13 July 2026 18:13 UTC · European Commission · EU Commission Press Release · Source · Email X Link

European Commission says EU urges accelerated action on SDGs

Key points

Calls for accelerated action to reverse SDG setbacks
Prioritises water, energy, industry, cities and financing

TL;DR

Commissioner Roswall says the 2030 Agenda is being severely tested and an unacceptable implementation gap has eroded trust in multilateral cooperation.
The European Commission notes progress towards the SDGs is impeded by conflict, increasing inequality, and the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.
Commissioner Roswall calls for accelerated, transformative, equitable and coordinated action, prioritising water (SDG6), energy (SDG7), industry (SDG9) and cities (SDG11).
The European Commission advocates mobilising sustainable public and private finance, reforming international financial architecture, and strengthening partnerships including via the Global Gateway; it strongly supports the HLPF as the central UN review platform.

Original text

European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Commissioner's Roswall speech at High Level Political Forum 2026 Ministerial Opening New York, 13 July 2026 Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, I am honoured to deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. Just over ten years ago, when the 2030 Agenda was adopted, it carried the promise that global cooperation could deliver concrete benefits for people. It sought to promote peace and shared prosperity, while protecting the planet. That promise is being severely tested. There is an unacceptable gap between our commitments and their implementation. Trust in multilateral cooperation has been eroded. And the international rules-based system founded on international law and human rights has been undermined. The High-Level Political Forum is designed to help close that gap and restore that trust. It is meant to be a space where political will meets action, and where progress – and setbacks – are examined honestly. This edition comes at a pivotal moment, in a year where the Conferences of the Party of the three Rio Convention are taking place and in the context of the UN80 initiative. With four years remaining before 2030, the EU notes with grave concern that progress towards the SDGs is severely impeded by multiple and interlinked crises, especially conflict, increasing inequality, and the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. The EU stands by the 2030 Agenda and stresses the urgent need for accelerated action to reverse these alarming trends. The primary responsibility rests with us, the UN Member States. We must tackle the critical, cross- cutting challenges that hinder sustainable development, while advancing its key enablers, including climate action, the full realisation of human rights and gender equality. Ladies and gentlemen, multilateralism faces testing times. However, progress is possible provided our actions are transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated. First, the availability and sustainable management of water, sanitation and hygiene is a key priority for the EU. As water stress grows, achieving SDG6 requires sustained global commitment. This must include promoting nature-based-solutions and a climate-resilient and integrated water resources management, with special attention to the outsized impacts on women and girls. The EU calls for a strong position on water as a key cross cutting element beyond 2030 and looks forward to the 2026 UN Water Conference as a stepping stone to a stronger global water agenda post 2030. The EU advocates for a regular intergovernmental UN process on water, taking into account the ongoing UN80 reform which provides an important context. Second, while progress on SDG7 has been notable, including increasing renewable energy generation, it is slowing. Only a small portion of energy investment reaches the areas most in need. Achieving SDG7 requires a significant investment in developing countries to expand equal and inclusive access to electricity and scale up low carbon technologies and renewable energy, generation, transmission, distribution and storage. Progress has been made on SDG9. However, regional disparities persist, and many developing countries face systemic barriers to inclusive and sustainable industrialisation. Countries must boost investment and promote sustainable consumption and production patterns, including by integrating or implementing the circular economy. Finally, on SDG11, urbanisation is accelerating and cities face challenges like housing shortages, high energy costs and poverty. Advancing SDG11 requires integrated territorial development focused on affordable, sustainable, decent quality and inclusive housing and buildings, and investments in resilience against climate change and natural disasters. The EU Agenda for Cities: Driving Growth and Prosperity is actively contributing to these goals. Work towards achieving all SDGs is supported by our efforts on SDG17. It requires strengthened whole-of-government and whole-of-society partnerships. Closing the SDG financing gap and strengthening global partnerships are critical steps. The EU stresses the need to mobilise all sources of sustainable public and private finance at scale, strengthen domestic resource mobilisation, address debt vulnerabilities, advance reforms of the international financial architecture, and foster partnerships to close the digital divides. Through initiatives like the Global Gateway, the EU and its Member States support partner countries in promoting strategic autonomy, and accelerating social, digital and green transitions. We take this opportunity to congratulate the countries who will present voluntary national reviews this year, including two EU Member States. In closing, the EU strongly supports the HLPF as the central UN platform for review and acceleration of the SDGs. We call for strengthened multi-stakeholder engagement and look forward to engaging constructively once again in the Forum. Thank you. SPEECH/26/1603

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Commissioner Roswall

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New York