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EN EN COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES Brussels, 2.12.2005 SEC(2005)

EN 2 EN COMMISSION WORKING DOCUMENT

EN 3 EN ANNEX 1 DECLARATION ON GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION Presidency Conclusions DOC 10255/05 BRUSSELS EUROPEAN COUNCIL 16 and 17 JUNE 2005................................... 55 ANNEX 2 OBJECTIVES, TARGETS, POLICIES AND ACTIONS – GETTING PROGRESS ON THE SDS ................................ ............................ 88 1. ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE ................................ ......... 99 2. PROMOTING GOOD HEALTH – PUBLIC HEALTH .......................................... 1010 3. COMBATING SOCIAL EXCLUSION AND ADDRESSING DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE................................ ................................ ................ 1111 4. BETTER MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES...................................... 1313 5. MAKING TRANSPORT MORE SUSTAINABLE ................................................... 1515 6. FIGHTING GLOBAL POVERTY AND PROMOTING DEVELOPMENT ............ 1717 ANNEX 3 THE 2005 REVIEW OF THE EU SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY: INITIAL STOCKTAKING AND FUTURE ORIENTATIONS COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT {COM (2005) 37} ................................ ........ 2020 Foreword ................................ .............................. 2121 Part I: Sustainable Development – What is at stake? .......................................................... 2323 1. Introduction ................................ ............ 2323 2. The european union’s approach to sustainable development................................ 2424 3. Why a review? ................................ ........ 2525 4. Taking Stock of Progress ................................ ....................... 2525 Part II: Responding to the challenges.................................................................................. 3232 5. Future Orientations ................................ 3232 5.1. Reaffirm the basic principles of the European Union Sustainable Development Strategy ................................ ................................ .................. 3232 5.2. Reaffirm the new approach to policy making and policy coherence ..................... 3232 5.3. Maintaining a focus on key unsustainable trends and exploring the linkages between unsustainable trends in greater detail ................................ .... 3333 5.4. Setting objectives, targets and milestones.............................................................. 3333 5.5. Ensuring effective monitoring ................................ ................ 3434

EN 4 EN 5.6. Strengthen ownership and improve co-operation with public and private actors at all levels ................................ ....................... 3434 6. Next steps ................................ ................................ ............... 3535

EN 5 EN ANNEX 1 DECLARATION ON GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION Presidency Conclusions DOC 10255/05 BRUSSELS EUROPEAN COUNCIL 16 and 17 JUNE 2005

EN 6 EN Sustainable development is a key objective set out in the Treaty, for all European Community policies. It aims at the continuous improvement of the quality of life on earth of both current and future generations. It is about safeguarding the earth’s capacity to support life in all its diversity. It is based on the principles of democracy and the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights including freedom and equal opportunities for all. It brings about solidarity within and between generations. It seeks to promote a dynamic economy with full employment and a high level of education, health protection, social and territorial cohesion and environmental protection in a peaceful and secure world, respecting cultural diversity. To achieve these aims in Europe and globally, the European Union and its Member States are committed to pursue and respect, on their own and with partners, the following objectives and principles: Key objectives ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Safeguard the earth's capacity to support life in all its diversity, respect the limits of the planet's natural resources and ensure a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment. Prevent and reduce environmental pollution and promote sustainable production and consumption to break the link between economic growth and environmental degradation. SOCIAL EQUITY AND COHESION Promote a democratic, socially inclusive, cohesive, healthy, safe and just society with respect for fundamental rights and cultural diversity that creates equal opportunities and combats discrimination in all its forms. ECONOMIC PROSPERITY Promote a prosperous, innovative, knowledge-rich, competitive and eco-efficient economy which provides high living standards and full and high-quality employment throughout the European Union. MEETING OUR INTERNATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES Encourage the establishment and defend the stability of democratic institutions across the world, based on peace, security and freedom. Actively promote sustainable development worldwide and ensure that the European Union’s internal and external policies are consistent with global sustainable development and its international commitments. Policy guiding principles PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS Place human beings at the centre of the European Union’s policies, by promoting fundamental rights, by combating all forms of discrimination and contributing to the reduction of poverty and the elimination of social exclusion worldwide. SOLIDARITY WITHIN AND BETWEEN GENERATIONS

