On Friday, 20 February 2026, CRPE organised the event “Inclusive Digitalisation. How do we reduce gaps and build skills among the digitally vulnerable?”. The discussion focused on how Romania aligns with the objectives of the Deceniul Digital and the principle of leaving no one behind.
The data remains concerning. According to the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI 2025), only 27.7% of Romanians aged 16–74 have basic digital skills. This is far below the EU average of 54%. It is also well below the EU target of 80% by 2030.
Through the National RoadMap for Digital Decade 2030, Romania has set a national target of 50%. This is already below the EU average recorded in 2023. More concerning however is that, beyond the national average, the gaps are even deeper:
- Only 1 in 16 people aged over 65 have basic digital skills.
- Only 1 in 5 people in rural areas reach this level.
- Only 1 in 8 people with low levels of education have basic digital skills.
These disparities affect daily life. They limit access to online communication (inc. for social purposes), public services and job opportunities. They also increase exposure to online fraud and disinformation.
What works – and where we see progress
Despite the challenges, there are examples of progress. Some local authorities, libraries, NGOs, schools and private foundations are making a difference. They focus on communities where needs are highest.
These initiatives go beyond basic skills. They include:
- coding and robotics courses;
- programmes for persons with disabilities;
- advanced training, including AI-related skills.
At central level, there are also positive developments. These include training programmes for public servants and more user-friendly digital public services. A national digital competence framework is also being used as a framework for new initiatives. Many of these initiatives are funded through the National Resilience Plan and EU programmes under the 2021–2027 Multiannual Financial Framework and their impact is visible also in smaller and underserved communities. Investments have improved infrastructure, strengthened local skills and expanded access to digital services.
Over the past year, CRPE analysed both the strategic and sectoral dimensions of digitalisation. We published the first assessment of Romania’s Digital Decade National Plan. We also documented more than 10 good practice initiatives. In addition, we ran a crowdsourcing exercise were citizens shared experiences and solutions on how digitalisation works in practice, not just in policy documents.
What woes not work – and what must change by 2030
The main issue is not the lack of initiatives, but the lack of coherence. Many successful initiatives are project-based. Others depend on individual institutions. Coordination is weak and responsibilities are often unclear. Cooperation between public authorities, the private sector and civil society remains limited. Many initiatives follow available EU funding rather than long-term national priorities with continuity being rarely ensured.
Reaching the 50% target by 2030 will require more than formal plans. Reducing inequalities will require stable policies and long-term commitment. We need implementation, monitoring and real cooperation. A diagnosis alone is not enough.
Our event brought together over 40 representatives from central and local authorities, education institutions, civil society and other stakeholders. Discussions focused on:
- the national framework for reducing digital gaps;
- the implementation of funding mechanisms, including PNRR and 2021–2027 programmes;
- lessons learned and early directions for the 2028–2034 programming period.
This event is part of IDEU project, coordinated by the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS), a pan-European organization based in Brussels, and is implemented together with: ODRAZ (Croatia), ProInfo (Bulgaria), Democracy International (Germany), Science For You – SciFY (Greece), Fundación Cibervoluntarios (Spain).
Implementation period: June 2024 – May 2026
The IDEU project is co-funded by the European Commission through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme (grant number 101147200).
Credit photos: Alin Asavei
