kingdom is set to leave the EU in March ening versus deepening, solidarity and Achieve gender equality and empower the oceans, seas and marine resources
2019. Threats to the rules-based world austerity, or voting procedures; these and all women and girls for sustainable development
order and tectonic shifts in geopolitics others all turn hollow if not linked to GOAL 6
GOAL 15
challenge allegedly immutable truths substantial issues that people care about. Protect, restore and promote sustainable
Ensure availability and sustainable
use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably
and long-term partnerships. management of water and sanitation for all
S
manage forests, combat desertification,
uch debates have lost sight of the GOAL 7 and halt and reverse land degradation
Meanwhile, a new European Parlia- full meaning of Article 3 of the Lis- Ensure access to affordable, reliable, and halt biodiversity loss
ment will be elected in May 2019, to be bon Treaty (2009), which states that the sustainable and modern energy for all
GOAL 16
followed by a new composition of the EU aims “to promote peace, its values GOAL 8 Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable sustainable development, provide access to
European Commission. The debate has and the well-being of its peoples.” More
economic growth,full and productive justice for all and build effective, accountable
already started on the next EU budget, specifically, the Treaty stipulates that the employment and decent work for all and inclusive institutions at all levels
called the Multiannual Financial Frame- Union “shall work for the sustainable
GOAL 9 GOAL 17
work, which will set the EU’s financial development of Europe.” Build resilient infrastructure, promote Strengthen the means of implementation
and political priorities until the end of inclusive and sustainable industrialization and revitalize the Global Partnership
the next decade. It should therefore have come as no and foster innovation for Sustainable Development
surprise that the EU became an early
While controversies between govern- champion of designing what became the
Source: Unites Nations
ments drag on—not only on the subject UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Devel-
of refugee policy—there definitely is a opment that was adopted unanimously
lack of a common positive vision of the by world leaders at a special UN summit
Adolf Kloke-Lesch is a member of the Leadership Council of the Sustainable Development
Solutions Network (SDSN) and Executive Director of SDSN Germany. The author wishes to
express gratitude to Marlene Eichinger, a graduate student at the Department of Development Box 1: The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Studies, University of Vienna, for her excellent assistance in quantitative research.
Summer 2018, No.12 144 145 Adolf Kloke-LeschHorizonS Why is the EU Failing to Champion the SDGs?
in September 2015 in New York. Entitled no consideration of whether implement- of the Commission and some working bound and quantified targets.” It was
Transforming our World, this “plan of ing fully the SDGs might have a bearing parties of the Council of the EU that have on this that the 2001 EU Sustainable
action for people, planet, and prosperity” on Europe’s own future. delivered several communications and Development Strategy (ESDS) was weak,
is an extraordinary achievement in times conclusions on the 2030 Agenda since its garnering little attention in Brussels.
of global uncertainty and division, as This reflects the mistaken percep- 2015 adoption. It must be said, in addi-
well as an elaborate global affirmation of tion of many political leaders that the tion, that the European Parliament and The ESDS died a silent death after the
core European values and SDGs are something to the European Economic financial crisis and the
aspirations. It seems as though be dealt with under the and Social Committee,
European Commission adoption of the Europe
the discourse on the category of development where civil society repre- President Jean-Claude 2020 Strategy in 2010
A Leadership Void future of Europe aid or environment pro- sentatives come together, Juncker is said to have (subtitled A European
T he 2030 Agenda
set 17 Sustain-
able Development Goals
and that the one
on sustainable
tection. They have not
yet realized that some of
the EU’s most pressing
have raised their voice
in favor of embracing
the SDGs in and for the
never been approached Strategy for Smart, Sus-
by a single European
leader on the issue of
tainable, and Inclusive
Growth), as a way to
development inhabit
(SDGs) to be met “for all socioeconomic priorities EU. Furthermore, during the role of the SDGs overcome the structural
two different planets.
