EESC Brings Civil Society Voice to HLPF 2025: Strong Call for EU Leadership and Inclusive Global Action

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has actively participated in the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (#HLPF2025), held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. This year’s forum, focusing on advancing sustainable, inclusive, and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda, brought together global leaders, institutions, and civil society at a crucial midpoint for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A Strong Message for EU Leadership

Representing organised civil society from across Europe, the EESC delegation, led by President Oliver Röpke, used the forum to underscore the EU’s responsibility to reaffirm its global leadership on sustainable development. The EESC reiterated that SDG 8 on decent work and inclusive economic growth is a key driver for all other goals and called for a renewed push for structured civil society participation, a new social contract, and stronger financing frameworks to close the SDG funding gap.

The EESC highlighted concerns about the declining visibility of the 2030 Agenda, both at EU and global levels, stressing that multilateral cooperation and civic space must remain at the heart of international action.

Meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres

A key moment of the EESC’s mission was the meeting between President Oliver Röpke and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, where discussions focused on how to accelerate SDG implementation and protect civic space worldwide. The EESC expressed its strong alignment with the Secretary-General’s commitment to multilateralism, a rules-based international order, and international law, emphasizing that these principles underpin both the EU’s and the EESC’s approach to sustainable development.

The meeting was also an opportunity to address shared concerns about the global rise in informal work and the exclusion of over 2 billion people from decent jobs, an issue central to this year’s HLPF theme, which prominently features SDG 8.

Strategic Meetings and Engagements

Throughout the forum, the EESC delegation engaged in high-level exchanges, including:

• A meeting with EU Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis to discuss EU priorities on sustainable development and structured civil society engagement.
• Coordination with the European Parliament delegation and trade union representatives (ITUC) on advancing decent work and the social dimension of the SDGs.
• Participation in the High-Level Dialogue on Adequate Housing for All, chaired by ECOSOC President Bob Rae, highlighting housing as a fundamental right and a driver of social cohesion.
• A session with youth representatives and advocates on strengthening youth participation in SDG implementation and ensuring young voices are central to shaping future policies.
• A joint presidential declaration with UN Women Executive Director Sima Sami Bahous, reaffirming the commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls as a cornerstone of the 2030 Agenda.

Looking Ahead

The EESC delegation emphasised that with only five years left until 2030, accelerating SDG delivery requires not just renewed political will but also systemic reforms, innovative financing tools, and real inclusion of civil society. Building on the lessons of the Seville FfD4 Conference, the EESC will continue to advocate for fair global partnerships, just transitions, and participatory governance.

President Röpke stressd that: “The 2030 Agenda must remain a political priority. The time for action is now to ensure no one is left behind.”