Bridging global and European agendas: an evaluation of progress on SDG 4 and the Europe 2020 strategy

This paper evaluates the progress of the European Union in meeting the educational objectives defined by the Europe 2020 strategy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with a particular focus on Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4). The analysis concentrates on two key indicators: the share of individuals leaving education and training early and the proportion of the population with completed tertiary education. Using Eurostat data, the study first assesses the achievement of national targets by EU member states up to 2020 and then compares these outcomes with the 2030 targets. The research applies descriptive statistical methods complemented by regression analysis to estimate future developments up to 2030. Results confirm that while the EU as a whole already surpassed the 2020 benchmark for early school leavers, persistent disparities remain across member countries. The regression findings suggest that, assuming current trends continue, the EU is likely to reduce early school leaving below 9% by 2026. In parallel, the 45% target for tertiary education attainment could be achieved by 2027. However, country-specific gaps reveal uneven progress, particularly in Romania, Spain, and Germany, while states such as Greece, Croatia, Ireland, and Luxembourg demonstrate strong performance. The results highlight the central role of education as both a driver and a consequence of sustainable economic growth, labor market competitiveness, and social cohesion. At the same time, they underscore the importance of consistent policy efforts across member states to address structural inequalities and ensure convergence toward the 2030 Agenda goals.