The Image of Sustainability in European Regions Considering the Social Sustainability Index

Abstract

Evaluating and comparing the sustainable development of regions or countries is fundamental in the management of economic and social systems. From the multitude of tools and means for qualitative and quantitative assessment of the level of sustainable development, which ensure the comparability of the performances of each state, there is a set of indicators known as the Sustainable Society Index, originally developed by the Dutch Sustainable Society Foundation and later developed by TH Köln–University of Applied Sciences. Taking this into account, the objective of the undertaken research was to identify the stages and the similarities and disparities between the European states grouped into the four regions (East, North, South and West), as well as the positioning of Romania in this European context. The obtained results emphasize the fact that between the four European regions, as well as between their component states, there are both similarities and differences, especially in areas such as Well-balanced Society, Climate and Energy, and Economic Well-being regarding the values and implicitly the stage of development of sustainable societies. The article is intended to be a catalyst for discussions on understanding the causes which produce differences regarding the sustainability of European states in the context of the EUs commitment to the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. Additional efforts are needed in the recovery and resilience process, especially in Eastern and Southern European countries.