The SDGs beyond 2030

Practical information

1. Composition of the study group
2. Administrator / Assistant in charge: Nicolas Stenger / Luca Pitrone
3. Contact

Background

The 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a common framework for addressing the triple planetary crisis, improving people’s lives, reducing inequalities and strengthening shared prosperity. The EU has committed to achieving the SDGs through major initiatives including the European Green Deal and the European Pillar of Social Rights. However, recent assessments show that progress remains insufficient, with most SDG targets off track both globally and within the EU.

At the same time, the geopolitical context has become increasingly challenging for sustainable development. Political support for the SDGs is being challenged, while inequalities, environmental pressures, economic uncertainties and misinformation continue to grow. Against this backdrop, discussions on the future of the global sustainable development framework beyond 2030 are beginning to emerge and are expected to intensify in the run-up to the 2027 UN SDG Summit.

This creates a need not only to reflect on the future of the SDGs, but also to take stock of progress towards the commitments already made under the 2030 Agenda. The emergence of a post-2030 debate should not lead to a premature shift away from the current goals or postpone action on targets that remain off track.

Despite its long-standing commitment to sustainable development, the EU still lacks an overarching and coherent approach to the implementation of the SDGs. As the voice of organised civil society, the EESC is therefore well placed to contribute to this reflection and to provide a space for civil society organisations, youth and territorial actors to discuss the future of sustainable development.

This own-initiative opinion, to be adopted in early 2027, will examine lessons learned from the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the factors that have enabled or hindered progress, and the priorities and expectations for the future of the SDGs beyond 2030. It will use a foresight approach to explore possible developments and challenges for the future sustainable development agenda, while considering the role of the EU and organised civil society in shaping it.

The opinion will also contribute to the debate on the EU's role in global SDG governance and on how the EU can develop a strong, coherent and inclusive position ahead of the 2027 UN SDG Summit, ensuring that the voices of organised civil society, including youth, are reflected in discussions on the future of the global sustainable development framework.