Commission appoints members of High Level Stakeholder Platform to follow up on the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The Platform will support and advise the European Commission on delivering the Development Goals at EU level and will provide a forum for exchange of best practice at local, regional, national and EU level.

First Vice-President Frans Timmermans said today: "To build a sustainable future for Europe we need to work from the grassroots up, and use the knowledge and skills of a wide range of stakeholders. I am looking forward to working closely together with the experts in this Platform to develop the vision and the tools we need to succeed in delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals."

Vice-President Jyrki Katainen added: "Circular economy and sustainable finance are examples of the innovative European way to ensure growth and investment that do not harm our planet and our people, in all areas of the economy. The launch of the Platform is another milestone in this path. We need the experience that the Platform members bring to help us deliver results in this field."

The Platform will make an important contribution to the Commission's Reflection Paper "Towards a sustainable Europe by 2030" which was announced in the Letter of Intent on the Commission's 2018 Work Programme. This Reflection Paper on the long term follow-up of the Sustainable Development Goals will be part of the Future of Europe debate. It will also capture the follow up to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the on-going work on resilience and innovation. The Platform will be chaired by the First Vice-President of the Commission.

Background

The creation of the Platform was announced in the Commission's Communication on next steps for a sustainable European future, adopted on 22 November 2016. The subsequent selection process, launched by the Commission on 22 May 2017 sought an inclusive and balanced stakeholder representation, including civil society, non-governmental organisations and the private and corporate sector, and covering the social, economic and environmental as well as the internal and external policy dimensions of sustainable development.

The members all have proven and relevant competence and experience, including at European level, in areas relevant to one or more of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. They have also demonstrated commitment to sustainable development. The list of members and all other relevant documents, including the agendas, the minutes and the participants' submissions, will be made available via the Commission's Register of Expert Groups.

The 17 Development Goals and their 169 associated targets are global in nature, universally applicable and interlinked. All countries, developed and developing alike, have a shared responsibility to achieve the Development Goals.

The EU's answer to the 2030 Agenda includes two work streams. The first work stream is to fully integrate the Development Goals in the European policy framework and current Commission priorities. A second track will launch reflection work on further developing our longer term vision and the focus of sectoral policies after 2020, preparing for the long term implementation of the Development Goals.

For more information

List of Stakeholder Platform Members

Commission Communication next steps for a sustainable European future

Sustainable Development Goals

Letter of Intent on the 2018 Commission Work Programme

IP/17/3922