EU sustainable development: progress and challenges

Today, Eurostat releases the 2026 monitoring of EU progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The EU has made significant strides, based on the assessment of the past 5 or 6 years of available data (the ‘short-term’). However, it also notes no progress or movement away for 3 out of the 17 goals.

Over the short-term period, the EU has made significant progress towards 5 SDGs: decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), reduced inequalities (SDG 10), gender equality (SDG 5) and quality education (SDG 4).

The EU has also progressed towards 9 other SDGs, but at a moderate pace. Among these goals, the EU has performed best for industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9) and zero hunger (SDG 2). By contrast, no progress was observed for partnerships for the goals (SDG 17).

Moreover, the EU has moved away from the sustainable development objectives of life on land (SDG 15) and clean water and sanitation (SDG 6) due to biodiversity loss, water scarcity and deteriorating water quality.

In summary, the EU has made progress towards most SDGs, at varying paces and despite remaining challenges, while it has stagnated on SDG 17 and fallen back on SDG 15 and SDG 6.

A short, visual overview of the monitoring results is presented in the brochure ‘Sustainable development in the European Union — Overview of progress towards the SDGs in an EU context — 2026 edition’.

Join us for the SDGs webinar

If you want to find out more, you are welcome to join Eurostat’s webinar on EU progress towards the SDGs, taking place on Friday, 5 June 2026, from 10:30 to 11:15 CEST.

The webinar will present the key findings of the 2026 Sustainable Development Goals monitoring for the EU, followed by a Q & A session.

The webinar will be streamed on a dedicated event page on the Eurostat website and the Eurostat Facebook and LinkedIn accounts. It is open to anyone interested and there is no need to register. There will be an opportunity to ask questions via Slido.

Add the event to your calendar by clicking below and join us.
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