EU Statement - UNECE Regional Forum for Sustainable Development - High level opening segment
UNECE Regional Forum for Sustainable Development
High level opening segment
2 April 2025
EU statement
The European Union (EU) and its Member States strongly support the full implementation of the ambitious, accelerated, just and transformative actions to reinvigorate the multilateral system, rebuild trust and implement the 2030 Agenda, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while leaving no one behind.
However, there can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its repercussions for European and global security in a changing environment constitute an existential challenge for the European Union.
SDG3 – health
Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all is a major priority for the EU. The EU Global Health Strategy addresses issues such as equitable access to universal health coverage, disease prevention, water, sanitation and hygiene, pollution and promoting healthy and sustainable lifestyles. The EU remains committed to the promotion, protection and fulfilment of all human rights and to the full and effective implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the Programme of Action of the ICPD and the outcomes of their review conferences and remains committed to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), in this context.
SDG 5 – gender equality
Gender equality, the empowerment of all women and girls, and their full and equal enjoyment of human rights are core values of the EU, and key principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights. It is a catalyst for establishing peaceful, more equitable, productive, inclusive and resilient societies that harness human potential and sustainable development, which is instrumental to achieving all SDGs. In this regard, the European Commission has adopted an EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025, and an EU Gender Action Plan (GAP) III “An Ambitious Agenda for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in EU External Action” 2021-2025”, welcomed through Presidency Conclusions by 24 Member States.
SDG 8 – decent work
Employment and decent work are at the core of sustainable growth and the well-being of individuals.
Investing in people and decent work goes hand in hand with increasing their productivity and reducing inequalities in the labour market, particularly among youth, older workers, women, persons with disabilities, and persons in vulnerable situations so as to leave no one behind.
An open, rules-based trading system is a cornerstone for inclusive economic development. Shifting towards responsible production and consumption models, reducing resource depletion, and creating resilient economic systems can benefit society as a whole.
SDG 14 – oceans
A healthy and climate-resilient ocean and its sustainable use and conservation, including marine resources, is critical to fully achieving the 2030 Agenda. It is important to strengthen the support for the sustainable blue economy, marine biodiversity, and the resilience of coastal communities.
In this regard, the EU and its Member States welcome the 2025 UN Ocean Conference (Nice, France) and call for the swift ratification and entry into force of the Agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction
SDG 17 – partnerships
Public and private financial flows should be better aligned with the SDGs, including through innovative financial instruments. We look forward to the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, to be held in Seville from 30 June to 3 July 2025, which will be an important step towards putting in place a renewed global financing framework for sustainable development.