EESC Sustainable Development Strategies – from Design to Monitoring: Civil Society's Role - 30/11/2018, Brussels
2018-11-30 09:00 - 12:00 UTC
The EESC continues to advocate for integrating the SDGs fully and urgently into the European policy framework by setting out a vision for a sustainable Europe by 2030 and beyond. However, achieving sustainable development can only become a reality if all actors take collective action and pull in the same direction. New governance mechanisms are therefore needed to embed participation and engagement by civil society into the design and implementing processes.
The SDGs can be implemented both:

as top-down goals, with governments and institutions providing the driving force, and
as bottom-up initiatives by non-state actors and civil society.

As a representative voice for civil society at a European level, the EESC is ideally placed to support both.
During the event the EESC will:

explore civil society’s role in the Sustainable Development Strategies;
present several national strategies and processes involving civil society actors.

The event will also give particular attention to the monitoring of the progress on SDGs, both at the national and EU level by debating the SDG indicators and potential for their improvement.
A programme and the online registration form are available on our website. Registrations will close on 27 November 2018 at 18:00. Please note that places are limited. If you have registered but are no longer able to attend, please email the SDO team.

Facilitating Committee as a governing body of the UNECE RCEM
2018-11-30
We, CSOs from UNECE region, have started our work to strengthen our cooperation as one CSO platforms in UNECE region since 2016. In June 2018, a Concept Note and RCEM action plan for the Regional Civil Society Engagement Mechanism (RCEM) was approved after long discussions in the platform.
We are currently in the phase of setting up our Facilitating Committee as a governing body of the UNECE RCEM and are looking for 22 representatives – one representative from each of the thematic and sub-regional constituency groups. As members of the temporary task force to prepare for setting up governing body, we are therefore reaching out to you to nominate a member of your constituency from our region (deadline 30 November).
We recognize our own institutional challenges in selection/election process of our governing body – a facilitating committee. Some constituencies are ready to nominate because they have good regional coverage and governance process for nominating. Some constituencies are either not well involved in the RCEM and or have only few countries in their membership, and have not yet governance process for nominating. In order to provide space for CSOs from our wide region that are not engaged in SDG processes and UNECE RCEM and not to leave them behind we suggest a two-step process for this:

during coming month, identify and nominate constituency representatives – for established constituencies with wide coverage of our countries and with working governance process – deadline 30 November
during several months – mobilize and prepare not yet ready constituencies to send their nominations to the FC. For the new FC – to assist other constituencies in this process– for them to send their representatives – no deadline- so anytime when they have process they will join

Facilitating Committee:
1 representative (and alternate) from each constituency and sub-region
14 constituencies + 8 sub-regions= 22 members of the Facilitating Committee
Women, children and youth, indigenous peoples, NGOs, workers and trade Unions, scientific and technological community, small-scale food producers, persons with disability, diaspora/migrants, LGBTIQ, urban poor, older persons, small and medium enterprises, civil society FfD group in:

Baltic Sea
Black Sea
Caspian Sea
Caucasus
Central Asia
Eastern Europe
Mediterranean/South Eastern Europe
USA, Canada, Israel

The roles of the facilitating committee are formulated in the Concept.
What we need from you

A copy of your governance structure
You will follow your own governance structure and nominate a member of your constituency from our region to take on this role (deadline: 30 November)

Timeline

deadline for nominations – 30 November
announce facilitation committee – 10 December
26 October: finish draft invitation to constituency groups
29 October: send to constituency groups
30 November: deadline for constituency groups to send us their governance structure & name of regional representative
5-7 December: announce the facilitation committee
Dec-Feb: the facilitating committee must reach out to constituencies that are not yet recognised constituency groups (thematic and sub-regional), and facilitate their engagement as well as appointment
For the new FC – to assist other constituencies – for them to send their representatives – no deadline – anytime when they have process they will join

Please feel free to contact nurguldj@gmail.com if you have any queries regarding the process. The temporary facilitating committee will try and answer them as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely,
Temporary task force preparing the setting up of a governing body of the UNECE RCEM

