A Commission staff working document published on 24 June 2026 finds that Romania is an EU leader in fibre connectivity and semiconductors but faces structural gaps in digital skills, business digitalisation, and startup finance that limit its competitiveness. The country report, part of the Digital Decade 2026 package, highlights a stark contrast between Romania's top-ranked fibre-to-the-premises coverage of 96.25% in 2025 and its last-ranked 5G coverage of 59.3% (EU average 96.79%). Only 27.7% of Romanians have at least basic digital skills, the lowest in the EU, and the startup ecosystem has produced no ICT unicorns due to limited venture capital access. Digital public services score 64.2 for citizens and 66.8 for businesses (out of 100), while e-health records access stagnates at 75.1.
The report notes that Romania allocated EUR 4.5 billion (21% of its recovery plan) and EUR 3.2 billion from cohesion policy to digital transformation. The country set 11 of 14 possible national targets, with 36% aligning with EU 2030 goals, but 38% of roadmap measures end by 2026. Recommendations include operationalising the National Platform for Interoperability, adopting a national digital health strategy, boosting basic digital skills through teacher training and adult learning, and leveraging the upcoming AI factory and potential AI gigafactory.
Stakeholder impact The report's findings imply differentiated impacts. Romanian citizens face a digital divide: while high-speed fibre is widely available, low digital skills and limited e-health access hinder inclusion. Businesses, especially SMEs, struggle with low digitalisation and scarce venture capital, constraining innovation and growth. The Romanian government is called to accelerate 5G rollout and digital skills programmes, requiring coordinated investment and policy action. EU institutions gain a benchmark for monitoring Romania's Digital Decade progress, with potential for future cohesion fund conditionality.
Institutional follow-up The Commission's country report feeds into the broader State of the Digital Decade 2026 communication. The Council is expected to discuss the findings in relevant formations, while the European Parliament may hold a debate. Romania will need to update its national roadmap and report on progress in 2027.