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On March 22, in the city of Strasbourg of France the member of the RA NA Delegation to PACE, the Key Rapporteur on PACE Local and Regional Authorities Armen Gevorgyan gave a speech during the Meeting on the topic ‘Localisation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)’ at the 44^th Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.

“Mr Chair,

Mr Secretary General

Dear colleagues

First of all, let me express my gratitude for the invitation to participate in this discussion. We are going to deal with an undeniably important and relevant topic for the entire global international community, and specifically for the Council of Europe, which should become a key player in promoting the ideas of sustainable development and achieving the set goals. I would also like to congratulate the rapporteurs for their very responsible work done.

My statement will be based on three main dimensions: first - my reading of the complex environment for the achievement of SDGs; second - new tasks for the localisation of the SDGs; and third - some suggestions of how we can more efficiently localise these SDGs.

We have lived through exactly half of the journey towards the SDGs, and today we have a good opportunity to evaluate where we are and suggest a new road map for moving forward. The Sustainable Development Goals provide very desirable parameters for development, and we all are aware of some assessments that they, unfortunately, could remain on paper by 2030. Such expectations evolve under the pressure of new global threats, ongoing confrontations, and polarization in the world.

Let me begin by reiterating that we all have to acknowledge and realize the fact that the SDGs are our common goals which have been adopted within the UN as call for action for all. My discussions with experts and representatives of various international organizations allow me to single out the following main issues with regards to implementation process:

1. Participation of different levels of Government and private sector actors in the implementation of the SDG agenda. It’s rather challenging and sometimes difficult to coordinate the assessment of different participants' contribution to the Agenda 2030 as well as their potential to be engaged in more areas and sectors for contribution.

2. The evaluation of the SDGs implementation. The planning and implementation of policies towards SDGs achievement lack comprehensive and inclusive approaches taking into consideration the different sectoral and geographical dimensions. They also lack inclusive, participatory mechanisms. The process does not allow the inclusion of all the relevant stakeholders and the participation of civil society in decision-making.

3. Lack of necessary data. Many countries are struggling with collection of necessary data about SDGs and their implementation. The data collection is implemented differently in the countries, which makes more difficult to assess SDG targets and indicators in the global context.

4. Sustainable financial mechanisms. It is very important to have not only Government funds, but also a proper and efficient engagement of private sector and donor community to design and implement efficiently functioning sustainable finance mechanisms and instruments.

Dear Colleagues,

We have been destined to live in times of polycrisis. As recent studies in Europe show, among the many issues, the rising cost of living is currently the most pressing concern for citizens. Poverty and social exclusion are also high on their mind. The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, rising inflation and the energy crisis continue to affect living standards. According to Eurobarometer, both the potential spread of the war in Ukraine to other countries and the climate change emergency remain leading worries for the majority of EU citizens.

Above all, we are also facing global challenges. The development in the post-Soviet space in particular has yielded an abnormal situation, when many nations found themselves before an uneasy choice between democracy or security. The current shifts in the world make us reflect about a fourth dimension where the SDGs evolve. Apart from economic growth, social responsibility and environmental balance we have to think also about security - or in other words - about the safe and peaceful environment for life.

With all these challenges in mind, however, we must be adequate and rational in order to achieve sustainable development goals. First - we should realize and appreciate the fact that the risks for the achievement of 17 SDGs by 2030 increase by year, triggered by geopolitical turbulence and disruption of global security architecture. Our sense of rationality has to be manifested in the understanding that life nevertheless goes on and we have to constantly identify new solutions that will utilize the available resources in most optimal way, and should expand our partnerships and cooperation.

With regards to localisation of SDGs in the given period, when half of this journey is behind us, I would suggest to begin by developing a new road map for their achievement: new tasks - new solutions. Such an approach will manifest rationality in our work. Let me suggest to take note of the following new tasks in our pursuit to further localise the SDGs:

1.Making an inventory of interim results of our work and undertaking a comparative analysis of what we have had prior to 2015 with what we have on national, regional and local levels as of now;

2.Prioritizing the SDGs with a view of highlighting those most volatile or hard to achieve and listing those that are most relevant and important on the national and local levels, given the scope of our resources and limited time;

3.Synchronization as a set of measures to provide for conditions at the vertical and horizontal levels of cooperation to create an effective and responsive environment for achieving the SDGs.

In the meantime, for the purposes of most effective and efficient localisation of SDGs I would suggest to consider the potential of such mechanisms of work and collaboration as the following:

•Deliberative democracy

•The 12 Principles of Good Democratic Governance

•Multi-level governance

•Cross border cooperation

•Digital and Green public administration

For deeper and more efficient localisation of the SDGs we may consider a development and implementation of such a multi-level system of governance (MLG) that will feature the following functions of: coordination, rationalization, counseling and equalization.

The working group of the European Committee on Democracy and Governance presumes that the MLG, which is based on the premise of utility of decisions and recommendations made, shall include the following characteristics:

1.The respective roles, functions, competences, and activities of each level are duly taken into account; which entails the principle of mutual respect.

2.It aims at determining the right area over which decisions must be taken and the right level to take action regarding economic issues, whilst preserving the respective identities; which in essence is the principle of complementarity.

3.It is based on respect, a fair dialogue, transparency, and trust, which is about the principle of mutual understanding in action.

In conclusion, allow me to underpin some key preconditions that carry the promise of crowning our work with success. We should:

1.Preserve and evolve the advantages of local democracy as a basis for our common democratic culture;

2.Root the principles of equality and fair distribution of public goods and governance as the main mechanism of ensuring trust in society,

3.Ensure the availability of quality education and access to it as the key condition to have an independent, self-sufficient, active, and principled citizen.

4.Comprehensively strive to restore and maintain a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

And finally, we have to mobilize as much as we can the positive and creative energy of young people, recruit and engage them most proactively in shaping the global transformations in the world.

Thank you for your attention,” Armen Gevorgyan said.