Sustainability: the EU Strategic Foresight Report

The European Commission presented on 6 July the Strategic Foresight Report 2023, in which it analysed how to put "the sustainability and well-being of people at the centre of Europe's open strategic autonomy" and proposed a number of concrete actions to be implemented. The Strategic Foresight Report 2023 of the European Union (EU) is an important document that places the transition towards sustainability at the centre of the EU's strategic agenda for this year. This report, of crucial importance for the EU's future policies, aims to outline the objectives and priorities regarding environmental, social and economic sustainability. At a time when environmental protection and the promotion of well-being have become global priorities, the report represents a significant step towards a more sustainable and equitable future.

The European Union (EU) has set ambitious goals to promote sustainability and achieve climate neutrality in the coming decades. The sustainable transition in which the EU is engaged is crucial to "strengthen the EU's open strategic autonomy, ensure its long-term competitiveness, support its model of a social market economy and consolidate its global leadership in the new zero net emission economy". The challenges for the EU to face and overcome are manifold, but within the report 2023, ten areas of action have been identified to realise the transition to sustainability. For example, it is proposed to adjust GDP by taking into account factors such as health and the environment, so that policy makers can use economic indicators that are also linked to well-being.

Among the challenges that the European Union will have to face in the transition to sustainability, we find first of all the evolution of geopolitical arrangements, which influence public opinion and governments, challenging international cooperation on important global issues such as the climate change or the energy transition. In addition, there is a growing demand for appropriate skills for a sustainable future. The 2023 is indeed the European Year of Skills, and in this context it is crucial for the EU that workers have appropriate technical and transversal skills: as of today, 85% of EU companies do not have staff with the necessary skills to manage the transition towards sustainability. Finally, there is a need for the economic model to focus on personal well-being and nature, with more sustainable production and consumption. The three components of sustainability - economic, social and environmental - must be increasingly integrated.

The EU's Strategic Foresight Report 2023 identified the ten fields of action for the realisation of a transition towards sustainability focused on the wellbeing of people and society. The first five are:
- New European social contract, with renewed social protection policies and a focus on the availability of high-quality social services.
- Deepening the single market to promote a resilient economy with zero net emissions, with a focus on open strategic autonomy and economic security.
- Increasing the EU's offer on the global stage to strengthen cooperation with key partners.
- Supporting the evolution of production and consumption towards sustainability, directing regulation and promoting balanced lifestyles.
- Evolution into a 'Europe of investments' with public interventions to stimulate financial flows towards transitions.

The other five fields of action identified by the EU's Strategic Forecast Report 2023 are:
- Adjusting public budgets to sustainability through efficient taxation and public spending.
- Further shifting of political and economic indicators towards sustainable and inclusive welfare, also by adjusting GDP with regard to various factors.
- Possibility for all Europeans to contribute to the transition through increased labour market participation and emphasis on future skills.
Empowerment - Strengthening democracy by focusing policy formation on generational equity so as to strengthen support for transitions.
Integration - Integrating civil protection with 'civil prevention' by enhancing the EU preparedness and response toolbox.

After the presentation to all Member States at the General Affairs Council on 10 July, the EU's Strategic Foresight Report 2023 is looking forward to another important step. Next November, the Commission will organise the annual conference on the European System of Strategic and Policy Analysis (ESPAS) together with the European Parliament: an opportunity to test and discuss the basic findings of the 2024 Interinstitutional Global Trends Report, jointly prepared by the EU institutions, and to reflect on the way forward.

The EU's Strategic Foresight Report 2023 therefore lays the foundation for a sustainable and resilient future, keeping sustainability and people's well-being at the centre. In a context where the EU strives for a transition towards sustainability and climate neutrality, 3Bee stands out as a key player in promoting innovative technological solutions for biodiversity protection and the development of regenerative projects. Through its efforts, 3Bee contributes to building a sustainable future, in line with the objectives outlined by the EU. With the Oasis of Biodiversity project, 3Bee connects nature with technology, working alongside entities and businesses in the realisation of projects with a traceable and measurable impact. A functional support for the drawing up of the corporate sustainability report, which today plays an increasingly crucial role for companies. Want to learn more? Contact us to start your journey towards biodiversity.