The EU and its Member States are shifting policies towards long-term sustainability. There is increasing convergence between the EU's longer-term Sustainable Development Strategy and the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs. But to obtain the necessary results on the ground, action to turn around persistent unsustainable trends must be significantly stepped up. Those are the main conclusions of the Commission's first Progress Report on the EU's renewed Sustainable Development Strategy, adopted in June 2006. It is a long-term strategy which complements the medium-term approach under the renewed Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs. The Report confirms that Europe must implement its climate change policies and markedly increase the use of alternative energy; take bolder steps towards environmentally friendly transport; increase efforts to halt biodiversity loss; and continue to lead in the fight against poverty both in Europe and the world.

Commission President, José Manuel Barroso said "We have made significant progress by working in partnership with member states. This report also shows that we must do even more to bequeath a healthy planet and a healthy society for future generations. We can further reinforce the partnership for sustainability between the EU, Member States, civil society and business. We must reverse unsustainable long-term trends in areas like energy consumption, transport, bio-diversity and health and maintain the emphasis on sustainability in the Lisbon Growth and Jobs Strategy. We will continue to lead in fighting climate change and keep our promises to the developing world."

The renewed Sustainable Development Strategy was adopted by the European Council in June 2006. It addresses seven main challenges: climate change and clean energy; sustainable transport; sustainable consumption and production; conservation and management of natural resources; public health; social inclusion, demography and migration and Global Poverty.

The report concludes that both the EU and Member States have succeeded in putting in place many of the right policy frameworks. There is increasing convergence between the overarching long-term objective of sustainable development – focusing on quality of life, equity between generations and the long-term viability of European society - and the medium-term goal of growth and jobs under the Lisbon Strategy.

At European level, the report gives three examples of this convergence: the energy and climate change policy agenda being driven forward by the Commission based on the agreement at the European Council in March 2007; the single market, which demonstrates how market opening accompanied by social and environmental measures can improve quality of life; and the drive for better regulation, which assists coherence across policy areas by requiring the systematic assessment of economic, social and environmental impacts.

Delivery on the ground in reversing unsustainable trends needs to be significantly stepped up. The report confirms that the Union should continue to focus on the seven challenges identified in June 2006, but should give particular priority to climate change and clean energy. Only stronger action can bring the Union closer to the objectives set in the strategy. The report urges both the EU and Member States to focus on the effective implementation of the policies that will deliver measurable impact on the ground.

The assessment is based on the 2007 Eurostat Monitoring Report on the Sustainable Development Indicators (SDI's); 27 Member State progress reports on the implementation of the EU Sustainable Development Strategy and on an independent consultancy study.

The Communication is accompanied by a Commission Staff Working Paper that sets out the technical details of the assessment.

The report allows the European Council to review progress and priorities and to provide new orientations at its next meeting in December.
Relevant documents will be made available at:

http://ec.europa.eu/sustainable/welcome/index_en.htm

source: gkm.gov.hu