Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals in European and Western Balkans Countries

Abstract

Sustainable development is one of the key topics in contempo­rary discussions on development. Over time, the concept has evolved from a vague vision of development centered on environmental issues to a compre­hensive development paradigm that includes economic, social and environ­mental aspects. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN, which are the focus of this paper, reflect that broader, modern approach to sustain­able development. The paper aims to measure the progress of the countries of the EU and the Western Balkans in terms of achieving SDGs. For this pur­pose, the composite SDG Index, developed by the Bertelsmann Stiftung and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, was used. This index is de­composed into three pillars – economic, social and environmental, in order to monitor and analyze the achieved results more easily. Conducted research re­veals the weak points in the implementation of SDGs and indicates the prior­ity directions of action.