HLPF Side Event: Parliaments as drivers of SDG 17: Strengthening Democratic Partnerships for Sustainable Development

    Parliaments as Drivers of SDG 17: Strengthening Democratic Partnerships for Sustainable Development

Wednesday, 23 July 2025

Timing: 11:00-12:15

Venue: EU Delegation to the United Nations, 666 Third Avenue (31^st floor)

Background

As we cross the halfway mark toward 2030, progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains critically off track. Persistent global crises, including armed conflicts, climate change, growing inequalities, and unsustainable debt levels, are eroding hard-won development gains and exacerbating vulnerabilities.

The 2025 High-level Political Forum (HLPF), under the theme “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind,” will review progress on SDGs 3, 5, 8, 14, and 17. These goals highlight the importance of inclusive governance, resilient institutions, and cross-sectoral partnerships, areas where legislative action and parliamentary oversight are pivotal.

In particular, SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) is a key enabler for all SDGs. Yet, national parliaments, including regional parliamentary assemblies like the European Parliament are often overlooked partners in international development cooperation and SDG implementation processes.

This side event will explore how parliaments can act as drivers of partnerships, coherence, and accountability to accelerate the SDGs. With their unique mandate as elected representatives of the people, parliaments can be game-changers in translating global commitments into tangible national actions.

As institutions that bridge citizens and state institutions, parliaments are well-positioned to integrate sustainable development priorities into planning, budgeting, implementation and oversight. Through legislative scrutiny and budgetary control, they help ensure alignment with national SDG strategies and foster policy coherence.

UNGA resolution 77/159 from December 2022 recognised the essential role of parliaments at all levels of government when it comes to achieving the SDGs: through enacting legislation, adopting budgets and ensuring accountability. Their soft power should not be underestimated either: parliaments are a forum for discussion and input, bringing together state actors, citizens (including, inter alia, youth, women, older persons, or indigenous peoples), the private sector, non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations, and religious, sexual, ethnic and other minorities. 

Objectives 

This side event aims to deepen the recognition of parliaments as key actors in the delivery of the 2030 Agenda, with a particular focus on SDG 17. Through interactive exchanges and multi-stakeholder dialogue, the event will:

• Reaffirm the role of parliaments as active development actors who shape, scrutinize, and monitor national and international efforts to achieve the SDGs;

• Showcase innovative partnerships between parliaments, civil society, the UN system, and development actors that contribute to more inclusive and effective SDG implementation;

• Discuss the role of parliamentary diplomacy, oversight, and budgetary powers in promoting policy coherence for sustainable development;

Key Topics

The discussions will focus on the following main areas:

• How can parliaments promote policy coherence for sustainable development by aligning legislation and budgets with SDG 17, and ensuring coordinated, whole-of-government approaches to implementing the 2030 Agenda?

• How can parliamentary diplomacy contribute to more effective global partnerships, particularly between the European Parliament and parliaments in the Global South?

• What role do parliaments play in ensuring transparency and accountability in development, climate, and crisis financing and how can this improve the impact of international development cooperation?

• How can parliaments bridge the gap between political institutions and civil society and streamline efforts?

Guiding questions

• What institutional mechanisms and partnerships are needed to strengthen the role of parliaments in promoting policy coherence for sustainable development (PCSD)?

• In what ways can parliamentary diplomacy help build trust and solidarity between the Global North and South, especially in times of geopolitical tension and rising inequalities?

• How can parliaments enhance accountability for SDG-related spending and financing, including in areas such as climate adaptation, humanitarian response, and debt sustainability?

• How can the dialogue between parliaments and civil society be enhanced and which new platforms for dialogue can be established?

Programme

10:50 to 11:00            Arrivals

11:00 to 12:15            Parliaments as drivers of SDG 17: Strengthening democratic partnerships for sustainable development

Opening remarks by Robert Biedroń, Member of European Parliament, Co-Chair of the European Parliament Delegation to the HLPF, Co-Rapporteur of the EP Resolution on SDG Implementation 

Panellists: 

• Dr. Tulia Ackson, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania 
• Nikolas Farantouris, Member of the European Parliament, Co-Rapporteur of the EP Resolution on SDG Implementation
• Valentina Bodrug, Women’s Major Group Organizing Partner for Europe and Central Asia
• Rilli Lappalainen, President of CONCORD Europe 

Closing remarks by Ingeborg Ter Laak, Member of European Parliament, Co-Chair of the European Parliament Delegation to the HLPF 

12:15 to 13:00           Networking lunch (standing, buffet style)