EN 7 EN Address the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs in the European Union and elsewhere. OPEN AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY Guarantee citizens’ rights of access to information and ensure access to justice. Develop adequate consultation and participatory channels for all interested parties and associations. INVOLVEMENT OF CITIZENS Enhance the participation of citizens in decision-making. Promote education and public awareness of sustainable development. Inform citizens about their impact on the environment and their options for making more sustainable choices. INVOLVEMENT OF BUSINESSES AND SOCIAL PARTNERS Enhance the social dialogue, corporate social responsibility and private-public partnerships to foster cooperation and common responsibilities to achieve sustainable production and consumption. POLICY COHERENCE AND GOVERNANCE Promote coherence between all European Union policies and coherence between local, regional, national and global actions in order to enhance their contribution to sustainable development. POLICY INTEGRATION Promote integration of economic, social and environmental considerations so that they are coherent and mutually reinforce each other by making full use of instruments for better regulation, such as balanced impact assessment and stakeholder consultations. USE BEST AVAILABLE KNOWLEDGE Ensure that policies are developed, assessed and implemented on the basis of the best available knowledge and that they are economically sound and cost-effective. PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE Where there is scientific uncertainty, implement evaluation procedures and take appropriate preventive action in order to avoid damage to human health or to the environment. MAKE POLLUTERS PAY Ensure that prices reflect the real costs to society of production and consumption activities and that polluters pay for the damage they cause to human health and the environment.

EN 8 EN ANNEX 2 OBJECTIVES, TARGETS, POLICIES AND ACTIONS – GETTING PROGRESS ON THE SDS This annex contains a selection of key EU strategies, action plans and other initiatives in support of sustainable development. Reference is made to operational objectives and targets where these exist. In addition, many Member States have developed their own sustainable development strategies and action plans. Indeed, in several areas, Member States are best placed to bring about change. The EU can support and complement Member State actions, facilitate exchange of best practice and act as a focal point for review of progress and promotion of further action. The Sustainable Development Strategy provides the strategic policy framework for how best to address the main unsustainable trends. An essential element of this framework is the inter linkages between the trends. There are multiple inter linkages between the key priorities identified in the core document. A clear example of this is that by increasing the use of renewable energy, we will also combat climate change. Similarly, by improving land use, making transport more sustainable and changing energy patterns, we also protect biodiversity. The different strategies and action plans should therefore not be considered in isolation. Each, in its own way, will make a contribution to solving problems in other areas. It is important that the inter linkages are well understood and that policy answers are developed which integrate different aspects with a view to achieving win-win situations. The issue of inter linkages between trends is an area which still needs further development. The Commission assesses the impact of all its new major policy initiatives.

EN 9 EN 1. ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE Overall Objective To limit climate change and its costs to society Operational objectives and targets: In March 2005, the European Council reconfirmed its aim for a global surface average temperature not to rise by more than 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels¹and that therefore concentration levels lower than 550 ppm CO₂ should guide global limitation and reduction efforts The EU-15 and most EU-25 Member States are committed under the Kyoto Protocol to targets for reducing greenhouse gases by 2008- 2012. The EU-15 target is for an 8% reduction in emissions compared to 1990 levels To contribute to this ultimate aim, as agreed by the European Council in March 2005, the EU will explore with other parties, strategies for achieving necessary emission reductions in greenhouse gases and will consider, in this context, reduction pathways for the group of developed countries in order of 15-30% by 2020 compared to the baseline envisaged in the Kyoto protocol Examples of Key Actions: Ongoing and Planned Development of EU Climate Change for the post 2012 world. Communication adopted February 2005, COM (2005) 35 final. http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/climat/future_action.htm Second phase of the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP). Launched October 2005. http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/climat/eccp.htm EU GHG Emission Trading Scheme, adopted January 2005, Directive 2003/87/EC. http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/climat/emission.htm 10 - Year Implementation Plan for Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) 2005 - 2015. http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/environment/newsanddoc/article_2211_en.htm Green paper on energy efficiency, COM (2005) 265 final.Adopted June 2005 . http://europa.eu.int/comm/energy/efficiency/doc/2005_06_green_paper_book_en.pdf Energy Efficiency Action Plan. Adoption foreseen 2006. http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/com/cnc/2000/com2000_0247en01.pdf 1 Sources: IPPC 2nd Assessment Report, Council Conclusions 1996, COM(2005) 35 final p.3, European Council Conclusions March 2005

