“Implementing the SDGs and European Green Deal through all policy sectors can only happen at the local and regional levels. This requires a true commitment to targeted transformation based on localising Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Multilevel governance is vital. Hence we need to empower all actors, develop place-based ecosystems and using public-private collaboration opportunities." Markku Markkula, President of the Helsinki Region made these remarks during the official launch of the CATALYSTS 2030 project an initiative aimed at advancing the implementation of SDGs at regional and local levels.
Markkula stressed that cities need to a mindset transformation from only economical industry level innovations to holistic societal innovations encompassing all levels of participation. He added that Europe needs more use of multiple funding instruments and exploit synergies to generate co-benefits for the economy, society and environment.
The kick-off meeting of the 2030CATALYSTS project marked the official launch of this Preparatory Action and served as a key moment for participants to engage with the project’s objectives, timelines, and roles of different stakeholders. The event brought together regional authorities, policymakers, and civil society organizations.
During the panel debate on 'Strengthening SDG Monitoring at the Regional Level', Ricardo Rio, Mayor of Braga and EPP-CoR member, shared a powerful example of local leadership: “In Braga, the 2030 Agenda is a collective ambition and a firm political commitment. We have gone beyond aligning strategies and we have placed the SDGs at the heart of local governance. We have developed a solid model, with a strategic action plan, systematic monitoring, and a Voluntary Local Review that allows us to evaluate with rigour and act with impact. We are institutionalising the SDGs as a common language and a driver of transformation, taking on a leadership role in local sustainable development.”
The project 2030CATALYSTS: Implementation of the SDGs in the EU regions – from monitoring to action is supported by the European Parliament and has been developed by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC). It is carried out, inter alia, through the direct involvement of 20 European regions, all of which share a strong ambition to monitor SDG achievement, implement impactful local actions, and explore synergies between SDG monitoring, policy-making, and sustainable regional development. Among the selected regions are several active members of the EPP Group in the CoR, highlighting the group's continued commitment to sustainability, territorial cohesion, and multilevel governance. These regions are:
- Andalucía, Spain – represented by Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla
- Canary Islands, Spain – represented by Celia Alberto Perez
- Styria, Austria – represented by Werner Amon
- Île-de-France, France – represented by Mathieu Cuip
- Western Greece, Greece – represented by Nektarios Farmakis
The JRC and the participating regions will work closely to inform EU, national, and regional policymaking with concrete recommendations related to SDG monitoring and implementation at the regional level.
CATALYSTS 2030 builds on the successful foundation of REGIONS2030, a previous JRC pilot project also financed by the European Parliament and supported by the CoR, involving 12 regions focused on subnational SDG monitoring. The CoR played a central role in shaping and promoting REGIONS2030—from organizing the kickoff and final events, to advocating for its inclusion in EU Council Conclusions and ensuring political support for continued work on SDGs.