Sustainable Development Goals – 2030 UN Agenda: implementation, monitoring and reporting by the Belgian authorities (preparedness review)

The Belgian Court of Audit has examined how the various governments in Belgium commit and organise themselves when it comes to the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the 2030 UN Agenda. Apparently, the Interdepartmental Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSD), which was intended to coordinate the SDG policy throughout the country (national level), has no longer met since the end of 2017, whereas such coordination should enable Belgium to fulfil its international commitments related to the 2030 Agenda. The Court therefore recommends that the ICSD resume its coordinating role. Since they are autonomous, the various governments are able to honour their commitment to the 2030 UN Agenda in different ways. However, the Court advises them to include their plans and commitments in the national strategy and set quantified objectives along with the necessary strategic measures. The SDG monitoring indicators should be in line with the indicators used at national level and the various governments should report on their SDG policy in a way that would make it possible to coordinate the results at national level.