EN 10 EN New and renewable energies.Communication on the support of electricity from renewable energy sources, based on implementation of Directive 2001/77/EC. To be adopted December 2005. http://europa.eu.int/comm/energy/res/legislation/electricity_en.htm Biomass action plan. Adopted December 2005. http://europa.eu.int/comm/energy/res/biomass_action_plan/index_en.htm Sustainable energy Europe campaign. http://www.sustenergy.org/ 2. PROMOTING GOOD HEALTH – PUBLIC HEALTH Overall objectives To promote good public health and improve protection against health threats Operational objectives and targets: To improve protection against health threats by developing capacity to respond to threats in a co-ordinated manner To further improve food and feed legislation, including review of food labelling To continue to promote high animal health and welfare standards in the EU and internationally To curb the increase in preventable life style diseases through health promotion and prevention To ensure that chemicals are produced, handled and used in ways that do not pose significant threats to human health and the environment by 2020 To improve information on environmental pollution and adverse health impacts Examples of Key Actions: Ongoing and Planned General Health Strategy as a follow up to Health and Consumer Programme 2007-2013, COM (2005) 115 final. http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/health_consumer/index_en.htm The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, set up 2005, following REGULATION (EC) 851/2004. http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_overview/strategy/ecdc/ecdc_en.htm Strategy on HIV/AIDS. Expected adoption end 2005. http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/body/theme/human_social/docs/health/Programme %20for%20Action%20(EN).pdf#zoom=100 http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/health/poverty-diseases/aids_en.html

EN 11 EN Communication on pandemic influenza preparedness, COM 2005 (607) final. http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_threats/com/Influenza/COMM_PDF_COM_2005_06 07_F_EN_ACTE.pdf Communication on Generic Preparedness Planning for Public Health Threats, COM (2005) 605 final. http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_threats/com/Influenza/COMM_PDF_COM_2005_06 05_F_EN_ACTE.pdf Recommendation on improving patient safety by prevention and control of healthcare associated infections. Adoption foreseen 2006. http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_threats/com/comm_diseases_cons01_en.htm http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/com/cnc/2004/com2004_0301en01.pdf Follow up and implementation of White Paper on Food Safety, COM (1999) 719. http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/food/intro/white_paper_en.htm http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/health_consumer/library/pub/pub06_en.pdf Animal Health Strategy – Community Action Plan on the Protection and Welfare of Animals 2006 - 2010. To be adopted 2007. http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/animal/diseases/strategy/index_en.htm EU Environment and Health Action Plan for the period 2004 - 2010, COM (2004) 416 final. http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/health/index_en.htm Council Regulation for the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH), COM (2003) 644. http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/chemicals/reach.htm http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/reach/index_en.htm 3. COMBATING SOCIAL EXCLUSION AND ADDRESSING DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE Overall Objective To create a socially inclusive society Operational objectives and targets: To pursue the setting of specific EU targets for reducing the number of people at risk of poverty by 2010 with special focus on the need to reduce child poverty, in the context of the OMC To support Member States in their efforts to modernise social protection in view of demographic ageing To significantly increase the labour market participation of women and older workers according to set targets, as well as increasing employment of migrants by 2010

EN 12 EN To continue developing an EU legal migration policy, accompanied by policies to strengthen the integration of migrants and their families To pursue lifelong learning and halve by 2010 the number of 18 to 24 year olds with only lower secondary education who are not in education and training Member States are the main actors in achieving real results against these targets. The EU can support and complement Member State actions; the EU can facilitate exchange of best practice and act as a focal point for review of progress and promotion of further action. The Social Agenda outlines the EU actions with the aim of achieving full employment and an inclusive society. The Commission and Council² outlined a strategy to tackle budget implications of ageing populations, under which Member States should reduce public debt levels to pre-empt the budgetary consequences of ageing populations, and undertake comprehensive labour-market reforms, including tax and benefit systems to reach higher employment rates, in particular among older workers and women, as well as ambitious reforms of pension systems in order to contain pressures on public finances. Examples of Key Actions: Ongoing and Planned OMC on Social Protection and Inclusion. Ongoing. http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/social_protection/index_en.htm Community Action Programme on Employment and Social Solidarity ‘PROGRESS’, 2007 - 2013. To be adopted 2006. http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/com/pdf/2004/com2004_0488en01.pdf OMC on Education and Training (“Education and Training 2010”). Ongoing. http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/com/pdf/2004/com2004_0488en01.pdf Integrated Action Programme in the field of Lifelong Learning 2007-2013 (COM (2004) 474). To be adopted 2006. http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/newprog/index_en.html Communication on the demographic future of Europe. To be adopted 2006. http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/social_situation/green_paper_en.html A Health and Safety Strategy 2007 -2012, communication to be adopted 2006 . http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/employment_social/index_en.htm Roadmap for equality between men and women, communication to be adopted 2006. http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/gender_equality/index_en.html 2 Council of the European Union (2001), ‘The contribution of public finances to growth and employment: improving quality and sustainability’, report of the Commission and the (Ecofin) Council to the European Council (Stockholm 23 and 24 March 2001), 699/01; European Commission (2000) ‘Communication on the contribution of public finances to growth and employment: improving quality and sustainability’, COM(2000)846

