Decoding Sustainable Development: Solving the EU’s Legal Puzzle

The phrase “sustainable development” has become a buzzword—ubiquitous and almost imperative—across the European Union. Yet, behind its frequent use lies a complex web of interpretations. The term is often vague, inconsistent, and even contradictory, with its meaning shifting depending on its legal or political context.

So what does “sustainable development” really mean in the framework of EU law? This article tackles that very question. It dives deep into the origins of the term and unpacks how it is defined and applied across primary, secondary, and supplementary EU legal texts.

Rather than dismissing the phrase as empty rhetoric, the research presents it as a semantic puzzle—one that can, in fact, be solved. By connecting the dots across EU legal instruments, the article reveals a coherent path to understanding and implementing sustainable development in practice.

This piece is part of a UNYP mini-series exploring the evolving meaning and impact of sustainable development in today’s legal and policy landscape.