Progressive Caucus big event 27.11.2018 (17pm European Parl. ASP 1G2)
2018-11-27 17:00 - 19:00
Until tomorrow (23/11), you have a chance to register for Progressive Caucus’s big event on the 27th Nov. at 17.00 in the European Parliament (ASP 1G2).
*For external participation at our event, please send us by the 23rd of November 2018 your personal and contact information (name, surname, date of birth, nationality, type and number of ID document) at:progressivecaucusep@gmail.com
All of us will meet in front of the main entrance of the European Parliament (Esplanade) at 16.30. You will recognize us by the poster of the event, which we will be holding.
The event starts at 17.00, so make sure to be there please at 16.30 so as to proceed with your entrance to the building.
You can see here all info on our s/m
https://www.facebook.com/events/1797346297054587/
https://twitter.com/Pro_Caucus_EP/status/1064401283505885184
https://www.facebook.com/ProgressivecaucusEP/photos/a.433018907067354/712683235767585/?type=3&theater
http://www.progressivecaucus.eu/big-upcoming-event-european-integration-front-new-challenges/

Systemic Change or Technological Solutions? Climate change mitigation under the new CAP
2018-11-21 15:00 - 18:00
The EEB, together with BirdLife Europe would like to invite you to an event discussing Climate Change mitigation under the new CAP.
Agriculture is not just one of the first victims of Climate Change, but also the source of 10% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions. If we are seriously committed to halting global warming at 1.5 °C it is obvious that emissions from agriculture need to be reduced, while sinks should be increased.
The new CAP presents an opportunity to support sustainable climate mitigation measures.
This event will:

Bring together scientists to present the latest state of knowledge on different mitigation options
Feature an Oxford-style policy debate discussing the limits and opportunities presented by different approaches
Provide space for decision makers and stakeholders to exchange their views on the different mitigation options with respect to policy coherence as well as potential barriers preventing the utilization of the full mitigation potential of the agriculture sector

SAVE THE DATE: Join us on 21 November, 15:00 – 18:00 in Brussels
If you wish to receive further information about the event, including the final invitation you can leave your contact details here.
Please also forward this email to your relevant colleagues.

COP 14 on Biological Biodiversity
2018-11-17 08:00 - 2018-11-29 17:00
The UN Biodiversity Conference (14th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity – COP 14) will be held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
https://www.cbd.int/conferences/2018

Call for Proposals: ORGANISATION OF EU GREEN WEEK 2019 - OFFICIAL OPENING EVENT
2018-10-31 17:00
Call for proposals
EU Green Week is the key event in the EU environment policy calendar. This annual opportunity to debate and discuss European environmental policy attracts policymakers, leading environmentalists, stakeholders and other interested parties from across Europe and the globe. In 2019, it will take place from 13 to 17 May 2019, focusing on the implementation of EU environmental legislation, highlighting the benefit of EU environmental policies and showing their benefits for citizens. To mobilise involvement and contribution from all sectors, in addition to the high level conference in Brussels organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment, a series of events organised by partner organisations from across Europe will feature officially in the Week’s programme. The official opening has a particular prominence and plays a special role in setting the tone for debates
Applications must be submitted using the form provided on the website. The deadline for submission is 31 October at 17:00 (Brussels time).

Islas Encendidas
2018-10-18 - 2018-10-21
Future in Common SDG Watch Spain is pleased to announce the “Islas Encendidas” meeting that will take place in Malaga 19-20-21 October (more information here). It will be great if you could join us in Malaga. We already have more than 300 people from different social sectors, organizations and social movements. It will be an incredible opportunity to share knowledge and learn how to work together to build a sustainable and just society.
In case you are unable to attend, you can also take part in two short online workshops:

1st connection: Saturday, October 20, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm (GTM + 2). In English.
2nd connection: Saturday, October 20, from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm (GTM + 2). In Spanish.

We want to listen and connect with other organizations and people who are working for a model that respects and defends human dignity and the planet. We want to knock down borders, the symbolic ones, those that separate us, those that cut lives.
If you are interested in participating, please write to info@quorumglobal.org by 15 October.
On 17 October, we will send you a link for the connection and the specific issues around which we will make the exchange.

European Week of Regions and Cities: Delivering Sustainable Development Goals at regional and local level
2018-10-09 13:30 - 15:00
October 9, 2018 from 14:30 to 16:00
In 2015, UN member states adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This event will explore what sustainable development means at regional and local levels. These levels are where decision makers have to balance different dimensions of sustainability, participatory, social, economic and environmental and make sustainable development a reality. We will debate with leading regions and cities on the added-value of their work on sustainable development, how they translated it on the ground and where to start when you want to “localize SDGs”. We will also discuss how to link these efforts with progress and support at international, EU and national level and what kind of governance we need to boost implementation.
Code: 9WS73
Format: Workshops
Moderator: Bert Kuby
Speakers: Arnoldas Abramavičius, Silvia Ganzerla, Stefano Marta, Natalia Vera, Bert Janssens, Angelika Poth-Mögele, Hans Sakkers, Enric Nomdedeu i Biosca, Annika Lindblom, Tina Delva
Thematic cluster: Territorial development (regional, urban, rural)
Organisers: European Committee of the Regions – ECON Commission , Eurocities , The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR)
Languages (To be confirmed): english (en), español (es), français (fr)
Venue: Building SQUARE – Brussels Convention Centre, Room Silver hall
Registration Deadline: 28/09/2018

