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Rapporteur Rio and CoR president invited to the Council to talk about the EU Voluntary Review

Ricardo Rio, mayor of Braga and rapporteur on SDGs, as well as CoR President Vasco Cordeiro, have been invited by the Czech presidency of the EU, to present the CoR input for the European Voluntary Review at the Council Working Party meeting on the 2030 Agenda mid november.

Rapporteur Rio meets members of the ENVE Commission to gather input on SDGs localisation and progress

On 6 October, rapporteur Ricardo Rio lead a debate on progress on SDGs implementation during the CoR ENVE external meeting in Milan. He will gather input mostly on the environmental and energy dimensions of the SDGs. Discussions will also include the bridges between SDGs localisation and local green deals.

European Parliament to adopt report on the implementation of SDGs

On 23 June, the European Parliament will adopt a progress report on the implementation of SDGs. The CoR suggested amendments ahead of the adoption to make sure the local dimension of SDGs as well as the sheer contribution of cities and regions is included in the report.

Rapporteur delivers strong message in European Parliament podcast on SDGs in regions

Rapporteur Ricardo Rio delivered strong message on the importance of regions and cities commitment on SDGs in European Parliament podcast on SDGs and regions.

CoR participates in Web-a-thon in support of Ukraine and sustainability

CoR participated in a web-a-thon to support Ukraine and talked about the importance of SDGs and a just fair transition in these troubled times with the war in Ukraine, the pandemic and the current economic situation. The event was organised by CSR Europe and Globe Scan and highlighted that it is not time to undo all that have been done on sustainability but to accelerate action to implement SDGs. Regions and cities are companies best ally to navigate toward this path, advocated the CoR.

Rapporteur in ESDN video to advocate for SDGs as the ideal framework for recovery

Rapporteur Ricardo Rio is featured in a Spotlight video of the ESDN (European Sustainable Development Network). He promotes a sustainable recovery based on the SDGs framework and the involvement of local and regional authorities in the European and national recovery efforts.
''This opportunity is not one that we can afford to miss!" Ricardo Rio

Rapporteur Rio participates in the OECD launch of report on SDGs and recovery

Rapporteur Ricardo Rio spoke at the 5th OECD roundtable on Cities and Regions for the SDGs. This was the occasion to celebrate the fruitful partnership between the OECD and the CoR on SDGs with the launch of the OECD policy paper on "The Sustainable Development Goals as a Framework for COVID-19 Recovery in Cities and Regions", based on the OECD-CoR Survey.
The rapporteur also shared his own experience as Mayor of the 3rd largest city of Portugal, Braga, and firm advocator of the SDGs for recovery. He notably spoke on the importance and role of local universities to design custom made plans based on SDGs.

CoR-OECD Webinar "The SDGs as a framework for COVID-19 recovery in cities and regions - Findings from the OECD-CoR Survey"

The Rapporteur participated in the CoR-OECD webinar to present the policy paper with the findings from the CoR-OECD survey on SDGs as a framework for recovery in cities and regions.

The European Commission issues a follow-up report on the Opinion

The European Commission issued a follow-up report on the Opinion, in which it reaffirms its committment to the 2030 Agenda, focusing on delivering concrete actions in all policy areas. The Commission intends to continue the efforts to integrate the SDGs in the European Semester and engage in a meaningful way with stakeholders.

Rapporteur Rio presents the Opinion at the ESDN Annual Conference organized by the Slovenian Presidency of the Council

The Rapporteur was invited by the Slovenian Presidency fo the Council to present the Opinion at the European Sustainable Development Network Annual Conference "European Recovery and Resilience Mechanisms - Challenges in systemic approaches in Sustainable Development". In particular he intervened in the session themed: "Resilience for Sustainable Development"

Rapporteur speaks at the AER High-Level Conference on the 2030 Agenda

Mr. Rio was invited to discuss the potential of SDGs to achieve sustainable and resilient regions in a post-pandemic world at the Assembly of European Regions High-Level Conference on the 2030 Agenda.

