Regional Disparities and the Localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals in the EU

This article examines the territorialisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the European Union by analysing key indicators at the national and regional (NUTS2) levels, identified by cross-referencing the 2023 EU SDG monitoring report, and the regional SDG indicators developed by the Joint Research Centre. The analysed indicators measure progress towards poverty reduction, healthcare access, education engagement, employment, and research and development investment. Our findings suggest that whilst there is an overall trend towards achieving the SDGs at the national level, there are considerably larger disparities and more pronounced mixed trends at the NUTS2 level. These findings underscore the importance of implementing place-based policies that consider regional particularities. Enhanced data collection at the regional level is essential to tailor effective SDG strategies. The article concludes with a call for inclusive governance to ensure equitable and sustainable development across all EU regions, aligning with the EU Territorial Agenda 2030.