ACT: Your voice on Europe’s long-term climate action
2018-10-08 - 2018-10-09
It is only a few weeks since Europe has suffered from another record breaking summer of heat waves and draughts, making climate change very real for millions of Europeans. With the Paris Agreement and the SDG’s the global community has put in place the framework to act jointly on climate change and combat its impacts. To succeed we need to act urgently but also make sure that our long-term plans means we are reaching climate neutrality for our societies.
To do so, the European Commission has published a public consultation on the 2050 long-term strategy https://ec.europa.eu/clima/consultations/strategy-long-term-eu-greenhouse-gas-emissions-reductions_en
The Commission is asking for citizens and civil society views on the future of climate ambition, but also the contribution of circular economy, agriculture and land-use. The deadline for responses is 9 October 2018 and it is important to get a strong response by civil society on the urgency to act now, and bring Europe’s ambition in line with the Paris Agreement. The EEB and partner organizations are compiling a draft response that can be provided to interested organizations. Contact via Roland.joebstl@eeb.org.

SDG Implementation in European Countries - Workshop for CSOs
2018-10-07 - 2018-10-08 | Vienna

UNECE Regional Meeting on ICPD+25 CIVIL SOCIETY CONSULTATION
2018-09-30 07:30 - 17:00
Partners for change: Civil society engagement in ICPD+25 in the UNECE region
Venue: Warwick Hotel
Rue de Lausanne 14
1201 Geneva
Switzerland
Sunday, 30 September 2018
08.30 – 18.00
A civil society consultation will be held on Sunday 30 September, the day before the ICPD+25 Conference for the UN Economic Commission for Europe Region, with support from UNFPA and UNECE.
Further information will be circulated shortly about the programme and registration.
URGENT INFORMATION: Registration for organizations in consultative status with ECOSOC for the UNECE Regional Conference Enabling Choices: Population Dynamics and Sustainable Development closes on 5 September 2018.
See: http://www.unece.org/pau/icpd25
See also: http://eeca.unfpa.org/en/events/enabling-choices-population-dynamics-and-sustainable-development

“Standards for the SDGs” event by UNECE
2018-09-25 - 2018-09-26
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe is pleased to invite you to the event on “Standards for the SDGs” to be held in Geneva on 26th September 2018. Organized as a side session to the 41st ISO General Assembly, this event will be convened at the Centre International de Conference Genève (CICG) in Geneva, Switzerland.
The objective of this event is to showcase the role of standards for the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and provide a platform for policymakers to exchange experiences and foster collaboration in this area.
The Standards for the SDGs event will include four parallel breakout sessions, in which policymakers will discuss practical approaches to sustainable development for standards users. These parallel sessions will be based on the presentation of case studies, as developed and submitted by policy makers.
For those interested in attending the Standards for the SDGs event, please register at the following page: http://go.iso.org/standardsforsdgs.
We encourage you to consider submitting a case study (case study template), in which the practical application of standards to the 2030 Agenda is exhibited. The case studies we receive will be appraised by UNECE and partners. Successful applicants will be given the opportunity to present their work, as a panelist, at the event. Travel and DSA will be provided by UNECE for applicants selected to present at the event. Please see the Information Notice and event flyer for more details.
Further, we are pleased to inform you that the 26th Annual Session of the Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies (WP.6) will be held at Palais des Nation, Geneva, beginning 14th November 2018 and concluding at 6 p.m. on 16th November 2018.
The Session will follow on from the “Standards for the SDGs” event and will also discuss, and possibly adopt, two proposed recommendations on: “Standards and Regulations for Sustainable Development”; and on “Gender-Responsive Standards”.
More information on both events is available on our website.

