Sustainable development is about many things which are not directly comparable. For example, it is not possible to quantitatively weigh development against health and environment. The dilemma is that a field between elements that have different measures, and apparently do not belong together, cannot be balanced. This means that the incapability to balance incompatible issues renders current concepts of sustainability inadequate.
The Maastricht Treaty of the European Union does not codify sustainable development, only "sustainable growth respecting the environment".