nations and peoples and and challenges, includ- 2018’s European Sustain- in implementing weaknesses of Europe’s
for all segments of society” (see Box 1): ing rising inequalities, youth unemploy- able Development Week, economy. At the time,
the sustainable
these must necessarily be implemented ment, migration, and climate change, tens of thousands of the Commission framed
at local, national, and regional levels—in are covered under the SDGs. European citizens took
development agenda this as part of an aim to
other words, globally. part in more than 6,000 within Europe. mainstream sustainable
With all that being said, a fundamen-
tal question needs to be asked: are the
E uropean Commission President
Jean-Claude Juncker is said to
have never been approached by a single
initiatives in 34 European countries—an development thinking into European
increase of 50 percent compared to previ- policies; it turns out, however, that it
ous years. The critical question is whether largely put this “thinking” on the back-
SDGs, championed by Europeans at the European leader on the issue of the the pre-election campaigns for the Euro- burner. The 2020 Strategy set a limited
United Nations, becoming the roadmap role of the SDGs in implementing the pean Parliament, scheduled for May 2019, number of quantified headline targets
for the EU itself, across all domestic and sustainable development agenda within will result in additional momentum to covering employment, research and de-
international policies? Europe. Again, it comes as no surprise bring the EU back on its path towards the velopment (R&D), climate and energy,
that we have not seen a statement by the sustainable development of Europe. education, and poverty to be achieved
The answer is quite discouraging. At European Council on this topic since by 2020. The strategy is accompanied
best, it is “not yet,” for the European the adoption of the UN 2030 Agenda On track with the SDGs? by various monitoring and implementa-
champions of the SDGs on the world stage for Sustainable Development. This
are dragging their feet at home and in constitutes a deplorable void of politi-
Brussels. It seems as though the discourse cal leadership by the body in which the
“Y ou cannot manage what you
don’t measure.” With these
words, Frans Timmermans, the First
tion processes, including the so-called
“European Semester.”
on the future of Europe and that the one
on sustainable development inhabit two
heads of state or government of the 28
EU member states are meant to shape
different planets. The Commission’s White the future of Europe.
Vice-President of the European Com-
mission, began his foreword to Eurostat’s
publication Sustainable Development
A t the end of 2017, Eurostat
published the first Monitoring
Report on Progress towards the SDGs
Paper of the Future of Europe (2017) men- in the European Union. He should have in an EU Context, with 100 indicators
tions the SDGs only when praising the This void cannot be compensated for by added the following: “you cannot man- structured along the 17 SDGs. However,
achievements of EU diplomacy; there is the many assiduous efforts within parts age what you measure without time- EU policy targets do not exist for most
Summer 2018, No.12 146 147 Adolf Kloke-LeschHorizonS Why is the EU Failing to Champion the SDGs?
of the SDGs, and many of them are and R&D indicators by up to four across EU 2020 targets and the SDGs 2008 2016/17
set for a time horizon of 2020 and not EU member states. Furthermore, the EU 2020 target: at least 20 million fewer people in or at risk of poverty and/or 116.1 m 116.9 m
2030, as per the 2030 Agenda. targets set by the EU 2020 Strategy fall social exclusion (2016)
short of the ambition of the correspond- SDG 1 No poverty, target 1.2: By 2030, reduce by at least half the proportion
Thus, the European Union—the most ing SDG targets for 2030. These would, of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions
vocal champion of the SDGs—has not for instance, call to relieve 60 million according to national definitions
made its priorities and EU citizens of the risk of
policies compatible with Thus, the European poverty and social exclu-
EU 2020 target: reduce rates of early school leavers to below 10 percent 13.4 10.6
percent percent
those same SDGs. The Union—the most sion over the next decade, (2017)
SDG 4 Quality education, target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys
EU neither knows which vocal champion of or to bring down the complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education leading to
SDG-related indicator the SDGs—has not share of early school leav- relevant and effective learning outcomes
targets it has to achieve made its priorities and ers to zero by 2030. The EU 2020 target: at least 40 percent of people aged 30-34 having completed 34.8 39.9
by 2030 nor the distance policies compatible emission of greenhouse higher education percent percent
it still needs to cover. gases would have to be (2017; but
