The relationship between the Romanian state and its citizens abroad remains one of the major unresolved public policy issues. The relationship with digitalization is even more interesting.

Romania must launch the EUDI wallet by the end of 2026. Here, we look at the risks and solutions for implementation and adoption.

Romania's digital government maturity is no good. We propose five steps for the new government and explain why we can't wait any longer.

With the diversification of services offered electronically, including by public actors, the need for electronic identification that certifies that the person who wants to access that service is, indeed, who he is and “in documents” has become a fundamental aspect for a number of services. Secure electronic identity is one of the pillars of any real digitalization of the state and the development of the digital economy. In Romania, the electronic identity infrastructure exists, but its adoption is extremely low. This paper focuses on the existing electronic identification mechanisms, analyzes the causes of this low adoption and proposes public policy directions to accelerate the use of electronic identity.

Romania is perpetually in the last (often last) places in the most important indicators of the European Union regarding innovation (27th out of 27), as well as in the most important indicators of the OECD's government digital transformation (27th out of 27) and similarly in the matter of most indicators of the general concept of "digitalization". We thus find ourselves in a world where technology and related regulations are advancing at a rapid pace, but in which the Romanian state assumes the identity of a passive observer.

Romania has experienced unprecedented hybrid turbulence, turbulence that has polarized its society. These have materialized mainly in the digital space. Therefore, it is imperative for Romania to build its security antibodies in the digital space as well. Edge Institute proposes recommendations for a cross-country project of “digital resilience”, a project materialized both domestically and internationally. Starting from a diagnosis and analysis of the strategic framework, these recommendations aim to counter hybrid attacks, combat disinformation through cognitive defense, an innovative technology policy, strengthen Romania’s digital skills and digital diplomacy, among other measures.

At the end of an electoral season in Europe marked by hybrid turbulence, the digital space has become the battleground for the future of our democracies. In Romania, the 2024 elections showed us that, without real digital protection, the ballot boxes can be overturned by algorithms. In the context of the adoption of the National Defense Strategy 2025-2030, the question is not whether we will have elections under the assault of hybrid interference in about 30 months, but how prepared we will be to defend them. In this study, we analyze the phenomenon of disinformation in the context of the 2024 and 2025 elections, also proposing solutions for a country project of “digital resilience”, through institutions with clear responsibilities, innovative policies and a civic resilience trained for democracy rewritten in algorithms.

The document proposes the institutionalization of the coordination of digitalization at the level of a deputy prime minister without portfolio, with an explicit mandate for reform and efficiency of the state through digital transformation, assisted by a Government Chief Information Officer (GCIO) with the rank of secretary of state in the deputy prime minister's office. The GCIO function is presented in its international filiation as an institutional leadership role, not just technical, that connects political decision-making, project portfolio management and budgets. At the operational level, a government network of CIOs is proposed in each ministry, as the "skeleton" of digital transformation. The ministerial CIOs, included in integrated Digital Transformation & IT departments, would have a sectoral mandate in the implementation of the departments agreed at government level.

The Pareto principle also applies to digitalization: it means 20% technology and 80% transformation management. Romania lacks neither technology nor the resources that allow it to develop it. Under these conditions, what is missing from the equation of the Romanian digital transformation? A “command”, a collective decision-making body that would bring together all relevant actors around a digital Romania project. This material explores the winding path of digital governance in Romania and proposes the option of a Digital Council for Romania, analyzing a potential structure, form of operationalization and its role as a pole for the “national digital consensus”.