SDG anniversary
2018-09-24 - 2018-09-25
3 years since the adoption of the SDGs – a day of global action around the SDGs

European Parliament debates on postgrowth and the SDGs
2018-09-18 07:00 - 2018-09-19 16:00
The science behind the case for postgrowth or degrowth has grown rapidly in the past decade. Members of the European Parliament from 6 political groups will now use this science to challenge European Policymakers at a major postgrowth conference on 18 and 19 September. The EEB is one of the co-organisers and the driving forcé behind two session: on Beyond GDP Growth and on Trade vs Climate.
The European Commission was co-host of the Beyond GDP conference in 2007, and produced the EU Road Map “GDP and beyond: Measuring progress in a changing world” (2009). What happened to it? What are better benchmarks than GDP and who should measure what matters? Host MEP Helmut Scholz invited co-founder of SDG-Watch Leida Rijnhout, author Christian Felber, Greek Minister for Labour Efi Achtsióglou, Patrick ten Brink, Director of EU Policy at the EEB and Joost Koorte, Director General of DG EMPL at the European Commission.
The Trade vs Climate session comes in the context of a warning cry to humanity by 20.000 scientists said that the Earth’s biosphere is on the brink of collapse. There is both an environmental and a social necessity to move beyond ever growing global trade flows that fuel both overextraction and overconsumption. If Trump starts a trade war with Europe, why not retaliate with trade tariffs based on the carbon intensity of US exports? Host MEP Kathleen van Brempt invited former UN rapporteur Olivier de Schutter, expert Fritz Hinterberger, Patrizia Heidegger, Director of Global Policies at the EEB and someone from the cabinet of Cecilia Malmström, DG TRADE at the European Commission (name to be confirmed)
You may still be able to join the conference. Registration is compulsory.
If it’s full, follow the debates at the webstream and ask questions here (code: #D387)
#PostGrowth2018

The Joint Synthesis Report – stakeholder consultation
2018-09-16 - 2018-09-17
In the European Consensus on Development, the EU and Member States committed to produce a joint synthesis report on the Consensus on Development including the impact of their actions in support of the 2030 Agenda in developing countries, as a contribution to EU reporting to the UN High Level Political Forum (HLPF), when meeting at Head-of-State level every four years.
The EU and its Member States plan to produce the Joint Synthesis Report (JSR) by Spring 2019. It is intended to summarise EU progress in supporting partner countries in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. It needs to reflect both the Agenda 2030 with its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as the universally recognised framework for action, and the European Consensus on Development, which provides the framework for a common approach to development policy for the EU and Member States. The JSR should be concise and informative. It will be based on information from existing reports and, in addition, on views and experiences from EU institutions, Member States and relevant stakeholders. This short questionnaire aims to seek your views on the EU and Member States’ actions and policies to help inform the report.
The Commission would like to receive your opinion about how well the EU is supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs in its partner countries, in line with the European Consensus on Development.
The Commission is particularly interested in your experience with the EU’s and Member States’ cooperation with partner countries, including on policies and strategies, projects and programmes funded by the EU and its Member States.
Please illustrate your replies with concrete examples, adding as much information as possible on the projects, including on funding source, partners, etc. You may add documentation or refer to online documentation.
You may consult your member organizations, but please submit only one document and keep to the maximum space provided for each question.
Questions

The European Consensus on Development aims to foster stronger, more inclusive multi-stakeholder partnerships. How would you assess the success of the EU and Member States’ cooperation with relevant stakeholders in contributing to the achievement of the SDGs through development cooperation? (max. 0.5 page)
What are your general views on how the EU and its Member States approach the 2030 Agenda as a whole in their development cooperation? Are SDGs sufficiently addressed? Are there important gaps? (max. 0.5 page)
Based on your experience, can you briefly describe up to three development projects or programmes funded by the EU and/or its Member States which you see as positive examples of how the SDGs are put into practice, and explain why they are successful, also indicating which SDG(s) are being addressed by the projects? (max. 1.5 page)
Could you highlight some areas for improvement for development projects and programmes financed by the EU and/or its Member States in terms of how they support the achievement of the SDGs in partner countries? (max. 0.5 page)
One of the objectives of the European Consensus on Development is to support the achievement of the SDGs by partner countries through an enhanced commitment to Policy Coherence for Development as an important contribution to the broader objective of Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development (PCSD). Do you believe the EU and its Member States have taken this approach into consideration in recent years and could you give some concrete examples (positive and negative)? (max. 1 page)
The European Consensus on Development underlines the need to address the interlinkages between the different SDGs through integrated actions that can create co-benefits and meet multiple objectives in a coherent way, as well as address trade-offs effectively. Do you have examples of how the EU and its Member States have been able to address such interlinkages in their development policy? (max. 1 page).
Do you have any other suggestions for content or key messages in the Joint Synthesis Report? (max 0.5 page)

Please send responses by September 17th to: DEVCO-consensus@ec.europa.eu mentioning the name of your organization and a contact person.
In case you have questions, please e-mail karen.del-biondo@ec.europa.eu.

