Post 2015: Global Action for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future

InTRODuCTIOn
This European
Report on
Development aims
to provide an
independent
contribution to
the debate on a
possible post-2015
development
framework.
The Report focuses
on the potential
value of a new
global framework
in generating
a concerted
movement to
promote
development and
support the efforts
of poor countries
to this end.
2
In a commendable effort to increase
accountability, the international community
set itself a target date of 2015 to achieve the
key objectives of the historic united nations
millennium Declaration, on which the
millennium Development Goals (mDGs) are based.
this widely recognised deadline has inevitably
attracted considerable debate. as it approaches,
there has been much research on whether the targets
as set out in the mDGs will be met, along with a
parallel discussion on what might succeed them.
International development efforts will not simply
stop in 2015, as there is still much left to do. but do
developing countries and the wider international
community need a new global framework beyond
the mDGs?
this European report on Development aims to
provide an independent contribution to the debate
on a possible post-2015 development framework
to succeed the mDGs and what elements it might
usefully incorporate.
1. Focus of the Report
the report focuses on the potential value of a
new global framework in generating a concerted
movement to promote development and support
the efforts of poor countries to this end. Have the
mDGs helped or even hindered their development
progress, or have they perhaps served mainly to
mobilise donors? How might a new global agenda
most usefully support national development efforts?
the report sets out to identify ideas for a possible
new framework and to provide evidence, analysis
and research-based recommendations to support
them. at the same time the aim is not to conduct
an exhaustive analysis of possible ingredients for a
post-2015 framework nor to design a complete new
set of goals.
EuropEan rEport on DEvElopmEnt 2013
the report also analyses the role of the European
union (Eu) as a global actor in advancing
international development, both through its
development cooperation policies and through
its other policies that also influence development
outcomes. While developing countries have the
prime responsibility for their own development and
increasingly take the lead in setting the parameters
of international cooperation, Europe can, and
indeed should, continue to make an important
contribution to the achievement of any successor
to the mDGs.
by focusing on what the Eu might contribute to a
possible future global framework for development
it is also hoped this report can make a distinctive
contribution to the wider global debate. the united
nations (un) is organising a series of national and
thematic consultations on the post-2015 agenda 2 ,
the Secretary-General of the united nations has
established a High-level panel of Eminent persons to
produce recommendations on a future framework,
and a large public consultation effort organised by
the un aims to reach citizens in every country. In
January 2013, a 30-member open Working Group
(oWG) of the General assembly was constituted
to prepare a proposal on Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs), a process that many hope will be
brought together with the post-2015 agenda at
a suitable point. at the same time, civil society
organisations (cSos) across the globe are also
developing reports and campaigns on the post-
2015 agenda, while academics and researchers are
analysing data and policies on a range of possible
options. parliaments are taking an interest and
national governments are preparing their positions.
much of this discussion will crystallise around
the 68th Session of the un General assembly in
September 2013, when the Secretary-General of
the united nations will present a report setting out
recommendations for the way forward.
2 the un System task team on the post-2015 development agenda is producing a series of think pieces. Its report to the un Secretary General
in June 2012 ‘realizing the Future we Want’ is a background document for the consultations.