Economic activity always impacts environment, but degree of this impact depends on several factors mainly determined by technology used. Assessing economy’s environmental impact on country level such components as population, abundance and technology are analyzed. The Baltic Sea region countries represent two economy development scenarios – market and transition economies. Income levels, applied technologies and environmental management practices in these countries differ considerably. This leaves impact also on complex indices which are used to evaluate countries’ overall environmental situation and wellbeing of inhabitants. Example of the Baltic Sea region shows that high income levels and stable development path in the old EU member states provide grounds for technology advancement to reduce environmental impact. Common resource – the Baltic Sea and good neighbouring relations serve as facilitators for active cooperation in environmental issues in the region.