Evaluating strategic management of sustainable development in the European Union: A spatial–cluster perspective

Abstract

This study investigates structural interactions and synergies among the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the European Union using a data-driven clustering and multivariate analysis approach. The empirical basis is a panel for the EU-27 spanning 2000–2024, drawn from the Europe Sustainable Development Report, which provides harmonised SDG performance indicators across Member States. First, hierarchical clustering (Ward’s method) is applied to the SDGs to identify groups of goals exhibiting similar trajectories. Three clusters emerge: (i) a socioeconomic–ecological cluster (GT), (ii) a socio-environmental governance cluster (GP), and (iii) a distinct responsible consumption and production cluster (GIS). Second, Multiple Factor Analysis (MFA) is used to examine interdependencies among these clusters within a shared factorial space. The magnitude and statistical significance of relationships are quantified using RV coefficients complemented by permutation-based tests. The findings indicate strong, persistent synergies between GT and GP, with RV coefficients ranging from 0.61 to 0.71 across the study period, reflecting stable alignment between economic development, social well-being, and governance capacity. By contrast, linkages involving GIS are comparatively weak and volatile (RV = 0.03–0.38), suggesting fragmentation in the integration of responsible consumption and production within EU sustainability strategies. Subregional comparisons reveal higher coherence in Northern and Baltic countries than in Southern and Central–Eastern Europe. Overall, the results highlight the critical role of strategic coordination and institutional capacity in reinforcing SDG complementarities. A key limitation is that the analysis is conducted at the goal level; future research should explore indicator-level dynamics and causal mechanisms underpinning observed synergies.