The UN Sustainable Development Goals – Some Reflections from the Perspective of the European Economic and Social Committee 

To some, it might seem odd that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) would be of relevance to the highly developed industrial nations that form the EU. But the SDGs were not the first global target agreements of the United Nations. They were preceded by the “Millennium Development Goals” (MDGs), which set eight goals concentrated on combating poverty in the world, especially in developing countries. Its successor, the 17 SDGs, have a much broader reach in terms of goals and scope, and included highly developed countries and the EU as well. These developed societies face the same need as developing countries for a major transitionary and transformative change towards sustainable growth that protects the environment, helps communities and their inhabitants adapt to a changing climate, and which is more inclusive regarding social and resource-conserving goals. This paper shows that the European economic model of a Social Market Economy offers a good starting point for successfully mastering the structural change towards a more resource-efficient production. The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), representing the voice of social partners and civil society in the concert of the EU institutions, contributes to the three pillars of sustainability – economic growth, social equity and ecological sustainability – reinforcing each other by balancing the right regulatory and institutional framework for transition. 

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