EN 13 EN Communication on non-discrimination and equal opportunities for all, COM (2005) 224 – European Year 2007. http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/fundamental_rights/index_en.htm European Year on tackling poverty and social exclusion 2010. http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/social_inclusion/index_en.htm The new generation of structural and cohesion funds, adopted 2004. COM (2004) 493, COM (2004) 494, COM (2004) 495. http://europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/funds/2007/index_en.htm Proposal to establish a European Migration Monitoring Centre. Adoption foreseen in 2005. http://europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/doc_centre/immigration/doc_immigration_intro_e n.htm Green Paper on the future of the European Migration Network, COM (2005) 606. Adopted 2005 . http://www.european-migration-network.org/ Follow-up to Communication on “ A Common Agenda for Integration: Framework for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals in the European Union”, COM (2005) 389 final . http://europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/funding/inti/funding_inti_en.htm http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2005/com2005_0389en01.pdf Action plan against Trafficking in human beings. Adoption end 2005. http://europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/fsj/crime/trafficking/fsj_crime_human_trafficking _en.htm 4. BETTER MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Overall Objective Safeguard the earth’s capacity to support life in all its diversity, respect the limits of the planet’s natural resources and promote sustainable production and consumption to break the link between economic growth and environmental degradation. Operational objectives and targets: Improve resource productivity: get more output from each unit of resource used and reduce the environmental damage (noxious emissions to air, water and soil as well as overexploitation of land and other resources) caused by each unit Improve management and avoid overexploitation of renewable natural resources such as fisheries, biodiversity, forestry, water, air, soil and climate, restore degraded marine ecosystems by 2015 in line with Johannesburg Plan of Implementation agreed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) including to achieve Maximum Sustainable Yield in Fisheries by 2015

EN 14 EN To consider how to reduce EU energy consumption by 2020, given the 20% estimated cost-effective potential for savings in energy consumption. The Commission is launching a discussion on this 12% of energy consumption from renewable sources by 2010 21% of EU-25 electricity consumption to be met by renewable sources by 2010. This provides the basis for national indicative targets Halt the loss of biodiversity in the EU by 2010 and contribute effectively to significantly reduce the worldwide rate of biodiversity loss by 2010 Implementation and management of Natura 2000: sites adopted by 2006 (marine sites 2010); sites designated and under effective management by 2010 (marine sites 2012) Harness technological development towards decoupling between economic growth and environmental pressure Examples of Key Actions: Ongoing and Planned Environmental technologies action plan (ETAP), COM (2004) 38 final. Definition of the conditions for establishing environmental performance targets for key products, with Member States and key stakeholders by 2007. http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/etap/ http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/docum/9842sm.htm Action Plan for Sustainable Production and Consumption. Adoption foreseen 2007. http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/index_en.htm Thematic Strategy on the sustainable use of resources. Adoption December 2005. http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/natres/ Thematic strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste. Adoption December 2005. http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/waste/strategy.htm Integrated Product Policy (IPP), follow up to COM (2003) 302. http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/ipp/home.htm Greening of public procurement, including a proposed directive on public procurement of clean and energy efficient vehicles foreseen end 2005 and examination, with Member States, of how best to promote green public procurement for other major product groups, by 2007 http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/gpp/index.htm Rural Development Strategic Guidelines, strategic guidelines, National Strategies and Rural Development Programmes for the period 2007 – 2013, COM (2005) 304 . Adopted 2005. http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/capreform/rdguidelines/index_en.htm