with those same SDGs. SDG 4 Quality education, target 4.3: By 2030, ensure equal access for all women men falling
It remains to be seen reduced twice as fast if
whether a gap analysis, The EU neither knows the self-set Nationally and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational, and tertiary education,
including university
behind)
which is currently un- which SDG-related Determined Contribu-
derway within the Com- indicator targets it has tion (NDC) target under EU 2020 target: greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent lower than 1990 levels 9.4 percent 22.4
mission, can solve this to achieve by 2030 the Paris Climate Agree- percent
Source: Author’s own compilation based on EU, Eurostat, and UN documents
SDG 13 Climate action, EU target under Paris Agreement: at least 40 percent (2016)
dilemma. Taking a brief nor the distance it still ment (which is part of the lower by 2030
glimpse at the headline needs to cover. SDGs, as defined by the EU 2020 target: 20 percent of energy sourced from renewables 11.1 17.0
targets of the 2020 Strat- 2030 Agenda) is achieved. percent percent
SDG 7 Affordable and clean energy, target 7.1: By 2030, increase substantially (2017)
egy and the related SDGs makes mani- These few examples show both the chal- the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
fest the difficulties that lay ahead for the lenges and potential for Europe’s future EU 2020 target: 20 percent increase in energy efficiency - 16.1
European Union (see Table 1). that come along with embracing the percent
SDG 7 Affordable and clean energy, target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate (2016)
SDGs and respecting planetary bounda- of improvement in energy efficiency
Even if only set against the self-pro- ries in the climate change context.
claimed targets, the data show a mixed EU 2020 target: 75 percent of people aged 20-64 to be in work 70.3 72.2
I
percent percent
picture. Trends are insufficient or nega- n the absence of SDG targets set for SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth, target 8.1: By 2030, achieve full and (2017)
tive in the social and economic fields, and by the EU, it seems useful to take productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for
while some positive trends can be seen on a look at the SDG Index and Dashboards young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value
climate and energy, as well as education. Reports, published annually since 2015 EU 2020 target: 3 percent of the EU’s GDP to be invested in R&D 1.84 2,03
by the Bertelsmann Foundation and the percent percent
SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, target 9.5: Enhance scientific (2016)
However, the picture turns bleaker UN Sustainable Development Solutions research […], including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially
when data is disaggregated by country— Network (SDSN). These reports provide increasing the number of research and development workers per million people
and public and private research and development spending
i.e. by EU member state. Country-level an overview of countries’ performance
poverty and education indicators vary on the 17 SDGs. Since 2017, the reports
by a factor up to two, climate/energy also cover international environmental, Table 1: The Europe 2020 Strategy and the SDGs
Summer 2018, No.12 148 149 Adolf Kloke-LeschHorizonS Why is the EU Failing to Champion the SDGs?
GLOBAL SDG INDEX SCORE The difference in score between Waiting for a
55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 Sweden and Greece is as big as that be- Reflection Paper
Sweden
Denmark
Finland
Germany
France
1
2
3
4
5
138
119
134
132
140
tween Greece and countries on the last
quarter of the list, like Rwanda (120th
with a score of 56.1). These scores dem-
W hen the 2030 Agenda was
adopted in New York in 2015,
the priorities for the current Commis-
Norway 6 148
Switzerland
Slovenia
7
8
156 onstrate both the scale of the remain- sion (2014–2019) had already been set by
131
Austria
Iceland
9
10
139 ing distance to reach even for countries European Commission President Jean-
125
Netherlands
Belgium
11
12
151
146
like Sweden, on the one hand, and huge Claude Juncker as per the terms of his
Czech Republic
United Kingdom
13
14
114
152
internal challenges in the EU and its “Agenda for Jobs, Growth, Fairness and
E s t o n i a 16 109
member states, on the other. Democratic Change.” It was commenda-
I r e l a n d 18 ble that Juncker entrusted
143
Furthermore, Europe There is a clear First Vice-President Tim-
C r o a t i a 21
L u x e m b o u r g 22
103
produces significant indication that the mermans with the hori-
Source: Author’s own figure based on SDG Index and Dashboards Repor t 2018
153
Slovak Republic
Spain
24
25
130 negative spillover effects. EU is not on track to zontal responsibility for
127
Hungary
Latvia
26 111 There is a clear indica- negate spillover effects. sustainable development.
