The waste increase and the environmental damage risk are important causes for the emergence of a new economic model that replaces the linear economy. The aim of the research is to point out the importance of the circular economy in a globalized society in which the sustainable development is a highly positioned goal. The importance of the issue stems from the fact that social welfare, apart from the development of production, must also be based on the preservation of health and living environment. The paper demonstrates many economic and social benefits from the implementation of the circular economy principles, as well as, the basic elements of this concept. The main objective is to reduce waste from the existing production cycle through the recycling process.

The aim of the research is to examine the degree of competitiveness of the agri-food sector of the Republic of Serbia on the market of the European Union (EU) countries, as the most significant export market. Two partial indices were used in the analysis: the net trade index (NTI) and the Grubel-Lloyd index (GLI). In addition to these indicators, unit export and import price analysis was also used to obtain data on the type of competitiveness achieved by the divisions of the agri-food sector. The results show that the cereals division makes the highest contribution to reducing the existing trade deficit, while the high values of the GLI reflect a high degree of integration with this market. The agri-food sector shows dominant price competitiveness in terms of the share of such divisions in total exports to the EU. The results will include recommendations for improving the structure of exports by focusing on specific divisions.

Introduction: The circular economy (CE) has emerged as a key paradigm for promoting sustainable economic development by enhancing resource efficiency, minimizing waste, and reducing environmental harm. Despite its widespread adoption in policy frameworks, the practical implementation and efficiency of CE strategies across countries remain insufficiently evaluated.Methods: This study employs a methodological approach based on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to assess the territorial efficiency of CE implementation across 27 European Union (EU) countries. A composite indicator was constructed using relevant CE metrics obtained from Eurostat, enabling a comparative analysis of national performance in achieving circularity.Results: The findings reveal significant variation in CE efficiency among EU countries. The Netherlands, Ireland, and Sweden demonstrate leading performance, while countries such as Bulgaria and Cyprus show considerable room for improvement. Overall, 20 out of 27 EU countries were found to be inefficient in implementing CE practices. A moderate positive correlation was also identified between CE efficiency and the level of countries’ economic development.Discussion: The results highlight the need for targeted policy interventions to enhance CE performance, particularly in lower-performing countries. The proposed DEA-based framework provides a valuable tool for benchmarking CE efficiency and informing evidence-based policymaking. By identifying leaders and laggards, the study contributes to understanding the territorial dynamics of the circular economy and supports the advancement of more effective and sustainable CE strategies.

The aim of the research is to classify the European Union (EU) countries based on the progress in the economic performance of agriculture. The originality of the paper stems from the fact that a new set of indicators (in relative form) was used to identify the clusters. The following indicators...

Achieving the goals of the circular economy implies taking actions aimed at waste reduction which can be implemented through suitable waste management principles. The idea of the paper is to evaluate and compare the performance of waste management at the level of the European Union (EU). The paper aims to construct a composite index based on selected indicators from the Eurostat database using multi-criteria analysis methods. The CRITIC method was used as a method for determining weight coefficients, while Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) was used as a method for calculating the composite index of waste management performance. The results indicate that the countries of Western and Central Europe record the best results in creating adequate waste management practices (Belgium, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Luxembourg and Austria). It is also noticeable that the countries that joined the EU much later have the lowest values of the index that measures waste management performance, such as Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus, Slovakia, Croatia, Malta and Poland, respectively. In the coming period, policymakers must pay more attention to respect for the principles of waste management in the newer member states of the EU, in order to reach convergence in the future.

The paper aims to rank European Union (EU) countries according to the composite index, which uses selected social protection indicators from the relevant database at EU level – Eurostat. The total score of social performance for 2020 was determined using the CRITIC-TOPSIS framework. The study showed that Austria, Luxembourg and Germany, respectively, had the best level of social protection, while Latvia, Romania and Spain were at the bottom, as the countries with the worst values of indicators. The importance of research is reflected in the fact that the social component of sustainable development is still not sufficiently researched, especially when it comes to the application of multi-criteria analysis methods in the empirical analysis of social sustainability. In this regard, depending on the obtained performance values, socio-economic policymakers can redesign existing measures and programs, as well as the amounts of social transfers to certain EU member states. The authors expect that the results of the study will help build higher social standards and well-being in the EU.