This paper brings, as an element of novelty and originality, a strategic feasibility study, in the form of a logical analysis related to the proposed objective, with particularization to the area of the EFTA plus the UK and Ireland. We tried to achieve an overall picture of a sustainable and prudent transition at the macroeconomic level, but also at the microeconomic and local levels, with specific values of ecological and energy-smart villages/towns. The convergent actions of the signatory states of the climate treaty COP-26/2021—Glasgow, UK are to improve the logistics and financing of the large-scale replacement of fossil fuels used in the economy and lives of human society. Various strategies have been discussed to address the energy mixes that could be used in the transition phase in stages and combined-cycle natural-gas plants, conditioned by the implementation of CCUS technology. The preliminary stage will focus on the provision and implementation of modern technologies for the production of electricity in photovoltaic and wind power. Starting with the 2030s, the industrialized production of blue and green hydrogen is expected; the first is expected to be obtained from the chemical synthesis of natural gas with the separation and storage of residual carbon from chemical reactions, and the second directly from ocean water through the phenomenon of H₂O electrolysis. As a basic legislative element, the strategy aims to refine the idea of a carbon tax at the border or at the user, in order to discourage the use of fossil fuels.

Digitalization has become a watchword in all areas of economic and social activity, and its integration has become a necessity for every state worldwide. If a few years ago we were talking about technological innovation and cutting-edge technologies we are now talking about digital technologies, robotics, big data, and artificial intelligence, and future industrial production will develop in symbiosis with modern information and communication technology. The paper aims to show the impact of digitalization on macroeconomic indicators, including labor productivity, value-added, and value of exports of goods and services, and in this regard, we have built an econometric model to see how digitalization and the evolution of macroeconomic indicators work, and how they will influence the degree of growth and economic development. The research results verify the hypotheses we started from, namely that there is a positive and strong correlation between digitalization and productivity, as well as between digitalization and value-added, and that there is a positive, yet weaker correlation between digitization and exports. The impact of digitalization on macroeconomic indicators extends beyond the theoretical and practical implications, as they influence both the decision-making process of the companies’ management and national and European economic policies.

Digitalisation is reshaping commercial systems in Europe, yet the joint evolution of national digital capabilities, e-commerce and macroeconomic performance remains imperfectly understood. This article develops a parsimonious Digital Maturity Index for the EU-27 over 2015–2023 and examines its association with the share of enterprise turnover generated through e-commerce using a systems-oriented econometric design. Two-way fixed-effects and dynamic panel models show that e-commerce turnover is strongly persistent within countries and systematically higher in more trade-open economies and in labour markets with slightly higher unemployment, after controlling for income and unobserved heterogeneity. The marginal effect of digital maturity on e-commerce intensity is small and statistically fragile, suggesting that digital capabilities act more as a slow-moving state variable than as a direct short-run driver of online sales. The marginal within-country effect of digital maturity on e-commerce intensity is small and statistically fragile once unobserved heterogeneity is controlled for, whereas trade openness and labour-market conditions remain robust correlates. The PVAR results suggest a stable system with strong persistence in e-commerce and digital maturity, limited spillovers to growth and a pronounced temporary contraction in output during the COVID-19 shock.

The circular economy and the principles by which it is guided, has become the subject of more and more scientific works, the authors defining this green part of consumerism in multiple and diverse ways, but all focusing on the decision-making power of consumers and producers regarding the consumption of goods and services, respectively of the practical measures to maximize the recycling and reuse of the resulting waste. This research follows the evolution of the impact of the human factor on the environment at the level of Romania in the period 1948-2024, of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland (UEFTA-Liechtenstein) in the period 2010-2022, respectively 2004 - 2021. The main purpose of the article is to to determine the economic behavior models of the main actors on the global market, regarding the circular economy, with the aim of understanding their motivations and obviously to recommend the changes in mentality and implicitly the reactions, respectively the actions perceived to be strictly necessary for a sustainable use of raw materials and materials used in production processes. Of course, the concept of circular economy is one of vital importance for the entire human society, especially in the conditions of the demographic explosion predicted in the foreseeable future. For multiple reasons, this concept is absolutely decisive for avoiding the economic, social and ecological collapse of the entire planet we live on. The fundamental question we want to answer is “What are the main behaviors of consumers and producers regarding the circular economy?”, in order to be able to determine the current motivations, possibly future forecast and rewards that prove beneficial in the implementation of the principles of the green economy. The study is based on data related to GDP/capita, the recycling rate, the amount of greenhouse gases emitted and the number of vehicles with alternative propulsion.