16 April 2015: Participants discussed the latest Communication by the European Commission (EC) on the post-2015 development agenda, at an event organized by the European Economic and Social Committee’s Sustainable Development Observatory. The Communication outlines the EC’s views on the overarching principles and main components for supporting and implementing the post-2015 development agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Communication, released in February 2015 and titled ‘A Global Partnership for Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development after 2015,’ identifies key components and means of implementation (MOI) for a global partnership: an enabling and conductive policy environment, including good governance at all levels; capacity development to deliver the agenda, including capacity to assess needs, collect data, monitor implementation and review strategies; mobilization and effective use of domestic public finance and of international public finance; trade to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable development, including support to facilitate the integration of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) into the global trading system; transformative change through science, technology and innovation; mobilization of the domestic and international private sector; harnessing the positive effects of migration; and monitoring, accountability and review.
The Communication also identifies the following as key components of an enabling policy environment: sustainable, inclusive growth, economic instruments (fiscal incentives, payments for ecosystem services (PES)), carbon pricing, sustainable public procurement, policy coherence and elimination of harmful subsides.
On financing, the EC strongly supports the official development assistance (ODA) target, and calls for upper middle-income countries and emerging economies to commit to increasing their contributions to public financing, including through specific targets and timelines.
On monitoring, accountability and review, the Communication states that this framework should be underpinned by principles of efficiency, effectiveness, inclusiveness, responsiveness and transparency, and should cover all aspects of the SDGs, their implementation and financing. It recommends that the High-kevel Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) play a key oversight role and facilitate a review of progress and best practices.
Participants at the event on 14 April 2015, in Brussels, Belgium, recognized a paradigm shift from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the SDGs, observing that the SDGs are likely to incorporate concepts such as human rights, the rule of law and democracy. Participants also highlighted limitations of the Communication, including the absence of discussion on progressive tax reforms. Others expressed concern about how to ensure mutual accountability.
“If we cannot commit to meaningful action on the environment, we should stop talking about eradicating poverty,” said Kitty van der Heijden, World Resources Institute (WRI). She urged systematic changes in global infrastructure investment to avoid “climate catastrophe,” and cautioned against postponing action until after 2015.
The Communication builds on earlier EU contributions to the post-2015 process, including a first Communication in February 2013 and a second Communication in June 2014. The Communication will inform EU positions for the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD 3), the Post-2015 Summit and the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). [EU Press Release] [UNRIC Press Release] [Publication: A Global Partnership for Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development after 2015] [IISD RS Story on First Communication] [IISD RS Story on Second Communication] [Event Website]