MEPs call for unwavering commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals

Representatives of the Committee on Development and Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety attended the UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development on 21-23 July.

The 10-member delegation was led jointly by Committee on Development Vice-Chair Robert Biedroń (S&D, PL) and MEP Ingeborg Ter Laak (EPP, NL) for the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food safety. MEPs participated in official proceedings, bilateral meetings, and side events, presenting the European Parliament’s position as set out in a resolution adopted in the July 2025 plenary.

The delegation also hosted a dedicated event on "Parliaments as Drivers of SDG 17: Strengthening Democratic Partnerships for Sustainable Development”, involving global partners, parliamentarians and civil society.

Additionally, MEPs met UN Secretary General António Guterres, representatives of international organisations, young people, and civil society groups. The discussions focused on the challenges facing Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) implementation, in particular the immense funding gap exacerbated by official development assistance cuts made by a number of donors, threats to multilateralism, UN reform, and the increased responsibility of the EU as champion of global partnerships. A focus of this year’s HLPF was on the SDGs related to health, gender equality, decent work, ocean protection, and global partnerships.

Quotes

Delegation co-chair Robert Biedroń said: “As MEPs we came to the High-Level Political Forum to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the SDGs, as clearly expressed in our recent resolution. At a time when some are stepping back, the EU must step up and lead by example. This means translating our ambition into action, including ensuring adequate funding for the SDGs in the next Multiannual Financial Framework.”

Ingeborg Ter Laak, delegation co-chair, said: “As we face a decisive moment for sustainable development, the role of parliaments and parliamentarians is more critical than ever. Our mandates go beyond national interests. They extend to shaping a fairer, more resilient, and more inclusive global future. Through legislation, budgetary power and public accountability, we have the tools and the duty to advance the SDGs.”

Get back on track on the SDGs

At the opening remarks of the ministerial segment of the HLPF on 21 July, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for urgent action to rescue lagging SDGs amid war, inequality and fiscal strain. Mr. Guterres warned that the world remains far off track to meet the 2030 targets, and urged governments to act with urgency and ambition, noting that “the Sustainable Development Goals are not a dream. They are a plan – a plan to keep our promises to the most vulnerable people, to each other, and to future generations.” The European Parliament fully supports this call.