Sustainable development in the European union countries: panel data evidence from the transport and storage sector

Sustainable development (SD) is a key priority in EU policy, particularly in sectors with significant economic and environmental impacts, such as transport and storage. The influence of macroeconomic indicators, GDP per capita, unemployment rate, average wages, external balance of goods and services, and the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), on sustainability outcomes was analysed across 25 EU Member States, grouped into Western, Northern, Southern, and Central and Eastern Europe. The data from 2008–2023, analysed using fixed-effects panel models, ANOVA, and Scheffé tests, indicate regional differences in how macroeconomic indicators relate to sustainability performance. Unemployment and GDP per capita emerged as the most influential factors, though their effect varied by region, while HICP showed limited relevance. GDP per capita was particularly significant in Southern Europe. In contrast, environmental sustainability in Northern and Central and Eastern Europe appears driven mainly by nonmacroeconomic factors. Northern Europe achieved the highest sustainability scores, especially in the environmental dimension, whereas Southern Europe recorded the weakest performance overall. These findings highlight the need for region-specific strategies to support SD in the EU transport and storage sector.