Bridging Disparities: Exploring SDGs' Role in Fostering Cohesion Policy in EU Regions

1. Carinthia:
We in Carinthia have taken responsibility for future generations as part of our “sustainability coalition”. We have therefore anchored the 17 sustainable goals of the United Nations in the Carinthian government program as a yardstick for sustainability. The SDGs are a guideline and a mandate to which we align our political actions in line with the grandchildren's responsibility we have assumed. Filling them with life and integrating them into our daily work is our task. We owe it to future generations.

Carinthia wants to become the most child-friendly region in Europe. A milestone in this respect last year was the introduction of free kindergarten access for all children in Carinthia - we have thus also complied with a key recommendation of the European Child Guarantee. In addition, the establishment of a dedicated child protection officer in the state of Carinthia, projects and offers such as “Early Help”, activities and offers via the Carinthian Family Card and the Healthy Communities are projects that should be emphasized.

There is no alternative to a strong and citizen-oriented cohesion policy for me. Cohesion policy is the most important and comprehensive EU funding element for the regions for more jobs, economic competitiveness, growth, sustainable development and a better quality of life. Neither the EU agricultural policy nor other EU programs such as the Horizon Europe research program offer an equally comprehensive investment measure for the regions. And because every region is unique, we need tailor-made measures so that all regions can make the most of their strengths and advantages (for example in the areas of chips, research, social affairs, energy, etc.).

2. Castilla-La Mancha:
Bárbara García Torrijano's intervention focused on how Castilla-La Mancha implements cohesion policies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in reducing poverty and inequality. The region faces challenges like rural depopulation and the social vulnerability of young people and migrant families. To address these issues, the government has introduced laws against depopulation and programs to improve the quality of life for the elderly and vulnerable youth, emphasizing the importance of intergovernmental cooperation and EU funding.

One key initiative is the "Build to Be Again" project, aimed at the socio-labor inclusion of women at risk of social exclusion, beneficiaries of the Minimum Vital Income. Funded with €8.9 million from EU funds, the project offers personalized guidance and training in digital and job skills. It has been implemented in 81 municipalities, including rural and urban areas, with the help of 51 professionals. Through workshops and support measures, nearly 12,000 actions have been carried out to integrate these women into the labor market and improve their socioeconomic status.

The project has had a significant impact: 84% of participants improved their initial situation, and comparative results with a control group show notable improvements in employability, health, and social networks. Women in the project reduced their vulnerability by 10% more than the control group and increased their employability by 28%. The project's success has not only benefited participants but also generated valuable insights for future public policy development.

3. Bouches-du-Rhône:
Anne RUDISUHLI, Departmental Councillor for European Affairs and CoR member said “The Bouches-du-Rhône Departmental Council is a leader in the field of solidarity and social action: it deploys support, social inclusion and protection schemes for people in vulnerable situations. Ensuring social and territorial cohesion makes it a public authority in close contact with its citizens. Through the development of innovative initiatives such as a Departmental Child Protection Observatory, or Departmental Solidarity Houses, the Department contributes to the implementation of SDGs on the ground. European cohesion policy funds can contribute to the development of these initiatives that have a crucial impact at the local level. The Department is therefore fully committed to further implementing the SDGs by mobilizing cohesion policy funds and remains available to share its best practices with other regional and local authorities.”

Agnès AMIEL, Departmental Councillor for Child Welfare policy added “One of the Department’s pioneering social initiatives is the Youth Council for Child Protection, which aims to be a space for participation for those affected by a child protection measure. Participants - children and young volunteers aged between 9 and 21 - are invited to reflect together about better ways of doing things and come up with new ideas, which they translate into concrete proposals. These proposals are then taken into account in the definition, monitoring, and development of departmental child protection policies.”

4. Regione Toscana:
Gender equality is one of Tuscany Region main political priorities in line with the Goal n. 5 of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development on the promotion of gender equality. Tuscany Region Regional Development program includes for example: 16 strategic goals, 4 cross cutting strategies and 29 regional projects on gender equality (ex of ATI Project, the main project to overcome gender gap. ATI (from the name of an Etruscan princess symbol of emancipation, independence and freedom) combines all the measures and initiatives financed by our Region to promote life work balance, women employment and an equal opportunities culture. Tuscany Region best practice: 1. Free pre-primary school initiative ‘Nidi Gratis’ (Tuscany is the first and only Region in Italy to offer this initiative) that guarantees help to more than 14.000 families in Tuscany (according to the latest data) with the involvement of more than 230 municipalities. The intervention will get 40 million in resources for the 2024–2025 year, co-financed by the Tuscany FSE+ Regional Program 2021–2027. 2. “Codice Rosa” (or ‘Rose Code’, symbol of the students from Berlin killed during a protest against the Nazi hatred victims), a network of hospitals, police and judicial authorities, helping women victims of violence to have access to medical and social assistance when they arrive in the emergency room of our hospitals. Codice Rosa was born in 2010 as a pilot project and now this has become the national leading project helping not only women but all the victims of multiple discriminations, violence and hate. Finally “La Toscana delle donne” is Tuscany Region's main yearly initiative launched in November 2022, that brings together talks, reflections and spectacular artistic moments. The 2024 edition in November includes around 50 events on themes related to women: from sport and health, to work and women's rights. This program is not simply a calendar of events but it actually spans the full year and impacts on all regional government acts. Its aim is to promote a real cultural change that creates the conditions for a more gender-balanced society.