DIGITAL HORIZONS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ROMANIA AND BULGARIA S JOURNEY WITHIN THE EU S DIGITAL TRANSITION

Confronted with a kaleidoscope of crises and a package of challenges, the European Union is obliged to manage a complex set of transitions. One of these paradigm shifts is the digital one due to the pandemic situation, experiencing increased interest and addressability within the national and common regulatory and institutional framework. This research focusses on the steps ahead that Romania and Bulgaria have taken and evaluates their Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI). As tackling the digital gaps among its members represents a key priority for the EU, the authors underlined the results of measures implemented by these countries to optimise digitalisation for economic and social gains. Special attention was paid to the specific scheme of support available to the member state under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, with the aim of accelerating the twin transitions – digital and green - in the process of making economies more sustainable and resilient. This research adopts a mixed methods approach, allowing a nuanced understanding of the digital landscape in Romania and Bulgaria. It combines quantitative data analysis derived from the comprehensive metrics of DESI with qualitative insights, providing relevant information through the comparative analysis of the two countries. The results indicate that the lowest aggregate scores of Romania and Bulgaria are determined by scoring below the EU average in most indicators. The findings of the analysis of the NRRPs highlight their significant role in achieving the digital transition through reforms and investments aligned with the provisions of digital-related European strategies and policies.