The EC Communication entitled “Next steps for a sustainable European future – European action for sustainability” published in November 2016 states that the Commission intends to establish a new EU Multi- Stakeholder Platform as part of its overall implementation of the 2030 Agenda. It states that in order to “ create a dynamic space bringing together the different stakeholders of the public and private sphere, the Commission will launch a multi-stakeholder Platform with a role in the follow-up and exchange of best practices on SDG implementation across sectors, at Member State and EU level.
This Platform could act as a peer-learning hub where stakeholders can engage in debates about sustainability activities and inform others about ongoing successful initiatives”. The members of SDG Watch Europe welcome this initiative and view it as a clear operationalisation of the 2030 Agenda’s commitment to a multi-stakeholder approach as a key means of implementation.
While our alliance welcomes the announcement that a new multi-stakeholder platform is to be established, we believe that the vision for the new platform should be considerably more ambitious than that set out in the EC Communication. In fact the implementation of the 2030 Agenda provides the European Union with a unique opportunity to demonstrate leadership in the current challenging global political context.
The new EU multi-stakeholder platform to be established should be a model of best practice that can inspire other regions and countries interested in initiating such platforms in the context of implementing the 2030 Agenda.