site.btaEC Recommendations for Bulgaria: Strengthen Cybersecurity, Improve Technology Education Pathways

The European Commission (EC) published on Wednesday the fourth State of the Digital Decade 2026 report, which evaluates progress made by the EU in its digitalisation across the board, including in critical infrastructures, digitalisation of business, digital skills, and digitalisation of public services. The report shows that progress has been made in the following areas: with regard to the deployment of basic connectivity infrastructure, 96.8% of households now have basic 5G coverage, and over 60% of Europeans now have at least basic digital skills.

The short country report for Bulgaria shows that the country continues to make progress, supported by strong connectivity infrastructure and gradual improvements in digital public services. However, significant gaps remain in digital skills, Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), digitalisation and the uptake of advanced technologies. Bulgaria benefits from extensive fibre coverage, increasing mobile broadband use and continued policy engagement in digital transformation. It has also expanded investment in e-government and eHealth services, while strengthening its participation in European digital initiatives.

At the same time, Bulgaria's overall digital performance is hampered by persistent structural weaknesses, including low levels of digital skills, SME digital intensity that is among the lowest in the EU, and low adoption of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and data analytics.

Some of the structural gaps identified may affect Bulgaria's capacity to translate its solid infrastructure foundations into broader digital transformation across the economy and society, and strengthen its competitiveness within the EU digital economy, the report reads. Fragmented research funding, limited scale-up capacity and relatively little connection between research and business affecting Bulgaria's innovation ecosystem are also noted.

Recommendations towards Bulgaria include: improvement of basic digital skills; increasing the supply of information and communication technology specialists by strengthening education and training pathways; digitalisation of SMEs and take-up of advanced technologies; accelerating the uptake of AI, strengthening cybersecurity, improving the uptake, quality and interoperability of digital public services for citizens by accelerating the digitalisation and simplification of priority services; expanding access to digital health services; supporting investment-friendly conditions for future network development, etc.

The Commission also presented a special Eurobarometer survey, according to which 79% of Europeans consider that digital policy should be a priority for the EU's future, 92% consider strengthening the protection of children and young people online a priority, and 58% would be willing to switch to an EU-based digital service provider even if it means slightly higher costs.

Around four in ten citizens use generative AI at least weekly, and among those who do, nearly seven in ten report increased usage over the past year. 80% think the development of AI should be carefully regulated, even if it means AI developers face some constraints, the survey further shows.