The Need for a Sustainability Strategy for Regional Development Programmes "“ Using the Example of the Podravje Region in Slovenia

Abstract: According to statistics, the Podravje region has a critical groundwater balance, polluted soil, agriculture as the predominant activity plays no role within the region. The priorities set in the Regional development programme (RDP) for the Podravje region for the period from 2007 to 2013 relate to economic development, which does not show any liveliness. To determine the sustainable approach of the programme the links between the economic, social, environmental and human capital were explored with the help of the four-capital method and the sustainability flower method. If the priorities that arise from the programme do not fit the situation in the region and if the capitals are not linked to one another, such a document cannot work. This was proven by the analysis of the regional programme for the Podravje region that showed that movement towards a sustainability strategy is hardly noticeable.