EU-oriented Trajectories of Sustainable Development of Ukrainian Transport Sector: Comparison with Poland

Abstract

This study examines the sustainable development of Ukraine’s transport sector amid Ukraine’s EU integration. It aims to assess how Ukraine’s sustainable transport trajectories align with EU-27 trends, with particular focus on Poland. The system of sustainable transport and mobility indicators was constructed based on the SuM4All methodological framework, which ensures a comprehensive and coherent representation of environmental, economic, and social dimensions. The research covers three periods: before COVID-19, during the pandemic, and during Russia’s aggression against Ukraine (2022–2023). The comparative analysis of efficiency, universal access, safety, and environmental performance employed official statistics from Ukraine, Poland, the EU, OECD, the World Bank, and national professional associations. The findings reveal that Ukraine’s transport sector only partially follows the EU trajectories. Notably, indicators of universal access and efficiency display trends opposite to those in the EU, while road safety has been gradually improving but remains below the EU average. The environmental dimension demonstrates the strongest relative progress, which may be associated with the gradual decline in transport activity in Ukraine. These results can be used to develop scenarios for the sustainable and resilience-based transformation of Ukraine’s transport sector in the process of EU integration.