On 20 November 2019, SDSN and IEEP hosted a conference to launch the 2019 Europe Sustainable Development Report.
Together with the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), IEEP developed the first EU Index and Dashboard on SDGs, following on the footsteps of the Global SDG Index produced by SDSN annually since 2015. This work is supported by the European Environment and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils (EEAC) and the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, and developed in cooperation with the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Finnish Presidency of the Council.
It is worth noting that the report will complement the work by Eurostat, including assessing EU spillover effects in the global context. It identifies policy priorities for the European Union to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and implement the Paris Climate Agreement. It compares the performance of the EU and its 28 member states on all 17 SDGs and provides detailed country profiles using a mix of data sources. The findings come at a critical time for Europe. At the beginning of the new mandate for both the European Parliament and the European Commission, it is essential that we identify new ways to integrate the SDG objectives within the next 5-year political plan.
This conference presented the report’s findings and provided the opportunity to explore strategies for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in Europe. MEPs from across the political spectrum and SDG experts debated on this challenging topic, with reactions from civil society and public institutions.
Agenda
9:30-10.00 Welcome Coffee
10:00-10:10 Welcome by the Chair, MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen
10:10-10.20 Presentation of the Report by Guillaume Lafortune, SDSN
10:20-10.35 Comments on the report by Céline Charveriat, IEEP
10.35-11.15 Debate among MEPs including Pierre Larrouturou and Heidi Hautala
11.15-11.35 Response to the debate by experts
11.35-11.55 Debate open to audience
11:55-12:00 Conclusion remarks by the Chair, MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen
12:00 Closing of the meeting
