BRIDGING DIGITAL SKILLS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: AN ANALYSIS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE 2030 DIGITAL DECADE

Abstract

The Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030 establishes a comprehensive framework for monitoring and cooperation among Member States to achieve the European Union’s shared objectives for digital transformation. The programme focuses on four main pillars: enhancing digital skills, developing digital infrastructures, fostering the digital transformation of businesses, and advancing the digitalisation of public services. Progress towards these targets is assessed using the Digital Economy and Society Index. According to the 2024 State of the Digital Decade Report, Romania achieved notable progress in 2023 in the digitalisation of public services and in the integration of digital technologies by small and medium-sized enterprises, while maintaining strong performance in Fiber to the Premises coverage. However, despite these improvements, Romania continues to face substantial challenges in enhancing basic digital skills among the general population. The country’s share of individuals with at least basic digital skills remains significantly below both the EU average and the 2030 Digital Decade target of 80%.

This paper aims to analyse Romania’s position relative to other EU Member States with respect to the proportion of the population possessing at least basic digital skills, based on DESI 2024 data. The analysis is disaggregated by age, educational attainment, and gender to identify key disparities and challenges. The findings emphasize that investing in basic and advanced digital skills is not merely a social or educational initiative but a strategic investment in an economy’s technological future and a key driver of progress towards the Digital Decade 2030 objectives.