Redoubling efforts to achieve more international commitment to the SDGs

“The 2030 Agenda needs less abstraction and more concreteness” said the Secretary General for External Relations of the Basque Government, Marian Elorza, who participated in the European Committee of the Regions plenary session held these days in Brussels. 

On this occasion, the representative of the Basque Government intervened in the debate on the application of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), together with the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, whom she has thanked for their confidence in supporting the global headquarters of the Secretariat of the Local Coalition 2030, located in the Basque Country.

Marian Elorza started her speech by ensuring that the Basque Country shares the philosophy and methodology proposed by the 2030 Agenda: «the 2030 Agenda is a roadmap to move towards a new development model, which will make compatible 3 seemingly incompatible dimensions: economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection.»

The United Nations have repeatedly invited subnational governments to «localize» the 2030 Agenda, adapting it to their respective realities. Ms Elorza mentioned the Euskadi Basque Country 2030 Agenda, and explained the Basque experience in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.

As a conclusion, and with seven years to go before 2030, the Secretary General for External Relations wanted to send three messages:

• the 2030 Agenda needs less abstraction and more concreteness from everyone
• regional and local governments must express their concern to national governments and international organisations about insufficient progress in meeting the SDGs
• it is essential to increase efforts in three directions: greater localisation, more multilevel governance and more international commitments to the SDGs.

This time, the Committee of the Regions was voting on a total of 9 opinions and one resolution. In regard to Creating an enabling environment for the social economy, the Basque Government presents 10 amendments.

Specifically, the Basque Executive encourages of the potential of social economy entities to develop and improve public services through their participation in their management.

This time, the Committee of the Regions voted a total of 9 opinions and one resolution. In order to create an enabling environment for the social economy, the Basque Government has presented 10 amendments.

Specifically, the Basque Government encouragestaking advantage of the potential of social economy organisations, by participating in the management of services to develop and improve public services.