EU and UN to announce renewed partnership to help countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

NEW YORK - The Spotlight Initiative is recognized as an example of close cooperation between both institutions.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and EU Commissioner for International Development and Cooperation Neven Mimica announced a renewed strategic framework for cooperation to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at a press event during the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The new framework will encourage countries to integrate the 2030 Agenda into their national strategies and priorities. The renewed partnership’s focus areas are gender equality, inclusive sustainable growth, climate action, humanitarian situations and migration.

“The Spotlight Initiative has given us a good experience of how EU-UN partnership can be done from the policy all the way down to the country level,” said UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed. “We look forward to cementing our relationship.”

“Without our concrete partnership on fighting violence against women and girls through our Spotlight Initiative, we would never be the best development player,” said EU Commissioner for International Development and Cooperation Neven Mimica. “It is a huge responsibility and solidarity that we would like to demonstrate and take forward.”

Read the full communique (via European Commission)