EESC Contribution to the EU-level Voluntary Review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda

Following the Commission's commitment and decision to undertake the first ever EU-level Voluntary Review (VR) of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, which will be presented at the High-Level Political Forum in 2023, the EESC has been tasked to provide the views of civil society through an "SDG by SDG" analysis, assessing the achievements and challenges of the EU policies to attain each of the Goals.

Civil society's involvement in the preparation of the VR is essential, as the transformation to sustainability will only be successful if it is based on broad support and active participation by all parts of society. Leaving no one behind also entails re-empowering as many people as possible to actively take part in the transition process.

To prepare its contribution, the EESC has compiled the key messages from a large number of its adopted opinions across policy areas, consulted the former Members of the Multi-Stakeholder Platform on the SDGs and collected views on the EU’s internal and external implementation of the SDGs through an online consultation of civil society organisations.

The following main overarching messages have emerged from the consultation:

1. Need for a comprehensive strategy on the SDGs;
2. Need to go beyond an "SDG by SDG" approach;
3. Need for structured and meaningful engagement of civil society.

On the 23^rd of January 2023, the EESC Bureau has adopted the "EESC Contribution to the EU-level Voluntary Review (VR) of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda", which can be downloaded below.

The EESC stands ready to contribute further to the EU VR and overall efforts to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs as the compass and vision of the future we want.