Call for your inputs - mapping youth organisations contributions in the 2030 Agenda By European Youth Forum
2018-09-15 - 2018-09-16
Are you from a youth organisation and working on the SDGs? Help us collect best practices, map your projects & actions and together we can show the world how youth organisations are contributing to the 2030 Agenda and how young people are making a better future today.
Let us know what your organisation has been doing!
Deadline: 16 September 2018
Want to find out more about what we will do with this research? We’ve got all the details here. Still curious or interested to help? Do not hesitate to contact Youth Forum Policy Officer, Jan at jan.mayrhofer@youthforum.org or our external researcher, Claire at claire-gillette@orange.fr.

International dialogue on policy coherence for sustainable development
2018-09-13 - 2018-09-14
14 September 2018 in Brussels (Cercle de Lorraine, Place Poelaert 6)
The European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM), the Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE, German Development Institute) and Southern Voice hereby have the pleasure to invite you to an international dialogue on policy coherence for sustainable development. It will take place on 14 September 2018 in Brussels (Cercle de Lorraine, Place Poelaert 6).
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me and Fabien Tondel (ft@ecdpm.org). For questions about logistical matters, please contact Ghita Salvino (gs@ecdpm.org) and Tilly Bogataj-De Coninck (tc@ecdpm.org).

European Sustainability Award
2018-09-13 - 2018-09-14
The European Commission has launched the first ever European Sustainability Award to recognize the efforts and creativity of European people, businesses and organisations who work towards reaching the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The press announcement can be read here.
Applications can be submitted until 14 September 2018 via the following website.
The award has been developed in the framework of the Multi-Stakeholder Platform on Sustainable Development in which the SDG Watch Europe is a member.

New Webinar! Sustainable Development Goals in the UN Regions: The engagement of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities
2018-09-11 15:00 - 16:00
Tuesday, 11 September 2018
16:00 – 17:00, Belgium time
Everyone is encouraged to register!
The European Disability Forum (EDF) is delighted to announce its new webinar on Tuesday, 11 September on the Sustainable Development Goals.
Speaker and content:
Orsolya Bartha, Senior Advisor at International Disability Alliance, will be the speaker. Orsolya will provide an overview of the Sustainable Development Goals at the regional level. She will discuss which regional bodies are involved, what they do and when they meet. She will also talk about how civil society is organized and what kind of outcomes can be expected from the regional platforms.
The objective of this webinar is to stimulate the engagement of organisations of persons with disabilities and the disability movement in the five regions of the world supporting regional sustainable development, as identified by the United Nations (UN). These UN regions are the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA).
Context:
This webinar is the first of a series of webinars aiming to discuss the regional coordination mechanisms for persons with disabilities and their participation at the Regional Sustainable Development Forums. The webinars is part of the International Disability (IDA) and Department for International Development (DFID) Catalyst programme. For more information about the programme, click on the following link: EDF link to EDF Catalyst Programme.
Audience
EDF invites organisations of persons with disabilities (DPOs/OPDs) as well as the disability movement, other stakeholders and members of the public interested by this topic to join us.
Accessibility
The webinar will provide International Sign language interpretation and real-time captioning. The webinar will be recorded and shared later for those who cannot join.
Registration:
Click here to register for this webinar https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6067417816620630529 If you have any questions, please email Deirdre McBride, EDF Assistant for this project: deirdre.mcbride@edf-feph.org

Conference: "Change the European economic model, for the many: Towards a partnership for the SDGs in Europe"
2018-09-05 14:00 - 17:30
This conference will take place on 5 September from 15:00 to 18:30 in the European Parliament, Altiero Spinelli Building room A3G3. A sandwich buffet will be served from 18:30.
The purpose of the conference is to explore and share ideas and best practices among policymakers, civil society and business stakeholders on new approaches to governance for sustainable development across the European Union. It is based on the conviction that without a radical change in Europe’s governance process currently framed within the European Semester, the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the necessary transformation of Europe’s economy and society towards economic, social and environmental sustainability will remain out of reach.
If you wish to attend, please contact: s-d.progressivesociety@europarl.europa.eu

