The level of digitalization of businesses across the European Union follows a sharp divide between Northern and Southern European member states. The Nordic member states, Finland, Denmark, and Sweden have the highest rates of businesses which have either high or very high digital intensity in their everyday operations. On the other hand, the member states with the least digitalized businesses are in South-Eastern Europe, with Romania, Greece, and Bulgaria coming at the bottom of the list.Â
Digitalization of business enterprises is a key goal of EU policy, with the ability of European businesses to compete in high-tech and digital industries considered essential to ensure the global competitiveness of the EU in the twenty-first century. Through policies such as the Digital Single Market, as well as investments through the union's NextGenerationEU economic recovery package, the EU is hoping to spur the digitalization of businesses in Europe and to foster the growth of new high-tech industries.