EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Europe 2020 – The Strategic Initiative for Europe The National Strategy on Digital Agenda for Romania targets directly the ICT sector, aims to contribute to the economic growth and increase competitiveness in Romania, both by direct action and support of development of effective Romanian ICT and through indirect actions such as increasing efficiency and reducing public sector costs in Romania, improving private sector productivity by reducing administrative barriers in relation to the state, improving the competitiveness of the labor force in Romania and beyond. In order to support the economic recovery of Europe, especially to ensure smart, sustainable economic growth and to promote social inclusion, the European Union has prepared the Digital Agenda for Europe 2020, with the primary objective of developing the Digital Single Market. Some of the objectives set by the European Digital Agenda were taken and adapted to the current context of Romania, in proportion as they are relevant and aligned with the strategic vision of the Romanian ICT for 2014-2020. The purpose of this action is to ensure the alignment of the Romanian ICT development with the level recorded by the countries in the region, to establish premises of Romania's integration in terms of ICT, in the European digital single market. Europe 2020 Targets for Romania Europe 2020, EU’s growth strategy for the next ten years, which was initially submitted in 2010, addresses the shortcomings of Europe’s growth models and aims to create the conditions of an environment which is smarter, more sustainable and more inclusive. This strategy outlines 5 key common-goals parameters of where EU should be by 2020: 1. Employment – 75% of the 20-64 year-olds to be employed 2. R&D – 3% of the EU's GDP to be invested in Research & Development 3. Climate change and energy sustainability 4. Education - at least 40% of 30-34–year-olds completing third level education 5. Fighting poverty and social exclusion - at least 20 million fewer people in or at risk of poverty and social exclusion These goals are seen as strongly interrelated and mutually reinforcing and were translated into national targets for each member state of the European Union. For Romania, these are depicted below. Indicator Target by 2020 for Romania Current state Employment rate (in %) 70% 63.9% (2013) R&D in % of GDP 2% 0.49% (2012) CO2 emission reduction targets -19% -50.46 (2011) Renewable energy 24% 22.9% (2012) Page 5 of 172