Bridging Regional Development and Sustainability: The Contribution of the European Regional Development Fund to Sustainable Development Goals Progress in the EU

Roxana Maria Bădîrcea, Nicoleta Mihaela Doran, Alina Georgiana Manta (), Camelia Cercel (Zamfirache), Elena Jianu and Axinte Gheorghe
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Roxana Maria Bădîrcea: Department of Finance, Banking and Economic Analysis, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Craiova, 13 Alexandru Ioan Cuza, 200585 Craiova, Romania
Nicoleta Mihaela Doran: Department of Finance, Banking and Economic Analysis, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Craiova, 13 Alexandru Ioan Cuza, 200585 Craiova, Romania
Alina Georgiana Manta: Department of Finance, Banking and Economic Analysis, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Craiova, 13 Alexandru Ioan Cuza, 200585 Craiova, Romania
Camelia Cercel (Zamfirache): Doctoral School of Economic Sciences, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Craiova, 13 Alexandru Ioan Cuza, 200585 Craiova, Romania
Elena Jianu: Management and Business Administration Department, The National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, Pitești University Centre, 110040 Pitești, Romania
Axinte Gheorghe: Agroturistic Management Faculty, University Bioterra, 013722 Bucharest, Romania

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 8, 1-25

Abstract: The primary focus and innovation of this study lie in examining the role of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in advancing the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the EU member states during the 2015–2023 period. For this purpose, the EU member states were categorized into two groups: Group A (lower-income states) and Group B (higher-income states). This study utilized ERDF payments as the independent variable, while 17 SDG indicators were treated as the dependent variables. The methodology combined an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) with robust regression techniques to explore the relationships between ERDF allocations and SDGs. This study highlights that the associations between ERDF allocations and SDGs progress are shaped by variations in the socio-economic contexts, institutional capacities, and developmental priorities across the different clusters. While tailored strategies reflecting these distinctions have been increasingly adopted to ensure that investments address immediate challenges and foster long-term sustainability, this analysis underscores the need for the continuous refinement of these approaches to maximize their effectiveness. In less developed regions, a focus on capacity-building initiatives and targeted administrative support is essential. Conversely, in more developed regions, prioritizing innovation, green technologies, and inclusive development can maximize the transformative potential of the funds. By aligning the funding mechanisms with the specific needs of the regional contexts, the ERDF can more effectively contribute to the European Union’s objectives of achieving the SDGs and bridging regional disparities.

Keywords: European Regional Development Fund; sustainable development goals; sustainable future (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:8:p:3665-:d:1637542

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