The recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic needs to be based on a profound shift to a more sustainable, fair, just and resilient world, in line with the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals. According to the OECD, 65% of the 169 targets of the 17 SDGs cannot be reached without the involvement of, or coordination with, local and regional governments.

There are many experiences of how progressive cities and regions work every day to build back in fairer way towards a sustainable Europe so that ending poverty, taking climate action and building sustainable communities become a reality.

Paradoxically, whereas commitment of local and regional authorities on SDGs kept increasing, they have almost disappeared from the EU narrative: there is no overarching strategy and no effective mainstreaming or coordination of SDGs in the European Commission's internal governance, which puts at stake their chances of implementation by 2030. SDGs need to be better integrated into the European Semester and, likewise, be better linked with the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

In November, COP26 could be an opportunity to look ahead and prepare the ground for an ambitious global 2050 agenda, combining climate targets with the broader SDGs approach, whilst also highlighting the case for a green and just recovery in regions and cities.

The workshop therefore aims at translating the global dimension into concrete local solutions, by showcasing how inspiring initiatives from progressive cities and regions in the EU and beyond are already driving the change on the ground, while calling also for empowering the local communities through strong EU support in terms of financing and governance strategies.

The event will involve our network of local and regional politicians from the EU and beyond, including young leaders. It will be part of the S&D Group in the European Parliament’s Global Progressive Forum, an initiative connecting progressive forces from around the world.

Programme

Moderator: Claire Doole, former BBC correspondent, professional moderator and communications trainer

Welcome address

• Christophe Rouillon, President of the PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions and mayor of Coulaines (France)

Putting the SDG's at the heart of Europe's recovery

• Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, former Prime Minister of Denmark, former President of the PES, and Co-Chair of the Independent Commission for Sustainable Equality

Leading on SDGs in progressive cities and regions in Europe and beyond

• Kata Tüttő, Deputy-Mayor of Budapest (Hungary) and PES Group Vice-President
• Paul Magnette, Mayor of Charleroi (Belgium) and Leader of the Belgian Socialist Party (PS)
• Alison Gilliland, Lord mayor of Dublin (Ireland) and PES Group member
• Claudia López Hernández, Mayor of Bogota (Colombia) (video message)

Q&A session

Conclusions

• Vasco Alves Cordeiro, First Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions and member of the Azores Regional Parliament (Portugal)