27 128
Italy 29
tion that the EU is not on Two-thirds of the
137
Malta 30 track to negate spillover There have also been
Portugal 31
142
129 40 countries with the
Poland 32 106 effects, even though data laudable but isolated
B u l g a r i a 34 89 is still limited and dif- worst negative spillover initiatives in areas like
L i t h u a n i a 36 123 ficult to compare. Two- effects are EU member the circular economy
Global SDG Index Rank
S e r b i a 40
G l o b a l S p i l l o v er R a n k
117
thirds of the 40 countries states, or are linked to it and sustainable finance.
with the worst negative via the European But the fact remains that
R o m a n i a 44 73 spillover effects are EU Single Market or the UN 2030 Agenda—
G r e e c e 48 136 member states, or are their respective specifically, the SDGs—
C y p r u s 50 linked to it via the Eu- largely did not inform
154
ropean Single Market or
candidate status. the current Commis-
F Y R M a c e d o n i a 61 69
A l b a n i a 62 97 their respective candidate status. One sion’s priorities and work programs.
M o n t e n e g r o 69
should, therefore, not be deceived by As political attention moved to other
135
high SDG scores that certain EU mem- issues like migration or Brexit, one got
T u r k e y 79
Spillover Effect (0=best, 100=worst) 94 ber states have received for their imple- the impression that the option of fully
75 65 55 45 35 25 15 5
mentation of the SDGs domestically, for embracing the SDGs as a road-map for
they come with costs for other countries the EU’s future has been left to the next
Figure 1: SDG - and negative spillover scores for EU member states
and, ultimately, the planet. If the EU Commission and the period after the
(incl. EFTA and accession countries)
and its member states want to be serious European Parliament election in 2019.
economic, and security spillover effects per half of the SDG Index, ranging from about achieving the SDGs, they need to
that undermine other countries’ efforts
to achieve the SDGs. EU member states
and EU accession states populate the up-
Sweden in first place to Greece (48th) and
Turkey (79th), with scores of 85.0, 70.6, and
66.0 (out of 100) respectively. (Figure 1)
translate the global SDGs into European
and national targets compatible with the
global goals set for 2030.
I n the meantime, some preparatory
work has started, which is essential
for delivering an actionable plan. The
Summer 2018, No.12 150 151 Adolf Kloke-LeschHorizonS Why is the EU Failing to Champion the SDGs?
2017 Council conclusions entitled A Clearly, there are big differences in To promote the SDGs internally and issued by the European Think Tank
Sustainable European Future: The EU scope and ambition between these externally, the EU should use its broad Group entitled “Steering the EU towards
Response to the 2030 Agenda for Sus- VNRs—with some countries compre- range of policy instruments, like legal a Sustainability Transformation.” Such a
tainable Development urged the Com- hensively translating the SDGs into na- acts, budgetary means, and external way forward could build on the experi-
mission “to elaborate, by mid-2018, tional goals, including the means of im- action initiatives. Furthermore, the EU’s ences of the last two decades, thereby
an implementation strategy outlining plementation—and others just relating Policy Coherence for Sustainable Devel- using previous long-term EU strategies
timelines, objectives, existing policy objectives opment (PCSD) toolbox as well as relevant imple-
and concrete measures.” The best way for the to some of the SDGs. An can ensure that all EU Having lost much mentation and monitor-
EU to shape its future optimist would say that policies contribute to, or time and missed ing instruments like the
Since then, a lot of foun- would be to prepare there is notable move- at least do not hamper, many opportunities, “European Semester.”
dational work for an am- an overarching EU ment at the level of mem- the achievement of the European leaders
bitious action plan could 2030 Strategy based ber states upon which the SDGs. and Europe’s civil From Reflection
have been done, bolstered on the 2030 Agenda EU can continue to build society must now use to Action
by the Multi-stakeholder
Platform on the Imple-
mentation of the SDGs set up by the
and the SDGs.
its efforts. This is crucial,
since responsibility for
the implementation of the 2030 Agenda
W hen translating
the SDGs into
quantified and time-
the few remaining
forks in the road
T hree years after the
adoption of the
to make the SDGs
Commission and the work of Eurostat. lies with states in the first place. bound EU-wide targets, 2030 Agenda, the EU
Europe’s business.
