The main aim of this research paper is to compare the total synthetic measure value of sustainable development for each EU country using a multidimensional comparative analysis of the EU countries in terms of sustainable development. The statistical evaluation of this complex phenomenon was based on 108 statistical indicators describing 17 goals of sustainable development which were taken from the Eurostat database. The statistical data applies mostly to the year 2018. The zero unitarization method was applied as a research tool. Passing through consecutive stages, the values of synthetic measures with variables determining the subsequent goals of sustainable development were set. Our study led to the ranking of EU countries into groups of high, medium-high, medium-low and low level of sustainable development. The results confirmed that the leaders of sustainable development in the EU are Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Austria. Most EU countries have reached the medium level, while Romania, Bulgaria, Greece and Cyprus have poorly realized the goals of sustainable development. Due to the growing importance of countries of the Visegrad group in Europe, this article also subjected them to a more detailed assessment in terms of their sustainable development. Among the Visegrad countries, only the Czech Republic has reached a medium-high level of sustainable development. The other three countries, i. e. Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, hold a similar position in the ranking of EU countries in terms of sustainable development. Considering future generations, the implementation of the goals of sustainable development as well as the identification of key indicators for each country are becoming an important challenge in terms of global market competitiveness.

The European Union (EU), striving to create economic dominance on the global market, has prepared a comprehensive development programme, which initially was the Lisbon Strategy and then the Strategy Europe 2020. The attainment of the strategic goals included in the prospective development programmes shall transform the EU into the most competitive economy in the world based on knowledge. This paper presents a statistical evaluation of progress being made by EU member states in meeting Europe 2020. For the basis of the assessment, the authors proposed a general synthetic measure in dynamic terms, which allows to objectively compare EU member states by 10 major statistical indicators. The results indicate that most of EU countries show average progress in realisation of Europe’s development programme which may suggest that the goals may not be achieved in the prescribed time. It is particularly important to monitor the implementation of Europe 2020 to arrive at the right decisions which will guarantee the accomplishment of the EU’s development strategy.

Renewable energy sources (RES) are currently the main alternative to fossil fuels and are also seen as an important contributor to slowing down the dangerous climate change on our planet. Energy supplied from renewable sources can reduce the consumption of primary raw materials and reduce emissions of harmful substances that enter the atmosphere in the process of producing electricity and heat, having a negative impact on the environment. This paper provides a multivariate comparative analysis of EU countries in terms of the use of renewable energy. The empirical research used seven variables defining the complex phenomenon under study, collected for 27 EU countries between 2011 and 2020. The research method used was the dynamic version of the non-model method, with a normalisation method based on zero unitarisation. The results of the study confirm that there was a positive change in the use of renewable energy in most EU countries between 2011 and 2020. High levels of renewable energy use were displayed by the Scandinavian countries, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. In contrast, the least renewable energy use was seen in Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia.

This paper assesses EU countries in terms of their level of renewable energy use. The ranking of 27 EU countries in terms of the complex phenomenon under study was constructed on the basis of 7 variables. The research period was 2011 and 2020. The research method was one of multidimensional comparative analysis methods, i.e. Hellwig’s pattern development model. The research results confirm that there wasa positive change in the use of renewable energy in all EU countries in 2020 compared to 2011, with Sweden, Austria, Finland, and Denmark taking the lead. However, most EU countries (16 in 2011 and 17 in 2020) have a medium-low level of use of “green energy”. A low level was identified in Cyprus and Malta in 2011 and Poland in 2020.