Buletinul Institutului Politehnic din Iași Secția Chimie și Inginerie Chimică ISSN: 2537-2947
ISSN-L: 0254-7104
2026, Volume 72(76), Issue 1 (March), pp. 33 - 68
Tourism and Free Movement in the European Union: Environmental
Challenges and Pathways to Sustainable Development
TIBERIU VLAD SIMION, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iași,
“Cristofor Simionescu” Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental
Protection, Iași, Romania RALUCA-MARIA MIGHIU (ȚÂBULEAC), “Gheorghe
Asachi” Technical University of Iași, “Cristofor Simionescu” Faculty of
Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Iași, Romania,
raluca-maria.tabuleac@student.tuiasi.ro MARIA GAVRILESCU, “Gheorghe
Asachi” Technical University of Iași, “Cristofor Simionescu” Faculty of
Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Iași, Romania; Academy of
Romanian Scientists, Bucharest, Romania; Academy of Technical Sciences of
Romania, Bucharest, Romania
Abstract This study examines the complex interplay between tourism,
the free movement of people, and sustainable development within the European
Union (EU). While tourism and mobility represent pillars of European
integration, cultural exchange, and economic growth, they also generate
substantial environmental and socio-economic pressures. The paper explores
how increased tourist flows and cross-border travel contribute to greenhouse
gas emissions, resource depletion, and ecosystem degradation, particularly
in ecologically sensitive and infrastructure-limited regions. Through a
critical review of academic literature, policy frameworks, and regional case
examples, the analysis identifies key governance challenges, including
institutional fragmentation, uneven policy implementation, and the lack of
harmonized sustainability indicators. Special attention is given to regional
disparities in sustainability practices and the underrepresentation of
mobility impacts in EU sustainability strategies. The study concludes by
emphasizing the need for integrated, participatory, and adaptive governance
approaches that align long-term environmental goals with the socio-economic
realities of tourism-dependent regions. The findings contribute to a deeper
understanding of how the EU can advance its sustainability objectives in the
context of increasing mobility and tourism intensity. Keywords:
environmental impact, European Union, free movement, sustainability policy,
sustainable tourism