Regional consultation of Major Groups in preparation of the Fourth United Nations Environment Assembly
2018-09-02 - 2018-09-04
Place: Tallinn, Estonia Date: 3-4 September 2018
Registration deadlines:
– For those who need their travel costs covered by the organisers: 30 July 2018.
– For participants who can cover their travel costs or are based in Tallinn, registration is open until 13 August 2018. Limited number of participants can get funding to participate in this event.
Background
The fourth session of the UN Environment Assembly will take place from 11-15 March 2019, in Nairobi, Kenya, under the overarching theme “Innovative Solutions for Environmental Challenges and Sustainable Consumption and Production”. The Assembly will be preceded by a Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum, bringing together civil society organisation from around the globe.
In preparation to the Assembly, a regional pan-European Major Groups and Stakeholder Consultation will take place in Tallinn, Estonia, on 3-4 September 2018.
This consultation will allow representatives of the nine Major Groups from the pan-European region (Western and Central Europe, South Eastern Europe, Israel or Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia) to be actively engaged in the preparatory process of the Assembly, ensuring that regional views and challenges are properly identified and addressed during the Assembly.
For additional information please check the registration link.
For information about your registration, please contact: sonia.goicoechea@eeb.org

High Level Political Forum (HLPF)
2018-07-08 - 2018-07-18 | New York
The yearly UN high-level political forum on sustainable development to discuss progress on Agenda 2030 and the SDGs
It is convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council and will be held from Monday, 9 July, to Wednesday, 18 July 2018; including the three-day ministerial meeting of the forum from Monday, 16 July, to Wednesday, 18 July 2018.

European Anti-Poverty Network’s 2018 annual conference "Social Protection for All! How can the Social Pillar and SDGs build stronger welfare states?" - 5 July
2018-07-05 07:00 - 11:00
EAPN will be holding its annual conference on 5 July from 9:00 – 13:00, at the Crowne Plaza, rue Gineste 3, 1210 Brussels
Access to Social Protection and social inclusion is the third chapter of the European Pillar of Social Rights, with social protection specifically quoted in principle 12: “regardless of the type and duration of their employment relationship, workers, and under comparable conditions, the self-employed, have the right to social protection”. It is now a key element of the Commission’s new Social Fairness Package, with a proposal for a Council Recommendation to improve access to social protection, which will attempt to ensure that all ‘workers’ get access to ‘social protection’, including those currently categorized as ‘self-employed’. Principle 14 on ‘Minimum Income’, aims to provide a basic social assistance safety net for those who fall outside the ‘social protection’ net and is currently a key focus on EAPN’s work coordinating the EMIN project and bus awareness raising journey.
However, the ‘definition’ of social protection, currently at EU level, is limited to only those who are in employment, and ‘pay’ for coverage through work-based contributions. Those who fall outside receive only basic income support safety nets (minimum income). Such an approach fails to ensure equal rights to social protection, at all ages and to all groups, regardless of their employment status, risking increasing poverty and inequality, and undermining a more inclusive and sustainable development model.
The SDGs and in particular the ILO’s Social Protection Floor takes a broader definition on social protection as “basic social security guarantees which secure protection aimed at preventing or alleviating poverty, vulnerability and social exclusion’” aiming to cover all groups for income security and access to public health and other services, through the life cycle.
In the context of the future of work carrying major threats of unemployment and/or increasingly precarious work, an employment contributions model will increasingly leave more people behind and widen the inequality gap.
A new concept of the welfare state and financing is needed and this is what we will explore in our interactive conference, which will:

Present why social protection for all is key, including input from people experiencing poverty;
Discuss the challenges and promising practices from the national level;
Get feedback & debate on access to social protection and guaranteed minimum income with the European Commission, European Parliament, Council & Civil Society partners;
Give special attention to the financing and concept of Welfare states with input from the ILO and other Civil Society Organisations.

Key speakers invited:

Cidália Tomé Barriga, Activist with direct experience of poverty/EAPN PT
Maria Jeliazkova, EAPN BG
Joost Korte, Director General DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
A representative of the Social Platform and Eurochild
A representative of the EMIN project (European Minimum Income Network)
MEP Maria João Rodrigues, Vice-President of the S&D Group and President of FEPS
Jan Farzan, German Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
Audrey Le Guével, Acting Director ILO Brussels
Francine Mestrum, Founder of Global Social Justice
Conny Reuter, Solidar General Secretary

For further information on content, contact Sian Jones (Policy Coordinator) sian.jones@eapn.eu, or on registrations Rebecca Lee (Information & Events Officer), rebecca.lee@eapn.eu
See more information on the conference on the EAPN website : https://www.eapn.eu/20132-2/

