The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were established in 2015 by the international community as part of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through which countries of the world collectively pledged to eradicate poverty, find sustainable and inclusive development solutions, ensure everyone’s human rights, and generally make sure that no one is left behind by 2030.
The EU made a positive and constructive contribution to the development of the 2030 Agenda. We are committed to implementing the SDGs in all our policies and encourage EU countries to do the same.
17 SDGs have been defined, with 169 associated targets, to be reached by 2030. They address the global challenges the world faces and tackle all dimensions of sustainable development, in a balanced and integrated manner.
The EU as a leading global partner for the SDGs
Through its international partnerships, the EU pursues progress towards the relevant SDGs together with EU priorities - from design to implementation and reporting. The EU and its Member States are the leading donors of official development assistance (ODA) globally.
In 2022, they collectively provided €92.8 billion (based on preliminary OECD figures), which accounts for 43% of global assistance.
Since December 2021, the EU is rolling out Global Gateway, its strategy for sustainable investments in infrastructure globally. Global Gateway will directly contribute to progress on a range of interlinked SDGs, notably through investment in transport, energy and digitalisation infrastructure, as well as health and education.
The EU Voluntary Review: delivering on the SDGs
The first-ever EU Voluntary Review on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda (EUVR) shows how the Commission’s priorities, such as the European Green Deal, help drive at home and globally the transformations necessary to deliver on the SDGs, while leaving no one behind. These priorities are interconnected with the five Ps – People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, Partnership - of the preamble of the 2030 Agenda.
Related links
International strategies: Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals, their history and implementation from the United Nations
Knowledge base for the Sustainable Development Goals - tools and knowledge to support evidence-based implementation of the SDGs
Monitoring report on progress towards the SDGs in an EU context – 2023
EU Voluntary Review on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development