## 3 Materials and Methods
### Selected Variables  
The research variables include three components of DESI (digital public services, human capital, and digital technology integration), the overall SDG index (SDGi), and the indices for the 17 SDGs (SDG1-SDG17). Data from the Sustainable Development Reports 2023 and DESI reports were collected from 2017 to 2022. The SDG indices are essential for monitoring global progress in achieving sustainable development goals [3]. The goals cover different aspects, each with specific indicators for assessment, allowing for a detailed analysis of areas where a country excels or needs improvement. Scores for each SDG are calculated through a detailed and rigorous process that includes multiple steps. In addition to providing a framework for progress evaluation, the SDG indices facilitate comparisons between countries and regions worldwide, promoting healthy competition and international collaboration [3; 64]. To illustrate emerging digital technologies, we chose the DESI to measure the digital competitiveness of EU member states [65]. The DESI comprises the following four dimensions: connectivity; human capital; digital technology integration; and digital public services [66]. Connectivity refers to the infrastructure necessary for fast and reliable Internet access, an essential aspect of integrating and using digital technologies across all sectors of the economy. Human capital emphasizes the importance of education and digital skills for the workforce to use and develop emerging technologies. Internet usage reflects how individuals and companies access and leverage information and services online, influencing economic efficiency and productivity. Digital technology integration into businesses and administrative processes stimulates innovation and competitiveness, while digital public services improve citizens' access to government information and services, enhancing transparency and public administration efficiency. Within the research, we selected only three components of the DESI, as follows: digital public services (DPS); human capital (HC); and digital technology integration (DTI). Connectivity was excluded because EU countries record consistently high and similar values for this component, which diminishes its explanatory power in differentiating sustainability levels. While connectivity undoubtedly plays a foundational role in enabling digitalization, its uniformity across EU member states does not significantly contribute to understanding variations in sustainable development outcomes within this regional context. Although excluded from this specific analysis due to methodological considerations, its underlying importance in promoting digitalization and sustainability remains indisputable. The DESI methodology allows for a detailed and nuanced assessment. The DESI not only provides an overview of the current state of digitalization in the EU but also directs efforts toward areas that need improvement, contributing to the ambitious goals of the European Union for 2030. This approach enables countries to adapt their strategies and investments to specific needs, promoting equitable and sustainable digital development [65]. The DESI scores used in this study were obtained directly from the official DESI reports published annually by the European Commission. These reports offer standardized and detailed data on the digital competitiveness of EU member states, facilitating cross-country comparisons and trend analyses over time. The DESI is developed through a rigorous methodology that incorporates various indicators into four main dimensions: connectivity, human capital, Internet usage, and integration of digital technologies into public and private sectors. The scores for these components were sourced from DESI reports spanning 2017 to 2022. The robustness and reliability of these official data sources ensure the credibility of the analysis and its alignment with the latest European Union digitalization strategies.