CoR teams up with Eurocities, Regions4, CEMR and OECD on SDGs for the European Week of Regions and Cities

The CoR together with SDGs territorial stakeholders will organise a stocktaking event on the role of SDGs in the recovery on 19 October 2021 during the European Week of Regions and Cities. This event takes place in the framework of a long-term partnership on SDGs.

Rapporteur intervenes at UNECE Roundtable

Rapporteur Ricardo Rio was invited to discuss the implementation of SDGs 11 at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Roundtable on “Housing and sustainable urban development in a world marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change”

Council Chair of the 2030 Agenda Working Party thanks CoR rapporteur for input in Council Conclusions

On 30 June, Elisabete Palma wrote to rapporteur Ricardo Rio, thanking rapporteur for its input for the Council Conclusions published on 22 June, and highlighted points taken up. Importantly, Mrs Palma confirmed that even if the Portuguese Presidency of the EU is ending, it will remain a strong supporteur of CoR, and regions and cities in the Working Party.

Rapporteur discusses SDGs at the Brussels Economic Forum

Rapporteur Ricardo Rio was invited to discuss the key contribution of the SDGs to a sustainable recovery in a Q&As session together with Eurostat Director. The events also featured Angela Merkel, Ursula von der Leyen and Christine Lagarde.

CoR and the OECD strenghten their cooperation in a roundtable on recovery and SDGs

The CoR and the OECD co-organised a roundtable on recovery and SDGs. CoR director for legislative works, Thomas Wobben, and OECD Deputy Secretary General, Ulrik Knudsen, opened the event, praising and renewing their close cooperation to champion the SDGs as the right framework for recovery in the EU.
Rapporteur Ricardo Rio also participated in the event, presenting the first results of a CoR-OECD joint survey on recovery and SDGs.

Council publishes SDGs Council Conclusions and takes onboard CoR views

The Council issued its Council Conclusions on SDGs exhorting the European Commission to accelerate the implementation of SDGs, linking them directly to the recovery efforts, in line with CoR recommendations. The Conclusions also took onboard CoR positions on the importance of governance, regions and cities contributions, as well as the need for a structured dialogue with stakeholders on SDGs.

Chair of the Council Working Party on SDGs discusses SDGs with ECON members

On 20 April, the Chair of the Council Working Party on the 2030 Agenda, Elisabetta Palma, participated in the CoR ECON meeting and highlighted the convergence of positions between the Council and the CoR on SDGs. She supported the CoR draft opinion that was later adopted by ECON members that day, and confirmed that CoR positions will be taken on board in the future Council Conclusions.

Council and EP participates in CoR ECON meeting for the adoption of SDGs opinion

Chair of the Council Working Party on the 2030 Agenda, Elisabete Palma, EP ECON MEP, Frances Fitzgerald, and EC Dombrovskis member of cabinet, Mirzha de Manuel, supported the work of the CoR on SDGs and highlighted their engagement to support the SDGs in the recovery process as well as their readiness to work with CoR rapporteur on SDGs localisation.

CoR rapporteur talks SDGs with the Council delegates on SDGs

Ricardo Rio presented the views of regions and cities on SDGs to the national delegates of the Council Working Party on the 2030 Agenda in a bid to contribute to the Council Conclusions on SDGs to be published end of June at the end of the Portuguese Presidency. He insisted on the importance of using the SDGs as a framwork for recovery, especially in the European Semester to link SDGs better with the RRF. He also insisted on the importance of localising SDGs and reinstating a structured dialogue on SDGs with stakeholders: the EU multi-stakeholders platform on SDGs.

Rapporteur Rio meets UN senior officials to discuss SDGs at global level

Rapporteur Ricardo Rio met with Jose Dallo and Pablo Gago Lorenzo, from the Executive Office of the Secretary General of United Nations, working on te 2030 Agenda. They talked about the Decade for Action on SDGs and the localisation of SDGs. The UN will launch a range of action to accelerate implementation of SDGs at all levels, this will include actions to give more visibility to local action and give impetus for further ambition. The UN and the CoR will work together in this endeavour, notably during the next HLPF and by collecting local and regional best practices.

