Austria's Commitment to the 2030 Agenda

© Petra Spiola
Petra Bayr
Member of the National Council, SPÖ Spokesperson
for Global Development and Member of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe
2030 Agenda:
From ideas straight into the policy-making
The appointment of the SDG-Ambassadors
was the first important step to make our
colleagues aware of the SDGs. What we
need now is to actively introduce the SDGs
into the parliamentary activities.
A new structure of the parliamentary
committees according to the 2030 Agenda
motto of “break down the silos” would
be desirable. The cooperation of several
committees, if target conflicts arise, is
also an option here, as are new structure,
The first step in this direction has already
been taken when the Voluntary National
Review and the relevant report of the
for example regular sustainability meetings
with all chairs of the parliamentary
committees.
Court of Auditors were discussed. It is now
necessary to make the SDGs the subject of
debate at all committees in a structural and
regular manner. This requires sustainability
project reports of the ministries which are
Currently, the SDGs are finding their way
into the minds of most politicians. Next,
they must be included in all acts of joint
policy-making.
regularly discussed at all committees, as
well as a clear objective with a time scale,
responsibilities and budgets for each individual
target.
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