ABSTRACT
Eastern and southern Europe is a very complex region in terms of economic, social and political challenges. Among these countries there are developed economies, former communist countries, and members and non-members of the European Union (UN). Sustainability is a major concern for this region; however, the way sustainable development is translated into governmental policies and business practices varies across the region according to country priorities and constraints. Given the complexity of this region, there are numerous priority issues for these countries. General challenges include economic constraints, labour market shortages, an ageing population and climate change threats. In terms of economic challenges, the levels of public debt and unemployment are a priority issue for the countries in this region. Environmental issues are critical for the region. There are many concerns in this respect: from climate change, which leads to extreme weather events such as heat waves, floods and droughts, to waste and resource efficiency, or safe and clean energy resources.