Rapporteur Rio discusses SDGs and cohesion with Commissioner Ferreira and her cabinet

This week, rapporteur Ricardo Rio discussed with Commissioner Elisa Ferreira and Carole Mancel-Blanchard the links between EU regional policy and SDGs to make sure to highlight the key role of the EU in supporting regions and cities to implement SDGs.

CoR rapporteur participate in Eurocities SDGs taskforce meeting to gather input for opinion

Rapporteur Rio discusses the importance of putting back SDGs in the EU narrative with the European Commission Secretariat General

Rapporteur Ricardo Rio met Lucian Parvulescu and Laia Matero Pintos from the European Commission Secretariat General. As coordinators and drafters of the Staff Working Document on SDGs, they were key stakeholders to discuss about the visibility problem of SDGs in the EU narrative as well as key issues such as the lack of structured dialogue with stakeholders on SDGs, the internal governance of SDGs within the EC to mainstream them in all policies, and the need to better link SDGs with the EU recovery.

CoR rapporteur exchange with the European Commission Secretariat General on SDGs

On 4 March, Ricardo Rio met with Lucian Parvulescu and Laia Pinos Mateiro, in charge of the former EU multi-stakeholders platform on SDGs and now coordinating SDGs work with all European Commission services.
They discussed the still key relevance of SDGs in policy-making and the need to make it more prominent, as well as the need for a more structured dialogue with stakeholders. The Secretariat-General put forward the Climate Pact as such a structured dialogue. However the rapporteur pointed out this was not on SDGs and needed to integrate more stakeholders in decision-making.

CoR rapporteur meets DG REGIO to talk EU support for regions and cities on SDGs

CoR rapporteur meets with EU Council Chair of Working Party on 2030 Agenda

Ricardo Rio met with Elisabete Palma, Chair of the EU Council Working Party on the 2030 Agenda during the Portuguese Presidency. They agreed on the absolute need to put back the SDGs at the centre of the EU narrative, and reinstate a structured dialogue between the European Commission and SDGs stakeholders after the end of the EU multi-stakeholders platform on SDGs. On this basis, Ricardo Rio shared key messages that should be in the coming Council Conclusions on SDGs to be published by June 2021.

CoR rapporteur meets representatives from EU Urbact project

Rapporteur Rio meets UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres

Rapporteur Ricardo Rio met with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to talk about the importance of the SDGs as a universal agenda for development and recovery. They also talked about the key role of regions and cities to implement SDGs.

CoR rapporteur meets with cabinet of Commissioner Gentiloni responsible for Economy

Ricardo Rio met with Estelle Göger and Marco Piantini to discuss the importance of SDGs in the recovery and agreed it should be more prominent in the next cycle of a reformed European Semester to better link recovery and SDGs.

CoR organises SDGs stakeholders consultation

Newly appointed rapporteur, Ricardo Rio, Mayor of the 3rd largest city of Portugal, is organising a stakeholders' consultation ahead of drafting the next CoR opinion on delivering the SDGs on time.
In addition to his intervention, interventions from regions and cities such as the Basque Country and Espoo Islands are foreseen. Territorial organisations such as Eurocities and CEMR, as well as the OECD will speak. Former partners at the EU SDGs multi-stakeholders platform - CSR Europe, SDGWatch, WWF - will contribute with the views of civil society.

CoR rapporteur meets with members of the cabinet of the 1st EC Vice-President Dombrovskis

Ricardo Rio met with members of Commissioner Dombrovskis in charge of SDGs, recovery and European Semester. They discussed the Recovery and Resilience Facility and its possible links with SDGs, the role of regions and cities in sustainability, as well as the work of the European Commission on sustainable trade.