EN 15 EN Thematic Strategy on Soil. Adoption foreseen in 2006. http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/waste/strategy.htm http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/soil/ Thematic Strategy on air pollution, COM (2005) 446 final. Adopted September 2005. http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/air/cafe/ Protection of the marine environment including the Thematic Strategy on the protection and conservation of the marine environment and other actions. Adoption 2005. http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/water/marine.htm The EU Water Framework Directive - integrated river basin management for Europe, Implementation of Directive 2000/60/EC. http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/water/water-framework/index_en.html European Biodiversity Strategy. Adopted 1998. C ommun ication on biodiversity strategy to be adopted 2006. http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/nature_conservation/natura_2000_network/ managing_natura_2000/index_en.htm Implementing multilateral environmental agreements. Ongoing. http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/international_issues/agreements_en.htm Green paper on maritime affairs. Adoption foreseen in early 2006. http://europa.eu.int/comm/fisheries/maritime/index_en.htm Green Diplomacy Network. Ongoing. http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/env/ EU Forest Action Plan. Adoption foreseen 2006. http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/index_en.htm 5. MAKING TRANSPORT MORE SUSTAINABLE Overall Objective Ensure that our transport systems meet society’s economic and social needs whilst minimising their undesirable impacts on the economy, society and the environment. Operational objectives and targets: Improve transport demand management in order to reduce the negative effects of transport growth Achieve sustainable levels of transport energy use in line with other sectors and reduce transport greenhouse gas emissions proportionately more than transport energy use Reduce pollutant emissions from transport to levels that minimise effects on human health or the environment

EN 16 EN Ensure that the average new car fleet achieves CO₂ emissions of 140g/km by 2008/9 and 120g/km by 2012,as part of an integrated policy approach. Work towards the introduction of Euro V emission standards for light duty vehicles and introduce Euro VI for heavy vehicles By 2010 ensure that 5.75 % of transport fuel is biofuels Reduce transport noise both at source and through mitigation measures to ensure overall exposure levels minimise impacts on health Increase road safety by improving road infrastructure, encouraging road users to be more responsible and by making vehicles safer By 2010 halve road transport deaths compared to 2000 By 2010 modernise the EU framework for public passenger transport services to encourage better efficiency and performance Examples of Key Actions: Ongoing and Planned White paper “Eur opean transport policy for 2010: time to decide” and mid -term review, COM (2001) 370. http://europa.eu.int/comm/energy_transport/library/lb_texte_complet_en.pdf EU strategy on CO₂ emissions from light duty vehicles. Communication on revised strategy to be adopted September 2006. http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/co2/co2_home.htm Promoting the use of biofuels and other renewable fuels for transport, Directive 2003/30/EC. http://europa.eu.int/comm/energy/res/legislation/biofuels_en.htm http://europa.eu.int/comm/energy/res/legislation/doc/biofuels/en_final.pdf Clean Urban Transport. Civitas II launched early 2005. http://europa.eu.int/comm/energy_transport/en/cut_en.html http://www.civitas-initiative.org/main.phtml?lan=en Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment. To be adopted January 2006 – including a measure on sustainable urban transport plans. http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/urban/home_en.htm Transport infrastructure charging. http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/infr-charging/charging_en.html Third railway package to make rail more attractive, adopted 2004, including COM (2004) 140 final. http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/rail/package2003/new_en.htm

EN 17 EN 6. FIGHTING GLOBAL POVERTY AND PROMOTING DEVELOPMENT Overall objectives To actively promote sustainable development worldwide and ensure that the European Union’s internal and external policies are consistent with global sustainable development and its international commitments Operational objectives and targets: The EU will implement its commitments related to the international framework for sustainable development, whose building blocks are the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg), the Monterrey Consensus, the outcome of the Millennium Review Summit and of the World Summit. The EU will make a significant contribution to the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. These are: To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger To reduce by half the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day To reduce by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger To achieve universal primary education To ensure that all boys and girls complete a full course of primary schooling To promote gender equality and empower women To eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education preferably by 2005, and at all levels by 2015 To reduce child mortality To reduce by two thirds the mortality rate among children under five To improve maternal health To reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality ratio To combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases To halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS To halt and begin to reverse the incidence of malaria and other major diseases To ensure environmental sustainability To integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes; reverse loss of environmental resources

