Countries across Eastern Europe and the Balkans used the 2026 session of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) to report progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting gains since the Goals were adopted in 2015.

At the UN’s annual HLPF meeting, held in New York, US, from 7-15 July, delegates from Estonia, Albania, and Moldova presented their latest Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). While global SDG progress has stalled or, in some areas, reversed, Estonia reported significant achievements over the past decade. The country now ranks 17th worldwide in SDG implementation, with progress on health and well-being (SDG 3), education (SDG 4), and industry, innovation, and infrastructure (SDG 9), as well as strong performance on anti-corruption indicators.

Moldova highlighted progress in reducing poverty (SDG 1), advancing gender equality (SDG 5), and increasing access to clean water and sanitation (SDG 6). Albania reported improvements in data and monitoring and noted its high share of electricity generated from hydropower and other renewable sources, contributing to progress on affordable and clean energy (SDG 7).

The region continues to face significant challenges, including ageing populations, climate change, energy insecurity, and the spillover effects of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Progress on some SDGs has stalled, and some indicators have deteriorated. Even so, the overall picture for the region over the past decade remains broadly positive.

One factor behind this progress is the influence of European Union accession processes.

EU Accession and SDG Alignment

For countries that are already EU members, or are negotiating to join, EU policy frameworks, funding, and regulatory alignment can support SDG implementation. Estonia, an EU member since 2004, has received substantial EU funding and its latest VNR references the EU more than 200 times, underscoring the role of EU policies in national sustainable development efforts.

The relationship is also visible among countries that are not yet EU members but are negotiating accession.

The connection stems from the overlap between EU accession requirements and the SDGs. Compliance with EU standards can advance priorities reflected in the Goals, particularly on effective, accountable institutions (SDG 16), reduced inequalities (SDG 10), environmental protection, and social inclusion.

Countries currently negotiating with the EU therefore often emphasize accession in their VNRs. Moldova’s latest VNR, for example, highlights the complementarity between the SDGs and the accession agenda. Albania’s VNR also repeatedly references EU accession and its links to SDG implementation.

These examples are consistent with reporting from other EU candidate and potential candidate countries. Montenegro’s 2022 VNR dedicates a chapter to EU accession. North Macedonia’s 2020 VNR describes the SDGs and the EU accession agenda as “mutually reinforcing processes.” Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 2023 VNR refers to “full synergy in the implementation of both agendas” and links stronger SDG implementation with progress towards EU membership.

Risks to Sustained Progress

EU accession is not a guarantee of progress across all SDGs. While advances on social protection, institutional reform, and governance are evident, Europe has recently stalled in areas such as climate action (SDG 13) and life on land (SDG 15). There are also concerns that the SDGs are becoming less prominent in European policy. In SDSN’s the Europe Sustainable Development Report 2026, Irish diplomat David Donoghue notes a shift in budgetary priorities towards defense spending, political questioning of sustainability objectives, and a “failure to maintain the prominence previously assigned to the SDGs within EU policy-making.”

These concerns point to the need to sustain the SDGs within EU enlargement and policy processes. EU engagement and enlargement have supported reforms in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, but maintaining progress will require continued attention to sustainability, social inclusion, and environmental goals through 2030.

Keeping the SDGs visible in accession negotiations and EU policy debates will be important if the region is to consolidate gains made over the past decade.

Chris Spence is an associate of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and writes regularly about the UN, sustainable development, and climate change.