14 February 2014: European civil society stakeholders discussed uniting poverty eradication with environmental sustainability aims in the post-2015 development framework, at a European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) conference. The conference recommendations are contributing to a forthcoming EC communication that will be the basis for an EU position in negotiations of the post-2015 development agenda.

The EESC is a consultative body of the EU. Its conference on ‘A new global partnership: European civil society positions on the post-2015 framework’ took place from 13-14 February 2014, in Brussels, Belgium.

In opening remarks, Csaba Kőrösi, Permanent Representative of Hungary to the UN and Co-Chair of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said the world must eradicate extreme poverty within the next generation, and manage natural resources and environmental conditions for the benefit of generations to come.

Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for Environment, affirmed the role of stakeholders in ensuring an open society and ownership of the SDGs. He said the UN is moving toward a single framework and single set of global goals to tackle the challenges of poverty eradication and sustainable development together. He outlined the EU’s support for five main elements in the post-2015 framework: basic living standards; inclusive and sustainable growth; sustainable management of natural resources; equity, equality and justice; and peace and security.

Potočnik said that economic development and lifting people out of poverty will only work if everyone respects planetary boundaries. He stressed that goals should present challenges for everyone, and be universally applicable to developed and developing countries. He called the 21st century the ‘century of fragility,’ urging everyone to turn it into a ‘century of sustainability.’

The two-day meeting comprised consecutive discussion sessions on: fighting poverty and securing basic needs; drivers for inclusive development and social justice; managing natural resources and protecting the planet’s ecosystems; and governance for sustainability. The meeting concluded with discussion of a global partnership for transition to a new sustainable development model. [EESC Conference Webpage] [Conference Programme] [Webcast of Csaba Kőrösi’s Remarks] [Janez Potočnik’s Remarks]