Enhancing european partnership for sustainable development in the face of global conflicts: a comprehensive analysis and strategic framework

Abstract

Purpose. The paper aims to search for scientific approaches to strengthen the multilateral European partnership, through a comprehensive analysis and definition of strategic boundaries, in order to improve the effectiveness of cooperation of each actor by strengthening its capacities development in the face of global conflicts and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (particularly SDG–17 “Partnership for the Goals”). Methods. Analysis of statistical information provided by OECD and European Commission on the flows of EU official development assistance and EU import from developing countries. Results. The EU maintained its status as the foremost global contributor to Official Development Assistance (ODA). When adjusted for inflation, its current level of financial support closely mirrors that provided by the EU fifteen years ago. However, notable strides were made in 2022, with a substantial increase in contributions to approximately USD 100.4 billion, marking a 20% rise compared to 2021. Furthermore, spanning from 2007 to 2022, the EU experienced a significant surge in imports from developing countries, more than doubling from EUR 617 billion to EUR 1,508 billion. Over this period, imports from developing nations exhibited an average annual growth rate of 6.1%. Conclusions. At the heart of the European Union lies the principle of partnership, which serves as a guiding force not only within the EU but also in its efforts to address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) both domestically and internationally. When it comes to monitoring progress on SDG 17 within the EU framework, particular attention is given to three critical areas: global partnership, financial governance, and technology accessibility. The EU’s achievements in global partnership during last five years are uneven. Although imports from developing countries have increased, funding allocated to these nations has declined. Additionally, the EU still lags behind on reaching its official development assistance target. However, general progress has been observed, particularly since the start of the Russian military campaign against Ukraine.