18.09.2020
“The agenda that we have drawn up together for sustainable development between now and 2030 is particularly important for Bulgaria as a key to addressing inequalities and a way to achieve a prosperous and peaceful society.”
This was stated by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov in his intervention at the First Sustainable Development Summit held within the Decade of Action taking place in the context of the General Debate of the UN General Assembly. This year the forum and the parallel events will be held entirely online, the reason being the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bulgaria’s Prime Minister stressed to the world leaders that upon the adoption in 2015 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the UN, the member states made a long-term commitment to achieve them. Poverty eradication, economic growth, reduction of inequalities, quality education, peace and justice are some of SDGs.
“We have just ten years to deliver, therefore the full mobilization of the international community is needed,” Prime Minister Borissov said. He stressed that owing to the COVID-19 pandemic the achievement of the goals is at a standstill while exacerbated social inequalities, poverty and the grave impacts of climate change come to the fore.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly shown that Agenda 2030 is more important than ever. The announced Decade of Action will be a Decade of Recovery as well, with a focus on development goals,” Boyko Borissov noted. He was firm that, among other things, the pandemic had shown that no country could cope with the consequences on its own.
“Close cooperation and coordinated action is needed. We all must meet our share of our commitments in strict compliance with the principle ‘no one should be bypassed’ and with the involvement of the stakeholders,” Prime Minister Boyko Borissov noted. As he said, the involvement of the NGOs, the businesses, the young people, the academia, the vulnerable groups and the local government is the key to the achievement of the set 17 goals.
Prime Minister Borissov recalled that this year Bulgaria submitted its first Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the implementation of the goals. Along with the achievements, some challenges that impede them were identified. “It is necessary to improve the quality of education and healthcare,” Bulgaria’s Prime Minister said in his intervention at the Summit. Further, he underscored the need for efficient enforcement of environment legislation.
“We plan to develop a national mechanism to coordinate the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals as we involve the Government and a wide range of stakeholders,” Mr. Borissov went on to say.
The Prime Minister told the Summit that the motto of the Bulgarian Parliament, “United we stand strong” is fully relatable, inter alia, to the achievement of the UN goals. “Bulgaria stands ready to meet its part of the commitment. It is time to act,” Boyko Borissov said.
The Summit which the Bulgarian Prime Minister joined was attended by 23 Heads of State/Government of Austria, Finland, Norway, Slovenia, Argentina, Peru, Lebanon, Morocco, the Republic of South Africa, among other.
