Spain's Report for the 2018 Voluntary National Review
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SPAIN’S REPORT FOR THE 2018 VOLUNTARY NATIONAL REVIEW A national blueprint The world we live in is increasingly interconnected, complex, unstable, and fast-changing. New challenges have emerged, while familiar challenges remain: the persistence of poverty in the world; the rise in inequalities in all parts of the globe; climate change; new and old forms of violence and insecurity; digitalization and robotization. These challenges often provoke fear and uncertainty, along with rejection of differences and of those who are different, engendering populist “us first” narratives, new forms of discrimination, aporophobia, violence, totalitarianism, human rights violations, forced migration, closure of borders, and new forms of protectionism. Today, more than ever, we must state firmly and with conviction that an alternative does exist. That a different response is possible. How we address the greatest challenges that we face as a country, as a society, as humankind, cannot be guided by fear. Our responses must be based on the universal values of justice, equality, solidarity, and human rights. It is our aspiration and our duty to craft a response that puts people first, irrespective of their origin or status; that respects our planet and the rights of future generations; that sustains shared, safe and sustainable progress; that builds peace and justice; that belongs to all of us, as partners. The 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which the Government of Spain has adopted with enthusiasm and conviction, encapsulate this response. It is both an ethical and operating framework, for all governments and for all citizens. A new global social contract. The strongest foundation on which to build the Europe—and the world—to which we aspire. It is, moreover, a great opportunity for Spain. Analysis of the economic crisis, and of its lasting effects, teaches us important lessons. We need to change our production model; undertake a profound ecological transition of our economy; ensure that the benefits of economic growth deliver a reduction in poverty and greater equality; and safeguard human rights and our social State under the rule of law. Spain has competitive advantages and capabilities in both the public and private sectors to formulate public policies and collective action on the basis of the new global agenda for sustainable development. A Spain that has achieved the SDGs by 2030 will be the country we all dream of. This is why the 2030 Agenda is already at the heart of Spain’s government action, and of a vision shared across the political spectrum. It imbues our conduct on the world stage. In short, a national blueprint. No more, no less. Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón President of the Government SPAIN – VOLUNTARY NATIONAL REVIEW REPORT 4 Key messages The 2030 Agenda is driving an unprecedented mobilization in Spain of all our national, regional and local administrations, our citizens, social stakeholders, companies, universities, research centres, and civil society organizations, focused on a shared vision. Since the Agenda’s adoption, this movement has grown and expanded, incorporating different social sectors, disciplines and levels of the administration, and has served as the basis for agreements and consensus in a complex economic and political context. Thus, in addition to public entities, civil society, academia, and the private sector, the parliamentary groups of the Congress of Deputies, highly active in monitoring the Agenda’s progress and in their demands for accountability, have urged the Government of Spain to coordinate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda through agreements endorsed by practically all the political parties, so that “the Agenda is established, in short, as a cross-cutting element of all government action”. It is absolutely vital that Spain’s commitment to the Agenda be reflected in basic agreements between the political, economic, and social powers, acknowledging the necessity for a long- term vision and the promotion of sustainability in its broadest sense. The efforts made in recent years have been greatly reinforced by the arrival of the new Government in June 2018; the 2030 Agenda now forms part of the very essence of Spain’s new Government and of its national blueprint. In fact, a number of decisions have already been made in the few weeks that the new Government has been in power, setting Spain on the path to focusing its public policies and political priorities on achieving the SDGs. The Government itself has a majority of women ministers—11 out of 17. The new Government has created the figure of a High Commissioner for the 2030 Agenda, who shall report directly to the President of the Government, as well as a High Commissioner for Child Poverty. It has also created a Ministry of Ecological Transition, responsible for energy, the environment, and climate change. We shifted immediately from deeply conservative to highly ambitious positions as regards commitments of the European Union (EU) to compliance with the Paris Agreement. The Ministry of Equality has been reinstated, headed by the Vice-President of the Government. The Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities has been created. Moreover, universal health coverage is now being extended to one and all, including irregular migrants. The new Government of Spain has also declared its intention to reorient employment policy through social dialogue, so that economic growth does not compound inequality. Spain has shown its solidarity, as well as its commitment to human rights and to a just, sustainable, and inclusive world order, by welcoming the rescue ship Aquarius into our territory: an action that unequivocally demonstrated Spain’s renewed commitment to global solidarity. It also showed that the 2030 Agenda is clearly stamped on Spain’s international calling card, and our commitment to the SDGs, both within our territory and with respect to all the world’s citizens, has become a core feature of the role that Spain wishes to play in the world. Likewise, it showed that the 2030 Agenda is a meeting point for dialogue and collaboration among Spain’s 17 Autonomous Communities (regional SPAIN – VOLUNTARY NATIONAL REVIEW REPORT 5 administrations) and its local entities, strengthening their leadership and the efforts that they have already made to localize the Agenda (already an international benchmark on how to implement the SDGs in cities and territories) in their respective spheres—from the bottom up. The steps taken to prepare the Voluntary National Review have facilitated the efforts to launch implementation of the Agenda in Spain. A High-Level Group (HLG) for interministerial coordination has been created. All Spanish ministries will participate in this Group, which has also convened the regional administrations and local entities. A programmatic Action Plan has been approved for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda; this Plan will cover a transition from the urgent launch of the Agenda’s implementation to the formulation of a long-term Sustainable Development Strategy for Spain. It also covers a transition from the outgoing Government of Spain, which began and developed the approach to this implementation, and the incoming Government, whose actions will be very largely focused on the SDGs and sustainable development. The Action Plan will immediately promote new policies, measures, and approaches to governance and working methods, leading—as one of its main outcomes—to the adoption of a 2020–2030 Sustainable Development Strategy that represents a national blueprint with broad support and a vision shared across the political spectrum. A strategy whose drafting, deliberation, and negotiation must start now, and be addressed calmly and in a participatory manner over the coming months. The Plan also compiles all of the actions carried out by a wide range of actors and stakeholders, as well as the actions that shall be carried out immediately by Spain’s Central Administration—a robust, multiparty governance structure ranging up to the highest level of government—and a system for accountability in which Parliament shall play a central role. The Plan has been debated intensely over the past few months with civil society and private sector organizations, universities, think-tanks, and professional associations, whose contributions have been included in the Plan, thus promoting steady partnership-building. The close collaboration amongst public entities and the participative nature of the efforts undertaken have enabled robust progress, including the definition of an ambitious multi- stakeholder, multi-level governance system incorporating all sectors. The Plan assigns responsibilities for each of the SDGs and their targets to the different ministries, which thus become focal points. The policies and laws aimed at advancing towards each SDG are described in detail, establishing the corresponding baselines and indicators. The Plan identifies priority areas of action in which to implement accelerator policies: preventing and combating poverty and social exclusion, and promoting the circular economy and the social economy; equal opportunities, scientific and technical research, open government, and Spanish Cooperation; Spain’s Urban Agenda; and the Climate Change and Energy Transition Act. The horizontal measures defined include ambitious policies and the reforms required to remain securely on the path towards 2030, supported by specific and measurable commitments relating to many areas: the qualification of government officials,