Webinar on Gender and SDGs - In preparation on the HLPF 2018
2018-07-03 12:00 - 13:15
Tuesday 3 July, 14:00 – 15:15 CET
Countries are implementing policies and programs to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Gender and equality are cross-cutting issues throughout the 17 goals and 169 targets. In advance of the HLPF on Sustainable Development taking place from 9 to 18 July, the webinar is an opportunity to explore how to ensure gender and equality are at the forefront of SDG implementation, including what gender and equality advocates can do to hold their countries accountable and monitor progress. What are the areas for civil society to influence the SDG process? How to get information if you country is doing a VNR, how to get involved? What are the major groups & other stakeholders?
The theme will be “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies”. The set of goals to be reviewed in depth will be the following, including Goal 17:

Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Goal 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Goal 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Goal 15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

The focus of the webinar will be on how UN member states and CSOs are preparing to report on SDG 6, 7 and 12, as well as 15 and 16. We will also give examples from CSO questions about the Voluntary National Reviews which member states are presenting.
Agenda and speakers:

Sascha Gabizon, International director WECF: Introduction to HLPF 2018, preparations on Voluntary National Reviews and on SDG6 – Water and Sanitation
Camila ROLANDO, ICTA UAB: SDG 15, 12 and linking to SDG16 to better protect environmental defenders through legal and juridical means
Katharina Habersbrunner, Head of energy and climate WECF: How to assure equal access to save, renewable and affordable energy? What to focus on for the SDG7 review?
Johanna Hausmann, Senior advisor for chemicals WECF: Sustainable consumption and production SDG12 – why are critical problems of waste and toxic chemicals and their impact on women and men missing from the SDG12 review and what to do about it
Q&A

Moderator: Tbd
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Online course: Unleashing the power of the private sector in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (June-July 2018)
2018-06-21 - 2018-06-22
The United Nations System Staff College is pleased to inform you of the upcoming online course, Unleashing the power of the private sector in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development from 22 June to 27 July 2018. This five-week course introduces participants to the different types of private sector entities and demonstrates how strategically engaging with them can help implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It introduces participants to tools to identify common objectives to create shared value and emphasises the importance of mitigating risk. The course also reinforces the need for participants to advocate for placing sustainable development at the core of businesses and investing.
The five-week course will focus on:

Week 1: How partnerships are vital to the 2030 Agenda.
Week 2: The role of the private sector in implementing the 2030 Agenda.
Week 3: How to pursue partnerships with the private sector: frameworks for action.
Week 4: Due Diligence: protecting against reputational risk.
Week 5: Engaging with the private sector: way forward

At the end of the course, participants will:

Benefit from an in-depth understanding of the imperative to engage with the private sector for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the concept of shared value;
Understand that the private sector is not a monolithic entity and how it can be engaged at every level, international, national and local.
Demonstrate an understanding of frameworks to design and tools to develop partnerships with the private sector;
Demonstrate an improved understanding of the importance of due diligence before pursuing engagements;
Be able to articulate the need for and advocate for more private sector engagement in achieving the 2030 Agenda.

The online course combines tutored components with synchronous and asynchronous activities, comprising knowledge acquisition, knowledge application to real-life and training scenarios, as well as group work and collaboration with peers. In addition to engaging in self-paced learning, participants in UNSSC online courses also benefit from live webinars with renowned experts from the UN the private sector and academia, allowing real-time virtual interaction between the instructors and participants.For more information and to register, please visit http://bit.ly/PPS2018-1. Deadline for registration is on 17 June 2018. Should you have questions, please email sustainable-development@unssc.org.

SDG Watch Europe task force to work on the EP election
2018-06-20 09:00 - 12:00
As already discussed at the last plenary meeting of SDG Watch Europe, we will try to facilitate the coordination of several initiatives on EU and national level in preparation of the EP elections. For that, we will form a task force including the organisations and networks that are willing to participate. At this moment, we are drafting the ToR for such a task force and ideas on the joint campaign.
If you are willing to join this task force, you can mark already in your calendar the date of the first meeting and contact leida.rijnhout@foeeurope.org: Wednesday 20 June 10-13h (venue, probably Mundo B)

Call for proposals By European Youth Forum
2018-06-18 - 2018-06-19
The European Youth Forum is looking for a researcher to map the European youth organisations’ contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The deadline for submission of project proposals is 19 June 2018, 23.59 CEST.
Read more

