Pages: 88-108Introduction. The paper examines the dynamics of sustainable development in the European Union and Romania, through the lens of the relationship between governance quality, institutional performance and the vulnerabilities generated by economic criminality and corruption. The analytical framework is structured around three Sustainable Development Goals selected for their complementarity in capturing the transmission mechanisms through which corruption and economic criminality generate economic and social costs: SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). This selection is motivated by the fact that SDG 16 indicators directly reflect…
