Sustainable development means meeting the needs of the present whilst ensuring future generations can meet their own needs. It has three pillars: economic, environmental and social. To achieve sustainable development, policies in these three areas have to work together and support each other.
Trade policy review: With its 2021 communication on the trade policy review the Commission is putting sustainability at the heart of its new trade strategy, supporting the fundamental transformation of its economy to a climate-neutral one.
Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+): The EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) gives developing countries a special incentive to pursue sustainable development and good governance.
Development projects: The ‘Global Challenges’ programme of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument — Global Europe (NDICI-Global Europe) covers the global and multilateral dimension of the EU’s action to implement its political priorities. It aims to strengthen the EU as a global actor in the delivery of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement to help eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and achieve sustainable development.
Many of the Geographic multi-annual indicative programmes (MIPs) include priorities linked to sustainable development. The EU tailors its support to fit the region or country being helped. Programmes with a global reach allow the EU to provide similar support to countries facing similar problems.
Certain projects of the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments also promote human rights and environmental aspects.
The EU is actively engaging in bilateral and multilateral collaboration with other international organisation on matters relevant to corporate sustainability, and business and human rights. This includes collaboration with UN (OHCHR), ILO, OECD, G7 and G20 (ITC).