THE ROLE OF GREEN ECONOMY IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (CASE STUDY: THE EU STATES)

The analysis of various "green" concepts has historically been linked to a broader discussion of the relationship between sustainable development and the environment. Some authors believe that the solution to the problem of the impact on the planet's environment is to reduce the level of economic activity, which would mean severe restrictions in the use of resources. Others think that economic activity can continue to grow, but with less impact on the environment; some experts claim that it is quite possible to achieve a balance between economic growth and care for the planet and people. In this context, it is necessary to use a new paradigm that clearly states that "environment" and "economic growth" cannot be seen as conflicting goals, which is confirmed by the authors of the article who studied the situation in the EU countries in the period 2016-2017.