Assessing the progress of EU countries towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3846/mla.2026.25026

Abstract

This study evaluates the extent to which European Union countries are meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It analyses a range of factors to measure the progress being made. The research pays attention to areas such as reducing poverty, promoting gender equality and examining labour markets. The AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) method was utilised to determine the importance of the indicators, while the COPRAS method was applied to evaluate and rank the countries according to the effectiveness of their sustainable development policies. The data indicated that Finland, Denmark, and Sweden are at the leading positions in implementing sustainable development, whereas Germany and Spain show less favourable results. The analysis also showed that the main factors impacting sustainable development are the risk of poverty, the gender unemployment gap and long-term unemployment.

Article in English.

ES šalių pažangos vertinimas siekiant tvarios plėtros tikslų

Santrauka

Šiame tyrime vertinama, kiek Europos Sąjungos šalys įgyvendina tvaraus vystymosi tikslus (TVT). Jame analizuojami įvairūs veiksniai, leidžiantys įvertinti padarytą pažangą. Tyrime dėmesys skiriamas tokioms sritims kaip skurdo mažinimas, lyčių lygybės skatinimas ir darbo rinkų tyrimas. AHP (analitinis hierarchinis procesas) metodas buvo taikomas rodiklių svarbai nustatyti, o COPRAS metodas – šalims vertinti ir reitinguoti pagal jų tvaraus vystymosi politikos veiksmingumą. Duomenys rodo, kad Suomija, Danija ir Švedija yra pirmaujančios tvaraus vystymosi įgyvendinimo srityje, o Vokietija ir Ispanija rodo mažiau palankius rezultatus. Analizė taip pat parodė, kad pagrindiniai veiksniai, darantys įtaką tvariai plėtrai, yra skurdo rizika, lyčių nedarbo skirtumas ir ilgalaikis nedarbas.

Reikšminiai žodžiai: tvarus vystymasis, TVT, skurdas, lyčių nelygybė, nedarbas, korupcija, socialiniai ir ekonominiai rodikliai.

Keywords:

sustainable development, SDGs, poverty, gender inequality, unemployment, corruption, socio-economic indicators

How to Cite

Yakovenko, V., & Seržantė, M. (2026). Assessing the progress of EU countries towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Mokslas – Lietuvos ateitis / Science – Future of Lithuania, 18. https://doi.org/10.3846/mla.2026.25026

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January 20, 2026
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Published

2026-01-20

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Economics and Management / Ekonomika ir vadyba

How to Cite

Yakovenko, V., & Seržantė, M. (2026). Assessing the progress of EU countries towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Mokslas – Lietuvos ateitis / Science – Future of Lithuania, 18. https://doi.org/10.3846/mla.2026.25026

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