THE NEW EUROPEAN CONSENSUS ON DEVELOPMENT - ‘OUR WORLD, OUR DIGNITY, OUR FUTURE’
1. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development1 (2030 Agenda), adopted by the United
Nations in September 2015, is the international community’s response to global challenges
and trends in relation to sustainable development. With the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) at its core, the 2030 Agenda is a transformative political framework to eradicate
poverty and achieve sustainable development globally. It balances the economic, social and
environmental dimensions of sustainable development, including the key issues of governance
and peaceful and inclusive societies, recognising the essential interlinkages between its goals
and targets. It must be implemented as a whole and not selectively. The 2030 Agenda aims to
leave no-one behind and seeks to reach the furthest behind first.
2. The evolution from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the Sustainable
Development Goals reflects the changing approach to global development. This approach,
based on sustainable development and human rights, is fully consistent with EU values and
principles. The 2030 Agenda and its 17 SDGs are universal and apply to all countries at all
stages of development, based on national ownership and shared responsibility. Multistakeholder
partnerships are key to the implementation of SDGs.
3. The Addis Ababa Action Agenda2 (AAAA), as an integral part of the 2030 Agenda, sets a
new paradigm for implementation through effective use of financial and non-financial
means, by placing domestic action and sound policies at the forefront. Furthermore, the 2030
Agenda is complemented by the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction3, and the
Paris Agreement on Climate Change4, which provides a legally binding framework setting
global climate efforts on a new course. Implementation of these commitments must be
founded on a rules-based.
4. The EU and its Member States are committed to a life of dignity for all that reconciles
economic prosperity and efficiency, peaceful societies, social inclusion and environmental
responsibility. In doing so, efforts will be targeted towards eradicating poverty, reducing
vulnerabilities and addressing inequalities to ensure that no-one is left behind. By
contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda, the EU and its Member States will also
foster a stronger and more sustainable, inclusive, secure and prosperous Europe.
5. This European Consensus on Development frames the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in
partnership with all developing countries, taking due account of the framework provided by
the Lisbon Treaty. In addition, the Global Strategy for the EU’s Foreign and Security Policy
(the Global Strategy) provides an overall vision for a joined-up, credible and responsive
engagement in the world.
6. The purpose of this Consensus is to provide the framework for a common approach to
development policy that will be applied by the EU institutions and the Member States while
fully respecting each other’s distinct roles and competences. It will guide the action of EU
institutions and Member States in their cooperation with all developing countries. Actions by
the EU and its Member States will be mutually reinforcing and coordinated to ensure
complementarity and impact.
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1. THE EU’S RESPONSE TO THE 2030 AGENDA
1.1. Stronger and more effective EU action in a changing world
7. The EU and its Member States must respond to current global challenges and opportunities in
the light of the 2030 Agenda. They will implement the 2030 Agenda across all internal and
external policies in a comprehensive and strategic approach, integrating in a balanced and
coherent manner the three dimensions of sustainable development, and addressing the
interlinkages between the different SDGs as well as the broader impacts of their domestic
actions at international and global level. Implementation will be closely coordinated with
the implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and other international
commitments, including the New Urban Agenda5.
8. Within this overarching framework, a coherent and coordinated approach to EU external
action will be important for the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda globally. With
its institutional set-up and political instruments provided under the Lisbon Treaty, the EU is
well equipped to respond to global challenges and opportunities where they arise.
9. The EU Global Strategy sets out a vision for the EU’s engagement in the world, through a
range of policies. It highlights the important role of the 2030 Agenda, which has the potential
to trigger the necessary transformation in support of EU values and the objectives of EU
external action. The SDGs will be a cross-cutting dimension of all the work to implement the
EU Global Strategy. This Consensus will contribute to the achievements of the priorities of
EU external action, including through support to resilience at all levels. In doing so, the EU
and its Member States will foster a dynamic and multidimensional approach to resilience, to
deal with vulnerability to multiple interrelated risks.