ROMANIA AND THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: PROGRESS, GAPS, AND POLICY DIRECTIONS

This study evaluates Romania’s trajectory toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the analytical lens of the Economy 5.0 paradigm—a framework integrating technological innovation, social inclusion, and ecological sustainability. Drawing on data from the 2024 Sustainable Development Report (SDR), this paper examines Romania’s performance (score: 70.6; global rank: 40/167) and identifies patterns of uneven progress across the SDG spectrum. While notable achievements are observed in poverty reduction (SDG 1), quality education (SDG 4), and universal access to essential services (SDGs 6–7), significant gaps persist in gender equality (SDG 5), climate action (SDG 13), and innovation capacity (SDG 9). The study contributes to the academic and policy debate by (1) providing an evidence-based assessment of Romania’s SDG localization efforts, (2) highlighting the structural imbalance between socioeconomic and environmental objectives, and (3) proposing strategic policy pathways aligned with both Economy 5.0 principles and the European Green Deal. The findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions in renewable energy, research investment, and governance transparency to reduce Romania’s development asymmetries and accelerate sustainable convergence within the European Union.