Abstract:
This paper aims at presenting and discussion the assumptions of theoretical model of the impact of EU regional policy on environmental dimension of sustainable development. Model is an author’s suggestion, how to examine the power of relations between EU regional policy, economy and natural environment.
The model basis is EU regional policy; its assumptions have been taken into account in the planning and implementing the national growth policy. The legal, strategic and programme conditions of both the EU regional policy and the national policy determine the direction of the environmental public intervention. The policy is based primarily on financing and adopting measures in the areas of business activity of key importance to the natural environment (the power sector, transport, water management, waste management, environmental protection). The basic goal of this activity is limiting human impact on the environment with respect to its basic components (air quality, water quality, soil quality, condition of natural resources, biodiversity). The model also takes into consideration the impact of environmental awareness which represents a specific catalyst accelerating and magnifying the positive, environmental effects of the measures adopted for the economy. The nature (be it positive or negative) of the changes taking place within the environmental components describes the environmental dimension of development. An improvement in the condition of the natural environment indicates that we are dealing with the sustainable development. In the case of no improvement or deterioration in the environmental conditions, reference can be made to lack of development in the environmental dimension. In the context of operationalization of sustainable development in the environmental dimension, the relations between the identified areas of economic activity and the condition of the components of the natural environment is of key importance.
|