Romania's performance towards the Digital Decade targets and objectives.
In 2023, Romania made notable progress in digitalising public services and SMEs. Despite the ongoing efforts, important challenges persist in improving basic digital skills across the population and in rolling out 5G networks, although the country continues to have an outstanding performance on Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) coverage.
Two main strengths or areas of progress
Digitalisation of SMEs
Although the share Romania’s SMEs meeting the basic digital intensity criteria is low compared to the EU average (27% of 57.7%), strong growth has been observed in specific areas, for example in e-Invoicing.
Digitalisation of public services
The performance concerning the digitalisation of public services remains low, but continuous action could lead to radical improvements in the coming years, in terms of transparency, simplification, and quality. Important in this respect are the efforts to digitalise key national and regional services and to set up a governmental cloud and an interoperability portal and framework.
Two main weaknesses or areas to improve
Basic digital skills
Although Romania dedicates impressive efforts to raise the level of digital skills, including through major reforms and significant investments, more than 72% of its population still lacks basic digital skills.
5G coverage
5G coverage is improving, but it still lags severely behind the EU average (32.8% compared to 89.3%)
Romania’s Key Performance Indicators
Romania’s Digital Decade strategic roadmap
Romania’s roadmap demonstrates that the country considers its digital transformation important, although it devotes only some effort to achieve the Digital Decade objectives and targets. It set targets for 13 out of the 14 key performance indicators (KPIs), although several targets, such as the ones for digital skills, the digitalisation of businesses, and 5G coverage, are set significantly below the levels of the EU targets. To achieve its digital transformation, Romania plans to allocate a total budget (excluding private investments) estimated at EUR 3.6 billion (1.1% GDP).
Digital rights and principles
The Special Eurobarometer 'Digital Decade 2024' reveals that 45% of Romanian respondents believe the EU protects their digital rights. Confidence in digital privacy is at 48%, slightly below EU average. Concerns include online safety for children (48%) and control over personal data (41%), both showing a prominent increase. These findings underscore the need to reinforce digital rights at national level. Positive trends include the importance attributed by Romanians to digital technologies for accessing public services (64%) and connecting with friends and family (71%).
Country-Specific Recommendations
Romania must improve its performance towards the Digital Decade targets and objectives, to foster competitiveness, resilience, sovereignty, and promote European values and climate action.
Basic digital skills
Keep up the measures related to upskilling and reskilling the workforce and continue to improve the quality and the relevance of courses and teachings in the area of digital skills.
5G coverage
Undertake additional efforts to support a higher level of ambition for the 5G target, including possible support for use cases and pilots, in view of the importance for EU and Romania’s future competitiveness and building on the current positive trend.
Digitalisation of SMEs
Intensify action on digitalisation of business, starting with providing a comprehensive overview of the available support measures and identifying potential gaps in terms of meeting existing needs, as well as with ensuring the good functioning of the EDIHs.
Unicorns
Extend the measures to support an innovative, R&D driven ICT sector.
ICT specialists
Consider additional measures to retain ICT specialists in the country.
More on the Digital Decade Report 2024
Check out the progress of all Member States and extracts of country-specific recommendations.