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Reply to Recommendation | Doc. 14966 | 24 September 2019
Strengthening co-operation with the United Nations in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
1. The Committee of
Ministers has carefully examined Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 2150 (2019) entitled “Strengthening co-operation with the United
Nations in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.
2. The Committee notes that the United Nations is a key partner
of the Council of Europe, which seeks to give expression at regional
level to the universal principles of human rights and democracy
developed by the United Nations at global level. Co-operation between
the two organisations has a long history and covers a variety of
areas. The extent of this co-operation can be seen in the various
resolutions on co-operation between the United Nations and the Council
of Europe which the General Assembly of the United Nations adopts
every two years, to coincide with its debate on co-operation with
regional and other organisations.
3. The last such resolution was adopted by the United Nations
General Assembly on 26 November 2018 (doc. A/RES/73/15). The next draft resolution will appear on the Committee
of Ministers’ agenda in the spring 2020, for adoption by the General
Assembly of the United Nations in the second half of 2020. The Committee will
take into due consideration any contribution which the Parliamentary
Assembly might wish to send it in connection with the preparation
of this draft. It will do likewise in the event that it should have
to prepare a contribution to the review of progress in implementing
the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
4. In addition, the Committee of Ministers has brought Parliamentary
Assembly Recommendation
2150 (2019) to the attention of the governments of the member and
observer States so that they can take due note of the recommendations
set out therein, including the wish “to include members of the Parliamentary
Assembly in their delegations to the General Assembly for the purpose
of the biannual debate on co-operation between the United Nations
and the Council of Europe, as well as to various events for the
review of progress in implementing the SDGs, including the High-level
Political Forum on Sustainable Development”.
5. The Committee of Ministers notes that primary responsibility
for achieving the SDGs lies with the authorities in the member States.
In its view, however, the Council of Europe can contribute to the implementation
of Agenda 2030 for sustainable development by helping States to
achieve the SDGs at national level. To this end, it points out that
the Organisation's programme of activities and budget are now drawn
up in line with the relevant SDGs. With regard to intergovernmental
activities, it informs the Parliamentary Assembly that for the 2020-2021
biennium, all steering and ad hoc committees could be tasked, inter alia, with contributing in
their respective fields to the implementation of the United Nations
Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and regularly reviewing
progress towards the implementation of its SDGs. In addition, the creation
of a website indicating how the work of the various Council of Europe
bodies and instruments contributes to the SDGs is a useful tool
for member States in their reporting on the implementation of the
SDGs.
6. The Committee of Ministers has held several discussions on
the Council of Europe's contribution to the implementation of the
SDGs, including in the context of its regular dialogue with the
Secretary General of the Council of Europe. Further exchanges of
views on this issue, including with the possible participation of representatives
of the Parliamentary Assembly, could be held in particular at the
level of the Rapporteur Group on External Relations (GR-EXT).
7. As regards the Council of Europe’s representation at the United
Nations, the Committee of Ministers wishes to point out that the
opening of Council of Europe Liaison Offices in Geneva and Vienna
in 2010 and 2011 respectively have been instrumental in strengthening
co-operation and achieving greater synergy between the United Nations
and the Council of Europe. Co-operation with the United Nations
Headquarters in New York is ensured through regular dialogue at
the level of the Secretaries General of the two organisations, through
exchanges of information and numerous contacts between the two secretariats.
The Committee of Ministers is open to considering the possibility
of greater Council of Europe representation at the United Nations,
subject to budgetary neutrality.