Paradoxes of Sustainable Development within European Integration

• Author: Janusz Grabara
• Position: Professor, PhD, Ing., Faculty of Management, Czestochowa University of Technology, Poland
• Pages: 206-214

European Integration - Realities and Perspectives 2014

206

Paradoxes of Sustainable Development

within European Integration

Janusz Grabara

1

Abstract: In these days, more and more attention in being paid to environment and ecology protection.

Political, social and economic actions are much better seen, when decisions are taken in harmony with the

natural environment. People began to realize the importance of the environment, they began to appreciate th e

actions of those, who d o care about, and condemn those who don‟t. Sustainable development is defined as

“the right to meet the development aspirations of the present generation, without limiting the rights of future

generations” (Smith & Rees, 1998, p. 23). So, the current economic development should not affect, adversely,

the economic development of future generations. Environment destruction and, the endless and only

sometimes, use of scarce natural resources, without any thoughts, by the present generation, may lead to a

situation, in which these resources will n ot be enough for future generation s. On the one hand, it can be

assumed that it is about a process of development of individual countries and cities, on the other hand, the

definition can be seen from the broader business, that definitely makes the synthesis of the needs of the

present generation, with the ability to meet the needs of future generations. From my point o f view,

sustainable development is closely related with the natural resou rces, and taking care and reasonable use of

those, will allow for further development. Not only in a world‟s scale, but also for every country or company.

It will cause a development of new technologies, products, services, and finally, better life conditions for

every single human being.

Keywords: sustainable development; European Union; integration; indicators; social life

1. Sustainable Development in a Nutshell

Due to the increased interest in issues of sustainability, it takes a particular significance. It is a multi-

layered phenomenon, encompassing such research plane as ecology, philosophy, culture, society,

politics, technology and economics. The main goal of sustainable development is the introduction of

an integrated governance, which pays special attention to corporate merger of environmental

sustainability, socio-economic, spatial and institutional and political. This concept is realized by

carrying out environmental, socio-economic and spatial category policy, with an emphasis on

sustainable development in the political sense as well as in the field of management. (Brzeziski,

Grabara & Pietrasieski, 2012)

The principles of sustainable development in the economy, concern including the organic matter, so

far unprecedented in the economic history, in the area. This reorientation of the world economy, gives

rise to questions concerning the major determinants of determining the possibility of developing the

concept of philosophical and practical solutions, applied, for example, by the companies.

1 Professor, PhD, Ing., Faculty of Management, Czestochowa University of Technology, Poland , Address: ul. Dabrowskiego

69, room. no 2,42-201 Czestochowa, Poland, Tel: +48 34 3250 431, fax: +48 34 3254 066 , Corresponding author:

janusz@grabara.eu.