EU Statement – UN Second informal consultation on the HLPF 2024 Ministerial Declaration

Thanks to the co-chairs. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

1. The EU and its Member States look forward to continued constructive engagement on this important edition of the HLPF, with a first ministerial declaration following the SDG Summit, and in the lead up to Summit of the Future. We see this as a chance to underline our commitment to following-up on the SDG Summit Political Declaration and accelerating our implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

1. We thanks the co-facilitators for the elements paper shared following the first informal consultation in advance of the zero-draft of the ministerial declaration. We also welcome the proposal, based on views expressed in the first informal, that the declaration should be concise, focused as appropriate on the SDGs under review and action-oriented, in particular on SDG Summit follow-up.

1. The EU and its Member States see the elements paper as generally positive and well-balanced, reflecting written submissions since the first consultation, in particular as regards structure and broader aspects.

1. We welcome the inclusion of key elements proposed by the EU in this regard, notably:
   1. recalling attachment to the 2030 Agenda and accelerating its implementation, acknowledging serious setbacks;
   2. drawing attention to key cross-cutting issues including gender equality and a human-rights based approach;
   3. reference to the Summit of the Future process, reliable data, adequate funding and science-policy interface;
   4. reflecting key levers to achieving the SDGs, such as digital transitions, with due attention to policy coherence for sustainable development;
   5. underlining the role of VNRs and the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement, noting the added value of local and regional reviews.

1. The EU and its Member States remain attentive to key cross-cutting issues for sustainable development, in particular the promotion of gender equality and a human rights-based approach. We are equally committed to enhancing policy coherence for sustainable development across internal and external policies, with attention to the interlinkages between the SDGs.

1. Among cross-cutting issues, the EU would also propose including a reference to strong national ownership and SDG localisation, which can open opportunities for review of territorial priorities and needs, strengthening local development dynamics, and education as a cross-cutting priority action. We should note the potential of green and digital transitions, including through partnership with the private sector. We feel fragile contexts should also be included alongside important references to countries in special situations.

1. We would further welcome inclusion of paragraph on SDGs under review last year but not addressed in the absence of a Ministerial Declaration for 2023.

1. As regards the elements on the SDGs under in-depth review by the HLPF this year:

1. On SDG 1, key elements are well reflected, including on the centrality of poverty eradication to the 2030 Agenda, the need for stronger social protection systems, groups in vulnerable situations, the importance of job creation and trade along with tacking inequalities. We would welcome further reference green and digital transitions and to decent jobs and growth.

1. We also welcome the proposed inclusion of references to strengthening multi-stakeholder partnerships and synergies, the role of innovation and rural poverty.

1. We would welcome a reference to beyond GDP, the work of the International Labour Organisation and the World Social Summit, and stronger interlinkages with the other SDGs.

1. On SDG 2, key elements are well-reflected including nutrition, resilience, non-farm employment and innovative solutions.

1. The paper lack reference to all-year-round food security (target 2.1), sustainable agricultural practices, health and affordable diets, decent work in all food systems, UN Food Systems Summit outcomes and the interlinkages with other SDGs.

1. On SDG 13, some key elements are reflected including on the need to accelerate global greenhouse gas emissions reductions, adaptation, nature conservation and restoration, implementation of Global Stocktake commitments and interlinkages between climate change, biodiversity loss and poverty.

1. We see lacking from the paper however: reference to other COP28 outcomes, just transition from fossil fuels, the Paris Agreement, NDCs, the climate and (food) security nexus, water scarcity and stress or the Global Biodiversity Framework.

1. The EU would also propose a chapeau element noting that the worsening climate crisis endangers the achievement not just of SDG 13 but all SDGs.

1. On SDG 16, under which no target is currently on track, some key elements are reflected including on rule of law and access to justice for all, inclusive, human rights-based approaches and rebuilding trust in multilateralism.

1. In an EU perspective however, the paper lacks reference to people in vulnerable situations including IDPs, refugees and migrants, inclusive decision-making processes, the Agendas on Women Peace and Security, Youth Peace and Security or Children and Armed Conflict, information systems and tackling all forms of violence. We would also recall that development requires peace, and peace requires sustainable development.

1. On SDG 17, we welcome the reference to the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development and note elements on engagement with IFIs on concessional financing, debt and ODA.

1. We regret that the paper lacks here lacks some balance with a number of elements proposed in the EU submission, notably on broad stakeholder engagement, south-south and triangular cooperation or domestic public and private resource mobilisation.

1. We welcome the proposed elements on voluntary national reviews, which provide an opportunity for enhanced multi-governance approaches and multi-stakeholder engagement in 2030 Agenda implementation, as the EU has experienced through its own Voluntary Review last year.

We will as requested submit further comments in writing to the co-facilitators on Monday.

I thank you.

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