THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORT: SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATIVE POLICIES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

While road transportation contributes significantly to economic growth, it causes serious problems in terms of environmental sustainability. This study examines the environmental and economic impacts of road transportation in European Union countries within the framework of sustainable development. The study consists of three stages: theoretical framework, literature review and data analysis. In the theoretical part, the environmental impacts of transportation systems and economic sustainability are discussed. The literature review includes the evaluation of the findings from existing research. In the analysis using Eurostat data, greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption and economic contributions of road transport are analyzed graphically. The results show that fossil fuels are still widely used, but the transition to renewable energy and the spread of electric vehicles in some countries have had positive effects. In terms of economic sustainability, environmental taxes vary across countries and investments in environmental protection support economic growth. The study provides policy recommendations for aligning road transport with sustainable development goals.