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The territory of the Danube Region represents one fifth of the European Union´s total area and is home to more than 100 million inhabitants. The Danube Region is characterized by a divergent group of 11 countries (9 of them are EU member states, 5 are non-EU countries) concerning the process of integration and the preconditions in geographic, economic, cultural and socio-demographic terms. In order to increase growth and strengthen cooperation at a macro-regional level, the European Union established the Danube Region Strategy with eleven priority areas, among them one focusing on energy. The aim of the paper is to perform quantitative evaluation on the relationship between economic development and energy consumption based on decoupling model theory. The paper focuses on the case of the Danube region countries in the period of 1994 – 2014. Throughout 20 year period examined, the countries spread out into different forms of decoupling. The results of analysis suggest that in most observed partial variables occurs the absolute or relative decoupling of economic growth and energy consumption, what can be considered as positive trend. Though decoupling index convey a positive message, the Danube region countries will need to accelerate their implementation of new policies, while restructuring the ways how they meet their demand for energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development strategy in tourism industry requires a complexity of processes which claim the combination of the economical, social and environmental factors, concreted in medium and long term progress of the tourism society. Generally, sustainable development follows the performance on three levels - economic, by increasing the development degree and resources development, ecologically through recycling and avoiding environmental and social degradation by increasing the number of jobs, re-launching the traditional professions. The paper highlights a study conducted in the Romanian hotel environment regarding the top management's opinion of introducing in the infrastructure optimization strategies elements leading to tourist accommodation structures with "Nearly 0 energy consumption". The identified methods by which a hotel operator can reduce energy consumption are diverse, innovative and possible to be implemented in stages. The results of the study can constitute a fundamental approach for the purpose and objectives of a consultancy project that can support the goal of hoteliers in Romania, supporting the reduction of energy operating costs, the introduction of renewable energy sources, and stimulating the behavioral schema of staff and customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is devoted to a comprehensive study of the impact of rent received from energy resources on the economies of individual countries as a factor for the development of a balanced energy dialogue with the countries of the European Union. The research methodology consists of a three-stage sequential algorithm. The first stage is to calculate the absolute and relative profitability of extraction of energy resources. The second stage of the algorithm consists in clustering countries in terms of the level of dependence of the economy on rent from energy resources. The third stage of the algorithm is to determine the relationship between the degree of risk and the profitability of energy resources. The analysis made it possible to identify the inverse relationship between the level of extraction of energy resources and the level of economic development. As a rule, in countries with a low diversified economy, a larger amount of rent from energy resources is generated. It is established that a higher level of energy resources in the country does not affect the formation of a higher amount of rent. It has been proven that the greatest revenue per ton of production is observed in countries that are not among leaders in technological development of the economy and extraction. Thus, the level of reserves is not a key factor in the formation of rent. Moreover the global trend of the dependence of the economy on rent from energy resources has the cyclical nature and in recent years this dependence has been steadily decreasing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EU countries are largely heterogeneous group. Heterogeneity is given by historical development, as well as geographic localization, or cultural and social specifics. Main aim of EU is to realize social and environmentally sustainable economic development. One of the tools to achieve that state is effort to increase energy efficiency of economies. In this paper we identify degree of similarity of EU countries in implementing the processes of improving the energy efficiency balance, using the selected indicators of energy efficiency and economic development. Using the historical data we also analyse changes in the development and in the structure of similarity of EU countries [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Europe 2020 strategy is the EU's agenda for growth and jobs for the current decade. It started in 2010 and will last into 2020. It emphasises smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Its aim is to overcome the structural weaknesses in Europe's economy, improve its competitiveness and productivity and underpin a sustainable social market economy. This strategy includes three areas of interest. Smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. One of set areas for this strategy is sustainable growth. We can say, that this growth means promoting a more resource efficient, greener and more competitive economy. European Commission set following aims for the area of sustainable growth, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% compared to 1990 levels, increase in the share of renewable energy sources in our final energy consumption to 20% and a 20% increase in energy efficiency. The aim of the article is to compare, how selected countries have fulfilled set aims of sustainable growth. We have chosen 4 countries ofV4, for analysis. We have compared the situation in the field of sustainable growth in the Czech republic, the Slovak republic, Hungary and Poland and of course, we have compared them with EU average. To show, how the strategy Europe 2020 influence analysed countries in selected indicators, we have analysed the period 2005-2014. The period 2005 - 2010 is called period before Europe 2020, and next period 2011 - 2014 is called period by Europe 2020. We analysed especially these indicators: greenhouse gas emissions and their change compared to year 1990 and share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]