Unfortunately, to date neither a gap analy- close attention should must move from reflec-
sis nor an implementation strategy has
been presented. All that can be expected
now is the publication of a Commission
T he EU should focus on its respon-
sibilities and the added value it
can provide. Under its Better Regula-
be given to areas where EU action is of
particular relevance to achieving the
tion to action on the SDGs. Having lost
much time and missed many opportu-
SDGs—across both the EU and global- nities, European leaders and Europe’s
Reflection Paper, which will reportedly be tion agenda, more specifically with its ly. Existing EU policy targets and strate- civil society must now use the few
entitled Towards a Sustainable Europe by principles of subsidiarity and propor- gies should be adapted to match the remaining forks in the road to make the
2030 and published by the end of 2018. tionality, the Commission wants “to be ambition set by the SDGs. Beginning SDGs Europe’s business (see table 2).
big on the big issues and small on the with the targets, the EU could enhance
C onsidering such slow progress, it
is questionable whether the EU
will be able to present an ambitious
small ones,” to quote a recent statement
by Juncker.
its strategies on issues such as reducing
EU-wide inequalities or decarbonizing
energy and other SDG transforma-
In October 2017, European Council
President Donald Tusk presented his
Leaders’ Agenda. It rolled out the key
and concrete first report on the inter- As the SDGs are a big issue, there tions (i.e. agriculture). Similarly, linking topics EU leaders were expected to
nal and external implementation of the clearly is a role for the EU in areas of competition and industrial policy with have to deal with in upcoming meet-
2030 Agenda by the EU at the United exclusive and shared competencies. But digitalization and sustainability could ings of the European Council. So far,
Nations’ High-Level Political Forum other roles also come to mind, like sup- offer significant win-win potential. the SDGs are not among them. Secu-
(HLPF) in 2019, as per the current porting, coordinating, and supplement- rity, migration, and trade were placed
schedule. In contrast, 24 EU member ing the actions of member states. Acting The best way for the EU to shape its at the top the agenda.
states (and 3 candidate countries) are on the SDGs would also help build co- future would be to prepare an overarch-
already among the slightly over 100 hesion within the EU and could provide ing EU 2030 Strategy based on the 2030 Nevertheless, the Leaders’ Agenda
countries that have presented Voluntary frameworks for EU-wide discussions Agenda and the SDGs. This is, in fact, is a living document, so there is still
National Reviews (VNR) at the HLPF. and implementation. the suggestion made in a recent paper plenty of opportunity to rise to the
Summer 2018, No.12 152 153 Adolf Kloke-LeschHorizonS Why is the EU Failing to Champion the SDGs?
Key steps for EU leaders and civil society to make the SDGs Europe’s business Lastly, at their informal meeting sched- the SDGs should be established as a key
Up to May 2019 (next European Parliament election)
uled to take place in Sibiu, Romania, in criterion for the selection of the next
Include the SDGs as an overarching narrative in the campaign platforms of political parties May 2019, EU leaders should ensure that President of the European Commission.
