15th EPP Congress
Our future: A strong Europe
17 - 18 October 2002
Estoril - Portugal

Resolution adopted by the 15th EPP Congress
Sustainable Development

The European People’s Party

• considering that sustainable development represents one of Humanity’s major challenges at the dawn of the twenty-first century.
  
• considering that globalisation poses both challenges and opportunities, and that the latter in particular must be reaped by developed and developing countries alike.
  
• considering to that effect that the three dimensions of sustainable development –economic, environmental and social - should be mutually reinforced.
  
• taking into account the results of the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development, in particular the Political Declaration and the Plan of Implementation.
  
• considering that Europe — in particular the European Union — has played a leadership role with regard to sustainable development both at regional, national and international levels.
  
• taking into account that such a leadership role entails, first and foremost, the continuation of the review of the EU Sustainable Development Strategy as a means of following up and monitoring the implementation of sustainable development in Europe.
  

The European People's Party:

• urges European Governments, civil society and businesses to fully engage themselves, on a co-operative basis, the implementation of the outcome of the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable development.
  
• encourages European Governments in particular to develop and update national sustainable development strategies.
  
• takes note of the reaffirmation of the agendas on trade and development agreed at Doha and on financing for development agreed at Monterrey.
  
• congratulates the Russian Federation, Canada and China on their recent declarations to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change, and, that in the case of the Russian Federation in particular, such ratification will result in bringing the Protocol into force in 2003, thereby paving the way for implementing this key international agreement.
  
• invites the Council to complete the strategic goal that recognises that: "The EU should also become the most eco-efficient economy in the world using energy and natural resources in a manner which minimises their overall impact on the environment!
  
• urges the Council to endorse detailed targets and goals contained in the Communication from the Commission "A Sustainable Europe for a Better World", namely on the four priority areas established in Gothenburg: climate change, sustainable transportation, public health risks and natural resources.