EN 18 EN To reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water To achieve significant improvement in lives of at least 100 million slum-dwellers by 2020 To develop a global partnership for development including developing further an open trading and financial system To achieve these, the EU will in particular: 1) increase aid volumes; 2) improve the quality, coherence and effectiveness of its aid; 3) implement EU strategy on Africa; 4) promote Conflict Prevention; 5) implement the EU Development Policy – the European Consensus on Development;6) ensure the successful completion of the Doha Development Agenda and its contribution to the MDGs and sustainable development, 7) implement the GSP Plus, 8) ensure its regional and bilateral trade agreements contribute to sustainable development, 9) support global sustainable development Actions: Ongoing and Planned Accelerating progress towards attaining the MDGs, COM (2005) 132. http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/body/communications/communications_en.htm EU Strategy for Africa, COM (2005) 489. http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/body/communications/docs/eu_strategy_for_africa _12_10_2005_en.pdf#zoom=100 Financing for Development and Aid effectiveness,COM (2005) 133 . http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/body/communications/docs/communication_133_e n.pdf Policy Coherence for development, COM (2005) 134. http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/body/communications/docs/communication_134_e n.pdf General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) Conclusions: The European Union Development Policy ”The European Consensus” , based on the Communication COM (2005) 311. http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/body/development_policy_statement/index_en. Doha Development Agenda. Ongoing. http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/issues/newround/doha_da/index_en.htm Bilateral and regional trade agreements (such as Economic Partnership Agreements with the ACP countries).Ongoing . http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/body/cotonou/index_en.htm http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/issues/bilateral/index_en.htm Harnessing globalisation – Actions . http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/issues/global/index_en.htm

EN 19 EN http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/issues/global/sia/index_en.htm http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/issues/global/csr/index_en.htm Implementation of EU commitments under the World Summit on Sustainable Development, EU Water Initiative, EU Energy Initiative, 10-Year Implementation Plan on international sustainable production and consumption practices. Ongoing. http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/wssd/index_en.html EU international programme for Action to confront HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, 2007,COM (2004) 726 . http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/body/theme/human_social/pol_health3_en.htm

EN 20 EN ANNEX 3 THE 2005 REVIEW OF THE EU SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY: INITIAL STOCKTAKING AND FUTURE ORIENTATIONS COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT {COM (2005) 37}

EN 21 EN Foreword Sustainable development is a fundamental objective of the European Union, but it is also a global challenge faced by our partners around the world. It raises the questions of how to reconcile economic development, social cohesion, north/south equity and protection of the environment. Its importance is reflected in the EU Treaty and taken up in the Constitution, which challenges the Union “ to work for the sustainable development of Europe based on balanced economic growth and price stability, a highly competitive social market economy, aiming at full employment and social progress, and a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment”. With rapid demographic changes, the next decades will put enormous and increasing pressure on the world’s resources, whether in terms of climate change, natural resources, biodiversity, or the wealth gap between North and South. We must take action today in order to preserve for tomorrow the delicate economic, social and environmental balances governing the globe. Europe’s future can only be seen in this global context. The EU has already made significant efforts to promote sustainable development at home and internationally. By taking a proactive approach, the EU can turn the need for environmental protection and social cohesion into opportunities for innovation, growth and jobs. With the review of the sustainable development strategy (SDS) we recall our commitments to better define the structural changes needed in our economies and society, and set up a positive agenda to steer this process of change for better quality of life for all. To respond to this challenge, co-ordinated action and strong leadership is needed from the Union in order to shape solutions that can make a lasting difference to people in Europe and in every part of the world. This is why at the start of this millennium the European Union engaged itself in a compelling agenda for change, to ensure that we start to face up to unsustainable economic, social and environmental trends. In 2000 the Lisbon Strategy set out an ambitious agenda of economic and social reforms to create a highly dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy. In 2001 a broad Strategy for Sustainable Development was launched by the European Council in Gothenburg and in 2002 its external dimension was defined in Barcelona, ahead of the UN’s World Summit on Sustainable Development in the summer of 2002. Each of these steps has been accompanied by important decisions and action to fulfil the commitments made. However, despite all this not enough progress has been seen; unsustainable trends have yet to start to reverse and the international stakes remain high. The combination of the start of a new Commission and the arrival of a new European Parliament provides the right moment to take stock of progress and to push to accelerate the pace of change. The first steps have been made. The Commission in proposing the Strategic Objectives for the Union over the next five years has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable development. It has just proposed in the mid-term review of the Lisbon Strategy to make a renewed Lisbon agenda our strategy for growth and jobs; allowing us to use the motor of a more dynamic economy to fuel our wider social and environmental ambition. In this way, Lisbon remains an essential component of the overarching objective of sustainable development set out in the Treaty: improving welfare and living conditions in a sustainable way for present and future

