The European Union and its Member States have called on countries to place the Sustainable Development Goals at the centre of national policy, budgeting and planning, in a statement delivered at the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and ECOSOC High-level Segment on 16 July 2026. The statement, delivered on behalf of the EU and its Member States by the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations in New York, warned that current global trends are making achievement of the SDGs more difficult and threaten progress across nearly all goals, but argued that accelerating sustainable development is more urgent than ever.
The EU outlined three priority actions for the period between now and 2030: placing SDGs at the centre of national policy, budgeting and planning; increasing investment in areas that create broad benefits; and building more sustainable partnerships. The statement highlighted the EU's Global Gateway initiative as an example of such partnership, supporting sustainable, high-quality investments in digital, energy and transport infrastructure, as well as health and education systems, to help partner countries strengthen resilience, promote green and inclusive growth, and accelerate progress towards the SDGs. The EU emphasised that innovation and transition must be inclusive, with progress reaching those most at risk of being left behind.
The statement concluded by looking ahead to the next High-level Political Forum under the auspices of the President of the General Assembly, calling it an important opportunity to take stock at the highest political level and renew collective commitment to remain ambitious, inclusive and action-oriented.