2018 HLPF: Registration now open
2018-06-14 - 2018-06-15
DESA/OISC is pleased to launch the registration process for the high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF) in 2018, convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. The meeting will be held from Monday, 9 July, to Wednesday, 18 July 2018; including the three-day ministerial meeting of the forum from Monday, 16 July, to Wednesday, 18 July 2018.
REGISTRATION LINK: bit.ly/HLPF2018
The theme will be “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies”. The set of goals to be reviewed in depth will be the following, including Goal 17. “Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development” that will be considered each year:

Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Goal 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Goal 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Goal 15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

For more information on the forum, including the 47 countries that will be making their voluntary national presentations, please see the following website: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/hlpf/2018
In accordance with General Assembly resolution 67/270, registration is open for two categories of NGOs to participate in the HLPF:

Organizations in consultative status with ECOSOC; and
Organizations on the CSD Roster.

Deadline for registration: 15 June 2018

Online Course: The Paris Agreement on Climate Change as a Development Agenda (June to July 2018)
2018-06-09 - 2018-06-10
The United Nations System Staff College is pleased to inform you of the upcoming course The Paris Agreement on Climate Change as a Development Agenda. This six-week joint UN Climate Change–UNSSC online course offers a holistic and integrated approach to climate change. It demonstrates the interlinkages and interdependencies between sustainable development and climate change to make informed policy choices towards low-carbon and climate resilient sustainable development.

The course will frame climate change impact and action around five core cornerstones of the 2030 Agenda: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership.

• Week 1: Introduction: Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Climate Action;
• Week 2: Climate Change and People: The Social Dimension of Sustainable Development (People);
• Week 3: Climate Change and Environmental Protection (Planet);
• Week 4: Climate Change and Economic Development (Prosperity);
• Week 5: Climate Change and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (Peace);
• Week 6: Partnerships and Means of Implementation for Climate Action (Partnership).

At the end of the six weeks, participants will be able to:

• explain key elements of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the 2030 Agenda, and the role of climate action in the broader context of sustainable development;
• identify and articulate the interrelations and inter-dependencies between the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in five critical dimensions of the sustainable development: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership;
• identify and articulate best practices to ensure coherence and mutual reinforcement between the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
• explain existing tools and instruments to mainstream sustainable development and climate action into national development policies and planning.
The online course combines tutored components with synchronous and asynchronous activities, comprising knowledge acquisition, knowledge application to real-life and training scenarios, as well as group work and collaboration with peers. In addition to engaging in self-paced learning, participants in UNSSC online courses also benefit from live webinars with renowned experts from the UN the private sector and academia, allowing real-time virtual interaction between the instructors and participants.For more information and to register, please go to http://bit.ly/CC2018-1 Deadline for registration is 10 June 2018. Should you have questions, please email sustainable-development@unssc.org.

"Inspiring Citizen-Driven Actions for Nature-Based Cities"
2018-06-08 08:00 - 12:00
Friday, June 8, 2018- European Economic and Social Committee
Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, in partnership with the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), are very pleased to invite you to a morning conference:
“Inspiring Citizen-Driven Actions for Nature-Based Cities”
REGISTER NOW
This #EUGreenWeek partner event will take place on Friday 8th June (9.00-13.00) at the EESC in Brussels.
How can transformative actions- including becoming a pesticide-free town– help to preserve nature in cities, strengthen local resilience, and ultimately increase the wellbeing of citizens? Are cities sufficiently empowered to enact the changes needed?
These and other questions will be discussed in an interactive format with speakers from the European Commission, European Green Capitals and inspiring towns and civil society networks from across Europe.
Interpretation available DE, FR and IT.
Special feature will be a pop-up exhibition “Tackling Goliath: How One Small Town Banned Pesticides, Preserved Its Food Heritage, and Inspired a Movement”.
Four years ago the citizens of a small Alpine town in Italy voted in a referendum on the ban of pesticides based on the precautionary principle. The EU precautionary principle enables decision-makers to adopt precautionary measures when scientific evidence about an environmental or human health hazard is uncertain. 75% of the voters were in favor of the ban and the municipal charter was consequently changed. Conventional apple farmers around the town had three years to adapt. Now the town is facing law suits by the higher government level against the holding of the referendum, and by farmers against the ban.
The event will be followed by a sustainable lunch with plenty of networking opportunities.
Further details can be found here.
We look forward to meeting you soon! Please feel free to circulate this invite.

PROGRAM

REGISTER
