EEAC at the 21st ESDN Workshop in Vienna
Multiple members of the EEAC actively participated in the 21st Workshop of the European Sustainable Development Network (ESDN). László Borbély, EEAC member and ESDN Vice President, delivered a speech on Theater and Cultural Models for Sustainability. Gábor Bartus, EEAC Working Group Co-Chair and Fee Kirsch, EEAC network coordinator, took on the role of hosting a roundtable session focused on SDG output efficiency and the European Voluntary Review.
The workshop, held in Vienna, Austria, brought together more than 80 participants from 15 European countries over two days. The first day of the workshop centered around the theme of “Culture and Sustainable Development,” while the second day focused on “SDG Implementation in Policymaking – Approaches in SDG Budgeting, Mainstreaming, and Performance Management.”
During the workshop, László Borbély delivered a keynote speech that emphasized the importance of literature, theater, and the audiovisual as integral components of culture in successfully implementing Agenda 2030. Lazlo highlighted that culture has always been a vital part of human development, social cohesion, and sustainable societies. He specifically emphasized the power of theater to connect people emotionally, transcending language and cultural barriers. Theater has the ability to inspire, educate, entertain, and raise awareness about social and environmental issues, making it a valuable tool for achieving the goals of Agenda 2030. He showcased Romania’s Department of Sustainable Development’s cultural projects as examples of this integration. These projects, such as the exhibition at the Antipa Museum and the National Educational Theatre Caravan, demonstrated the younger generation’s openness to sustainability and their desire to be actively involved in positive change.
In their roundtable session, Fee Kirsch and Gábor Bartus provided insights and discussions on the practical aspects of SDG implementation, including budgeting, mainstreaming, and performance management. They shared good practice examples and approaches from Hungary and other EEAC member countries. The session also delved into the European Union Voluntary Review, which was recently published for the High-Level Political Forum. Through their active discussion with participants, they discussed the question of what the analytical annex can do for SDG implementation in policymaking beyond the EU and how we can use the Voluntary Review for the better.
Find the presentations on the ESDN website.
Photos via ESND. Credits: BMK/Viktoria Miess