Engage political parties and candidates for the European Parliament on the SDGs the SDGs are given pride of place in their
Establish commitment to the SDGs as a key criterion for the selection of the next President of the next work program: the Strategic Agenda Budgeting for the SDGs
T
European Commission 2019-2024 (to be adopted by the Euro- he EU budget is a strong tool to
18-19 October 2018 (European Council) pean Council in June 2019). In particular, support European policies across
Call on EU citizens, business, and political parties to embrace the SDGs as Europe’s future the Strategic Agenda should endorse the its member states and worldwide. Al-
13-14 December 2018 (European Council) proposal for an EU 2030 though accounting for
Set ambitious guidelines for integrating and operationalizing the SDGs across the next Strategy for a Sustainable Europe’s leaders only roughly 1 percent
Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF; 2021-2027) Europe. who celebrate the of the EU’s GNI—still
21-22 March 2019 (European Council) universal nature of (too) modest in size—its
Endorse the first report on the internal and external implementation of the 2030 Agenda by the
EU at the High Level Political Forum in 2019
9 May 2019 (Informal meeting of the European Council, Sibiu, Romania)
W ith the next
European
Parliament election fast
the 2030 Agenda
at international
expenditures amount
to 10 percent of overall
public spending in many
Identify key steps to operationalize the SDGs in the Strategic Agenda 2019-2024 and call for an conferences should
approaching, the EU has member states. Fur-
EU 2030 Strategy for a Sustainable Europe to be adopted by year’s end 2020
entered a transitional no longer hesitate to thermore, the programs
Source: Author’s own table
23-26 May 2019 (European Parliament election)
period that will end only do so boldly at party funded by the EU budget
20-21 June 2019 (European Council) in autumn 2019 with the conferences and on set standards and lever-
Ensure that the SDGs are integrated into the next Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF)
formation of the next the campaign trail. age additional funds for
Adopt a Strategic Agenda 2019-2024 that includes a call for an EU 2030 Strategy for a Sustainable
Europe Commission. This period these ambitions.
Identify a next President of the European Commission who is highly committed to the SDGs must not lead to further gridlock in
the context of implementing the SDGs. In May 2018, the Commission present-
Table 2: Key Steps to Make the SDGs Europe’s Business Instead, the parliamentary election and ed its proposal for the next Multi-annual
ensuing nomination of the next Presi- Financial Framework (MFF) covering
level of the SDGs’ ambition in the way for the achievement of the SDGs dent of the Commission should be used the years 2021–2027. Answering wheth-
time ahead. It is fortunate that the in and by the EU. In December 2018, to promote the SDGs as an integral part er the proposed sum of €1.2 trillion will
Leaders’ Agenda already includes two they will need to set ambitious guide- of the narrative for Europe’s future. work as a powerful catalyst towards the
topics that are particularly critical to lines to integrate and operationalize SDGs will significantly affect the fate of
achieving the SDGs in the EU and
beyond: the Multiannual Financial
Framework 2021–2027 (MFF) and the
the SDGs across the next MFF.
In addition, in March 2019 the Eu-
I t must be underlined that Europe’s
leaders who celebrate the universal
nature of the 2030 Agenda at interna-
the SDGs in Europe and beyond. Unfor-
tunately, it appears that the Commission
has shied away from this opportunity.
European Council’s Strategic Agenda ropean Council could show its com- tional conferences should no longer
2019–2024. mitment by endorsing the first EU
report on the internal and external
hesitate to do so boldly at party confer-
ences and on the campaign trail. Civil A lthough the proposal invokes
prosperity, sustainability, solidar-
E U leaders should embrace such
opportunities and take substan-
tial directional decisions to pave the
implementation of the 2030 Agenda
by the EU, to be presented at the
HLPF in July 2019.
society should engage political parties
and candidates on the SDGs. In par-
ticular, fundamental commitment to
ity, and security as its guiding princi-
ples, the draft’s language on the SDGs
seems to have been deliberately toned
Summer 2018, No.12 154 155 Adolf Kloke-LeschHorizonS Why is the EU Failing to Champion the SDGs?
down. It is fine to state that the invest- next MFF can support the implemen- Balkan candidate states have embraced societal support, and link the accession
ments lined out in the MFF ought to tation of the 2030 Agenda.” the SDGs and accession to the EU as process to citizens’ daily concerns.
