Delegation of the Basque Country in the United States December 12-2018

PRIMARY CONTRIBUTION TO THE UNITED NATIONS 2030 AGENDA: 1. Introduction Basque Country → broad and unique method of self-government Exercise government competences in the region. Sub-national governments have played a fundamental role in localizing and implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). PRIMARY CONTRIBUTION TO THE UNITED NATIONS 2030 AGENDA: Agenda Euskadi-Basque Country 2030

2. SESSION 4 - Involvement of stakeholders including local and sub-national governments in future HLPFs 1.- WHY AND HOW HAS THE UN MOVED AWAY FROM NGOs TO MAJOR GROUPS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AND WHAT – IF ANY- ARE THE SUCCESS FACTORS OF THIS APPROACH: Major Groups and other stakeholders have been key in opening up participatory space for all different actors. Agenda 2030 is a transversal Agenda not just focused on Development Cooperation. Major Group: Local Government. HLPF 2018, an extraordinary success worth continuing annually Proposal: Different Levels of Impact among Major Groups because sub-national governments

2. SESSION 4 - Involvement of stakeholders including local and sub- national governments in future HLPFs 2. WHAT EXAMPLES ARE THERE OF GOOD PRACTICES ON ENGAGEMENT OF STAKEHOLDERS FROM AROUND THE UN SYSTEM THAT COULD BE BUILT INTO THE NEXT PHASE OF THE HLPF: Engagement of local and sub-national governments Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Decision of this engagement allowed the creation of Advisory Committees of Local and Sub-national Governments, which enables a continued dialogue Organization of a Local and Sub-national Governments Summit alongside every Biodiversity COP PROPOSAL: For future HLPFs, consider organizing regional segments of the Forum, prior to the actual HLPF, to improve the contributions made during the formal meetings, panels, and presentations at the HLPF.

2. SESSION 4 - Involvement of stakeholders including local and sub- national governments in future HLPFs 3. WHAT AND HOW CAN STAKEHOLDERS CONTRIBUTE TO DEVELOPING POLICY ISSUES AND HOW CAN THEY BE AN AGENT FOR IMPLEMENTATION: Legislative powers of local and sub-national governments are responsible for the implementation of several policies, such as: Land-use and territorial planning; education; public services, Energy use and distribution, Transport and mobility; environmental licensing; etc. At the same time, their contribution to the global processes, especially on the definition and negotiation, is substantially limited. This entails a clear gap, as the engagement of local and sub-national authorities to the global agendas is not automatic or immediate. Having them further engaged in global processes could result in more energetic approaches and authentic interest to revert the global goals and monitoring efforts into policies and actions under the sub-national and local administrations.

2. SESSION 4 - Involvement of stakeholders including local and sub- national governments in future HLPFs 4. WHAT COULD LOCAL AND SUB-NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS DO TO ENGAGE LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS IN HELPING TO DEVELOP A LOCAL STRATEGY AND POLICY TO IMPLEMENT THE SDGs: Interdepartmental Committee: Headed by the President´s Office, and coordinated by the Coordination Department and the Secretary of External Action. Inter-institutional Committee: The Basque Regional Government; The three Provincial Governments; The three main Basque city councils (Bilbao, Vitoria, and San Sebastian); The Association of Basque Municipalities (EUDEL). Basque Advisory Council Other stakeholders with a projection in the Basque Country’s External Action chaired by the Basque President. 13

2. SESSION 4 - Involvement of stakeholders including local and sub- national governments in future HLPFs 5. WHAT CAN BE DONE AT THE LOCAL AND SUB- NATIONAL LEVEL TO CREATE PARTNERSHIPS TO HELP DELIVER THE SDGs AND THE NEW URBAN AGENDA. PRIVATE SECTOR: UN Global Compact and Business Associations SUSTAINIBILITY: IHOBE and Municipalities. MEDIA: Training Course on AGENDA 2030 BASQUE GOVERNMENT´s PUBLIC SERVANTS: Training Course on AGENDA 2030 13

2. SESSION 4 - Involvement of stakeholders including local and sub- national governments in future HLPFs 6. COULD AND SHOULD LOCAL AND SUBNATIONAL GOVERNMENTS DEVELOP THEIR OWN VNRs. 1st Agenda Euskadi-Basque Country 2030 Voluntary Regional Review (VRR). Proposal: Formal Event within inside HLPF, as an incentive for Regions to develop their VRRs. 13

7. WHAT ROLE WOULD LOCAL AND SUB- NATIONAL INDICATORS PLAY. 2. SESSION 4 - Involvement of stakeholders including local and sub- national governments in future HLPFs 7. WHAT ROLE WOULD LOCAL AND SUB- NATIONAL INDICATORS PLAY. Avoid national averages, as they can mask the reality and the disparities that exist within countries. 24% GDP comes from Industry Reduce school dropout below 8% National data should be based on local and sub-national information, in order to enable comparison and benchmarking within countries. 13

3. SESSION 4 - Involvement of stakeholders including local and sub- national governments in future HLPFs CONCLUSION The 2030 Agenda represents an excellent opportunity to improve, implement, and deliver better public policies in service not only of the Basque society but the whole world. But if 60% of the targets of the SDGs are to be delivered by local governments, we think that there should be a permanent and stable instrument for Sub-National Governments, where they may present their proposals and exchange best practices. 13

Thank you very much