EN 22 EN generations. As the Commission affirmed in the mid-term review: “ Both Lisbon and the Sustainable Development Strategy contribute to ensuring this goal. Being mutually reinforcing, they target complementary actions, use a range of instruments and produce their results in different time frames.” Moreover, the review of the Lisbon strategy is accompanied by the launch also today by the Commission of an updated EU Social Agenda; an agenda mapping out the policies that can help to ensure a more cohesive continent and the further development of our social model in response to unsustainable trends. In this way, our Social Agenda is contributing in its own right to the goal of sustainable development. This Communication represents the Commission’s first step in reviewing the Sustainable Development Strategy in 2005. This report provides an initial assessment of the progress made since 2001 and outlines a number of future orientations, which can guide the review of the Sustainable Development Strategy which will be presented in a separate Communication to the European Parliament and Council later this year. This Communication builds on debate over the proceeding year, including the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee last April and the results of a public consultation launched by the Commission last October³. The European Union has a broad, long term vision on its future. We believe in the strength and underlying values of our dynamic European model. We will ensure that the needs of the present and future generations can be met. This fundamental objective will transpire in all Union policies. Sustainable development requires action now. The European Union has the capacity, competence and creativity to make the changes needed. Europeans and all other citizens of the world can count on the Union’s commitment to ensure a sustainable future for all. 3 A more detailed summary of the outcome of these exercises is set out in Parts 1 and 2 of the Commission staff working document, SEC(2005) 225. The full Commission report on the consultation results will shortly be available at http://europa.eu.int/comm/sustainable/pages/review_en.htm.

EN 23 EN Part I: Sustainable Development – What is at stake? 1. INTRODUCTION Sustainable Development – meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs – is a fundamental objective under the Treaty on European Union⁴ and the Constitution. It is an overarching concept which underpins all Union policies, actions and strategies and requires economic, environmental and social policies to be designed and implemented in a mutually reinforcing way. In an ever more globalised world, clear political leadership is necessary to promote a dynamic European model for today and in the future. The Commission is firmly committed to sustainable development and wants to set a positive agenda for change. Our future in Europe and in the world requires a long term vision and action across a wide range of policies. The Commission is convinced that we need to improve prosperity, solidarity and security in order to deliver a better quality of life for us and future generations. We need growth and more jobs, a cleaner and healthier environment. We need a more cohesive society where prosperity and opportunity is shared across the European Union and beyond. We need more innovation, research and education. We need to fulfil our global responsibilities and commitments. Our future prosperity and quality of life will depend on our capacity and commitment to change our production and consumption patterns and to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation. Action on these issues cannot be confined to the Union alone. Sustainability remains a global challenge. This is why it is essential to show European leadership along twin internal and external tracks. This requires an integrated approach and reflects the fact that with globalisation and increasing interdependence between issues, the EU can only deliver fully on its key internal priorities if it succeeds at the same time on the world scene. Equally, the EU’s ability to reflect its global commitments in all its policies is crucial if it is to turn words into deeds, maintaining its credibility as a world leader in the field of sustainable development. While this Commission’s mandate continues until the end of 2009, it has a clear obligation to look beyond that date in formulating policy. If we want to achieve our future goals, we must not wait until tomorrow; we have to take action now. Realising the long term vision calls for concrete objectives to steer long term trends as well as mechanisms to meet the goals set out, starting now. This Commission has already confirmed the relevance of its core strategic objectives of prosperity, solidarity and security to sustainable development⁵. The EU first set out its commitment to sustainable development in June 2001. At this time the Gothenburg European Council adopted the EU Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS) on the basis of a Commission Communication. In 2002, the Commission presented a second Communication⁶ focussing on the external dimension of sustainable development, which was endorsed by the European Council in Barcelona. These texts together form the basis of the 4 Art. 2 of the Treaty on European Union. 5 COM(2005) 12, 26.1.2005 : “ Strategic objectives 2005-2009 - Europe 2010: A partnership for European Renewal: Prosperity, Solidarity and Security”. 6 COM(2002) 82, 13.2.2002: "Towards a global partnership for sustainable development".