“hold the key to Europe’s future pros- mutually reinforcing agendas. Pursuing
perity and its leadership on the global
Sustainable Development Goals.” But
It is only in a footnote that the MFF
proposal refers to the Reflection Paper
unless both objectives are linked to each “Towards a Sustainable Europe by 2030”
the 2030 Agenda interacts both with
the EU integration process and regional
cooperation.
U nder the next MFF, a total of
€12.8 billion is proposed for
the Instrument for Pre-Accession As-
other and subsequently broken down that needs to be adopted by the Commis- sistance. It should be
by the individual pro- sion at the end of 2018. At a side event of the The EU has in designed to assist can-
grams, the rhetoric will Fundamental This footnote does not HLPF 2018 featuring of- no way linked its didate countries and
ring hollow in practice. commitment to even indicate any process ficials from these states, Western Balkan potential candidates
Indeed, simply using the the SDGs should of how the findings could UNDP Administrator enlargement policy in linking their paths
word “sustainability” be established as be integrated into the Achim Steiner noted
to the 2030 Agenda. to both fulfillment of
multiple times on many a key criterion for MFF. The Commission that “the language of the accession criteria
pages does not meet the would be well advised to SDGs can help illustrate The recent April 2018 and achievement of the
the selection of
ambition of the SDGs. present its Reflection Pa- to citizens the benefits Communication on SDGs. This should be
the next President
of the European per well before December of EU membership in the EU Enlargement even more self-evident
It is particularly de- 2018, when the European terms that are relevant Policy does not even as these states (still
plorable that the speci- Commission. Council is due to discuss to everyday life—clean classified as developing
mention the SDGs.
fied results-oriented recommendations progress achieved on the MFF. water, renewable energy, countries) have a special
on the MFF, presented in March 2018 quality healthcare, fairness in govern- track-record on translating the Millen-
in an advisory report by the Commis- It would make a huge difference if, ance, and leaving no one behind.” nium Development Goals (MDGs) into
sion’s Multi-Stakeholder Platform on for instance, the European Regional national strategies that they are now
the Implementation of the SDGs in the Development and the Cohesion Funds Regrettably, it also became clear during building on while pursuing the SDGs.
EU, went largely unheeded. The plat- (€242 billion proposed for 2021-2017), the side event that the EU has in no way
form described the MFF as a unique the European Social Fund (€90 billion), linked its Western Balkan enlargement Perhaps the SDGs will prove to be a
opportunity amounting to a “make or and the Agricultural and Rural Devel- policy to the 2030 Agenda. The recent two-way-bridge between the EU and
break [point] in regard to the imple- opment Funds (€324 billion) were used April 2018 Communication on the the candidates—something from which
mentation of the SDGs in the EU.” for the achievement of the SDGs in all EU Enlargement Policy does not even the EU and its actual member states can
EU member states. This could also help mention the SDGs. While the SDGs draw adequate lessons.
H owever, the Commission is not the many bottom-up SDG initiatives at
the sole actor to be blamed regional and city levels and promote the
should not dilute the EU’s acquis under
the many chapters of accession negotia- Transforming Our World
for such a failure. This is the price
for a lack of political leadership over
the three years since the adoption
SDGs among EU citizens as a guiding
constellation for Europe’s future.
tions, it should be evident that the SDGs
themselves are becoming part of the EU’s
acquis, raising the ambitions of both
A ccounting for six percent of the
global population and 22 percent
of global GDP, the EU is the world’s sec-
of the 2030 Agenda. The Council’s Two-Way Bridge member states and candidate countries. ond largest trading power and its third
conclusion of June 2017 merely asked
the Commission “to assess how the
programs and instruments within the the
W SDGs
hile the EU is still struggling
with thoroughly mainstreaming
across its policies, Western
Looking at the chapters through the
lens of the SDGs could help identify
biggest greenhouse gas emitter. While
the combined military expenditure of
areas that need more attention, mobilize the EU member states is still second
Summer 2018, No.12 156 157 Adolf Kloke-LeschHorizonS Why is the EU Failing to Champion the SDGs?
