Aligning EU Policy to ‘Leave No One Behind’
28/10/16“History will not judge us on ambitious agreements, but on meaningful results – we must put our promises to deliver SDGs into practice”
Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development
On the 18th November, Minister of State for Diaspora and International Development Joe McHugh T.D. was joined by the EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica in Dublin, for a fruitful discussion pressing development issues, including migration, the External Investment Plan, the European Consensus on Development and post-Cotonou. This meeting came at an opportune time, as European development is at an important juncture, as we respond to unprecedented global challenges and work to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Throughout the meeting, Minister of State McHugh highlighted Ireland’s strong support for a continued focus on poverty eradication and the alignment of the revised European Consensus with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, saying that “we should remember that ‘leaving no one behind’ is a key principle underling the new agenda”. Commissioner Mimica agreed and emphasized his commitment to issues on gender and youth, those frequently left behind. Paraphrasing President Mary Robinson he said: “Women & children's rights are human rights. Today's human rights violations are the causes of tomorrow's conflicts”. We cannot achieve the SDGs, he believes, without empowering Women.