The Workshop on the Europe Sustainable Development Report 2026 (7th edition) was hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in collaboration with the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).

The workshop presented the preliminary findings of the Europe Sustainable Development Report 2026, the seventh edition of SDSN’s independent assessment of the European Union’s progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The SDG Index provided a comparative, data-driven overview of areas in which EU Member States have achieved progress, as well as areas where significant gaps remain: https://www.unsdsn.org/news/europe-sustainable-development-report-2026-public-consultation/

During her intervention, Prof. Phoebe Koundouri presented findings from the integrated assessment of 35 European National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) extending to 2050, developed by the SDSN Global Climate Hub, which she chairs. The analysis identified gaps in policy coherence, financing, and land and water management, and underscored the importance of cross-sectoral coordination and strengthened monitoring frameworks to ensure a timely, efficient, and equitable transition to climate neutrality across Europe. The full analysis is available here: https://unsdsn.globalclimatehub.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GCHmodels_EU_a4_cover_web-3.pdf

In parallel, Prof. Koundouri referred to the broader science–policy perspective of the United Nations Global Sustainable Development Report 2027, for which she has been appointed Chief Scientist. The report, an assessment of assessments on global progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, represents the final edition prior to the 2030 deadline of the UN Agenda 2030 and is expected to play a critical role in shaping the future of the global sustainable development agenda.