only to the United States, the Union and Against this backdrop, the first two Judged against the SDGs, all countries order to prioritize and design future
its member states collectively provide reports on Implementing the Global are developing countries. Therefore, partnerships, the EU should focus on
57 percent of global Official Develop- Strategy placed even more importance the EU needs a new and different, truly countries and regions where transfor-
ment Assistance (ODA) and therefore on “closer-than-ever” cooperation with universal concept of international co- mative change is particularly necessary
easily outpace any other global actor. the United Nations (2017) whilst main- operation for sustainable development and mutually beneficial. So far, the
taining that the EU “is playing a leading that addresses all types of entities, rich Global Strategy has not yet translated
Nonetheless, despite a few success sto- role in driving forward and upholding and poor alike. the SDGs into an op-
ries, the EU sails below its potential. The global agreements” (2018), which in- It will be critical for erationalized agenda
G
Global Strategy for the cludes the 2030 Agenda lobal leadership the EU to review that would inform its
European Union’s For- The SDGs in and the Paris Climate and influence are and reassess all of its “cooperative regional
eign and Security Policy their entirety are Agreement. This can be best exerted if actors foreign affairs and orders” policy towards
(2016) aims to make of geopolitical seen as part of a slow but shape their international partnerships through countries and regions as
better use of such poten- significance. steady realization that strategies in a way which the SDG lens. varied as Russia and the
tial. The Strategy rightly Projecting European the SDGs in their en- ensures their domestic United States, China and
acknowledges that “pros- tirety are of geopolitical agendas and values, their global in- Canada, ASEAN and MERCOSUR, or
soft power by building
perity must be shared significance. terests, and the concepts and projects the EU’s neighborhood and Africa.
and requires fulfilling the on the SDGs as they sell to the world reinforce each
Sustainable Development
Goals worldwide, in-
cluding in Europe.” This
a globally shared
agenda offers huge
Projecting European
soft power by building
on the SDGs as a glob-
other. The United States did so after
World War II when it built an alliance
of liberal market economies around
T o be up to the task, the EU needs
to think big and consider a
Transformational Partnerships Initia-
potential for Europe’s
was a bold statement to role in the world. ally shared agenda offers the world. Today, China’s Belt and tive under which it would offer trans-
make just a couple of huge potential for Eu- Road Initiative can be seen in a similar formative partnership agreements to
months after the adoption of the SDGs. rope’s role in the world. However, fur- vein, linking Asia, Europe, and Africa all countries in the world, from North
When calling for a more collective ap- ther efforts at implementation will need to the Chinese development pathway. and South America to Africa, Asia,
proach and realignment of priorities so to be made to fully grasp the opportu- For Europe, preserving its values and and the Pacific. These reciprocal agree-
that they better suit all countries and nity on offer across all the EU’s regional prosperity in a peaceful world depends ments would provide frameworks for
regions, the Global Strategy even saw and bilateral cooperation arrangements. critically on achieving the SDGs, both cooperation aimed at overcoming criti-
the SDGs as an opportunity to catalyze Implementing the 2030 Agenda only inside its borders and globally. cal bottlenecks to achieving the SDGs.
greater coherence between the internal in partnership with developing coun- If underpinned by political leadership
and external dimensions of policies and tries, as rolled out in the 2017 European That is why it will be critical for the and the involvement of business, civil
across financial instruments. Consensus on Development docu- EU to review and reassess all of its society, and academia, the Transfor-
ment, entitled Our World, our Dignity, foreign affairs and partnerships through mational Partnerships Initiative could
T he strategic environment has
changed dramatically since the
adoption of the Global Strategy. The
our Future, is an insufficient approach
harking back to pre-2015 times and is
not in line with the new and universal
the SDG lens. This would inevitably
lead to the revaluation of existing
partnerships, crisscrossing traditional
become Europe’s geopolitical response
to increasing tensions between great
powers, particularly China and the
rules-based order and shared values concept of sustainable development and political, economic, or military ties. In United States.
have been increasingly questioned and the transformative ambition of the 2020
can no longer be taken for granted. Agenda.
Summer 2018, No.12 158 159 Adolf Kloke-LeschYou can also read
