A PCSD perspective on the European Commission Work Programme 2020

The need for Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development is more evident than ever. The current COVID-19 pandemic is having devastating impacts on people’s lives and health. The crisis has also affected people’s human rights – economic, social, cultural, civil and political – and has made inequalities within and between countries even more flagrant.

In this paper, CONCORD analyses the European Commission’s work programme – both the first version released in January 2020 as well the version from May 2020 (adjusted to the realities of COVID-19) – to provide a few key entry points for the EU as to when and how to apply Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development and accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.