Impact of Energy Transition, Digital Integration, and Financial Inclusion on European Union Sustainable Growth

The green and digital transitions are essential priorities in the current context of the European Union’s commitment to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 and multiple financial, pandemic, energy crises and international conflicts. The study assesses the relationships between economic, social and environmental variables, using data from 2010–2022 and applying econometric models to analyze the relationships between net greenhouse gas emissions, real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita and factors such as access to digital technology, share of renewable energy, green tax revenues, municipal waste generation and long-term unemployment rate. The results underline the persistent disparities between Member States and the vulnerability of the European Union to external shocks. The novelty of this paper lies in its integrated approach to the relationships between economic, social and environmental variables in the context of the EU’s green and digital transition, using econometric models to analyze the influences between greenhouse gas emissions, real GDP per capita and other determinants. The research contributes to the literature by highlighting essential directions for formulating sustainable public policies capable of meeting both the environmental objectives and the economic needs of the European Union in an increasingly uncertain global landscape. First published online 8 June 2026