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Last Thursday [7 July] the European Economic and Social Committee organised an event on the “Next steps for a sustainable European future” focusing on the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the European Union.

Adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2015, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (successor of the Millennium Development Goals) is a comprehensive agenda featuring 17 objectives (the 17 SDGs) that United Nations Member States have committed to achieve by 2030. In comparison with the Millennium Development Goals, which were narrower and essentially targeted at developing countries, the SDGs are more encompassing. They cover, to cite a few areas, economic and social issues, such as the fight against poverty and inequalities, the promotion of quality education, decent jobs and access to healthcare for everyone, as well as environmental challenges including climate change and the improvement of the quality of water.

The universal character of the SDGs is of primary importance to us, since it means that they will require concrete actions from all countries, including EU Member States. In this context, it is crucial to insist on some key elements that should be kept in mind when designing and implementing a sustainable development strategy at European level.

With the emergence of new employment trends, it is more necessary than ever to underline the importance of promoting an inclusive and job-rich form of growth that provides decent jobs and wages for those able to work. Access to education and effective skills support are key in this regard. A comprehensive universal social protection floor should also be provided to make sure that those unable to work, either temporarily or permanently, are not left behind. Such a protection floor should include adequate unemployment benefits and minimum income schemes, and ensure universal access to adequate and affordable essential services (such as education, housing and social services).

In the broader framework of the SDGs, it’s important to underline that our recommendations in no way contradict the environmental objectives; quite the opposite, since our current economic model has had a damaging impact on both our environment and our social systems.

To deal with these huge challenges we need policy coherence. In recent years, the priority at EU level was given to macroeconomic objectives, with a specific focus on fiscal consolidation. This has led to cuts in public expenditure with detrimental consequences on social security systems, and has prevented Member States from investing in ambitious actions to preserve our environment. This is why Social Platform, together with 70 organisations that are part of SDG Watch Europe, insists on the need to break the silo approach that it still prevalent within the European Commission. As stated in an open letter sent to President of the Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, we need an overarching approach “which puts the well-being of people and planet at its core, with economic and financial systems to support them”.

We will follow closely the design, monitoring and delivery of the actions taken with regards to the SDGs at European level, and ensure that these considerations are taken into account.