President Sánchez reiterates Spain's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals at the United Nations

UN Headquarters, New York (United States)

The theme of this year's event is "Rebuilding Trust and Reigniting Global Solidarity: Accelerating Action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all."

At this meeting, the president addressed the various crises that the world has been facing in recent years, such as COVID-19, the climate emergency and the war against Ukraine. In this way, he highlighted the importance of articulating joint mechanisms capable of protecting the most vulnerable and creating supportive and resilient societies. Pedro Sánchez highlighted the social shield that the Government of Spain has put in place nationally, implementing progressive public policies in areas such as employment, health, education, sex equality, social inclusion, digitalisation and the fight against the climate emergency. And this, President Sánchez stressed, is "with the aim of advancing and protecting."

The acting President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at the Summit on Sustainable Development Goals | Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

Internationally, the acting president of the Government of Spain stressed Spain's intention to continue contributing to the various United Nations instruments in order to make progress in achieving the 2030 Agenda and to make the SDGs a reality. In this regard, Pedro Sánchez highlighted the Law on International Cooperation, with which Spain is committed to devoting 0.7% of our Gross National Income to Official Development Aid by 2030. To achieve this, the acting president of the Government of Spain has announced new lines of financial support. Firstly, an increase (to 120 million euros) in Spain's contribution to the Joint SDG Fund, of which Spain is already the second largest contributor. Secondly, the reinforcement of food security through Spain's support to the International Fund for Agricultural Development with 20 million euros. Finally, President Sánchez stated that Spain aspires today, with its contributions, to be among the top 10 donors to the Special Purpose Trust Fund and to the regular budget of the agencies between 2024 and 2027.

The acting President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, talks with the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz | Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

Pedro Sánchez also stressed that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals within the set deadlines requires a significant mobilisation of financial resources, and he therefore expressed Spain's support for the Secretary-General's initiative to "promote an ambitious, serious and in-depth debate on the reform of the international financial architecture." In this regard, he also stressed that Spain wants to play "an active role in this debate" and expressed the desire for Spain to host the Fourth Financing for Sustainable Development Summit to be held in 2025. "We want it to have a truly transformative impact," he said, stressing that "the time to act is now."

Non official translation