In the context of the EU’s strategic objectives for sustainable growth, competitiveness, and social cohesion, the evaluation of economic efficiency across Member States has gained increasing relevance. The heterogeneity of resource endowments, institutional capacities and development trajectories within the EU generates significant differences in how countries transform inputs—such as labour, technology and infrastructure—into economic and social outcomes. Against this backdrop, comparative analyses that employ robust quantitative techniques are essential for identifying efficiency gaps, highlighting best practices, and informing policy design aimed at convergence and resilience.