The final day of the Public Digitalization Program (PDP) provided a fitting conclusion to a week filled with learning, reflection, and international exchange. After traveling through Cáceres, Mérida, Seville, and Guadalupe, the 36 Romanian public sector officials took part in a closing session marked by technical insight, heartfelt appreciation, and institutional commitment.
The day began at the Extremadura Science and Technology Park (PCTEX) on the university campus in Badajoz. Esther Muñoz Baquero, Director General of Universities of the Regional Government of Extremadura, took the floor to express her sincere gratitude for the presence and engagement of all participants. She highlighted the importance of interregional cooperation and knowledge-sharing as essential tools for building a more innovative, ethical, and effective public administration.
The session continued with a presentation by Anto Recio, a specialist in innovation, who showcased how the PCTEX ecosystem fosters digital transformation through public-private-university collaboration, offering real examples of effective partnerships.
The program continued with a compelling talk by Commander Sergio García Guzmán of the Spanish Guardia Civil. He addressed the challenges of public safety in a digitalized world, covering cybersecurity, the protection of critical infrastructure, and the growing need for digital training among law enforcement agencies across Europe.
The session concluded with a formal address by Francisco Álvarez Arroyo, Secretary General of the University of Extremadura and Vice President of the EBS Academic Council. He emphasized the importance of this program as a European model of collaboration, and praised the valuable contributions of both Extremadura and Romania to this growing network of knowledge exchange.
Representing the participants, Paula Diaconu delivered a heartfelt speech. Visibly moved, she thanked the PDP team and host institutions for their professionalism, hospitality, and educational spirit, and expressed her hopes for an enduring partnership between both regions.
The ceremony ended with the official awarding of diplomas, accompanied by applause, photos, and heartfelt embraces—clear signs of the genuine bonds formed over the course of the week.
As a symbolic farewell, the group crossed the border for a farewell lunch in the Portuguese city of Elvas, a gesture that reinforced the spirit of Iberian friendship and a united Europe built on knowledge, history, and mutual understanding.
With that, the PDP 2025 came to a close, reaffirming that digital transformation, when guided by humanism, dialogue, and cooperation, can truly reshape institutions and bring nations closer together.
