The European Union and Ukraine: Partnership shaping the digital future

Written by Mari Pedak, DT4UA project team lead at the e-Governance Academy 

Digital transformation is one of the most tangible success stories of modern Ukraine. It has changed the way citizens interact with the state and has become an integral part of the path to European Union membership.

From the first days, the e-Governance Academy team, with EU support, has been helping Ukraine build a digital state – from launching infrastructure systems to developing electronic services that millions of Ukrainians use every day. 

Since 2016, the EU and its member states have invested over 50 million euros in Ukraine’s digital transformation through the e-Government Academy. A new phase of the DT4UA project is now underway, focusing on European integration, legislative harmonisation, infrastructure development, and the introduction of new digital services. The continuation of our cooperation reaffirms support for Ukraine’s chosen path and recognises the significant progress made along the way. 

European integration and harmonisation of legislation 

We continue to bring Ukraine closer to a single digital space with the EU. Within the framework of DT4UA, we are working on harmonising Ukrainian legislation with key EU acts, including the Interoperable Europe Act, Data Governance Act, Data Act, eIDAS 2.0, AI Act, and CER Directive. The harmonisation of the legislation is a complex yet necessary task that will determine the future of Ukrainian digital services. 

Harmonisation with EU legislation creates the basis for the development of cross-border digital services, the implementation of trust services, and paves the way for Ukraine to participate in EU pilot projects, working and expert groups. Our work enables Ukraine to establish common standards in collaboration with partners as equal participants. 

The goal of this direction is to ensure the technical and legal compatibility of Ukrainian systems with those in Europe, so that citizens and businesses can use digital services in Ukraine and abroad without any obstacles. 

Interoperability and development of government systems 

One of the main tasks is to update the Trembita system, without which a digital state cannot exist. The eGA team, in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Transformation, will implement Trembita 2.0, a new version of the data exchange platform that will deliver an even higher level of security, reliability, and the ability to integrate with European systems. Developed by Cybernetica, Trembita 2.0 will serve as the technological foundation for hundreds of government services and enable the expansion of data exchange capabilities. 

In parallel, eGA team is implementing the Personal Data Access Monitoring Subsystem (PMDPD). This tool will enable citizens to view who has accessed their personal data and when, as well as receive notifications about this in the Diia application. The launch of PMDPD is a crucial step towards enhancing the transparency of the digital state, protecting privacy, and fostering overall user trust in the state. 

Supporting e-services and municipalities 

Among the first steps of the second phase of the DT4UA project is the launch of an electronic apostille (e-Apostille), which can be issued through the Diia application and verified by QR code, as well as digital supplements to diplomas that can be recognised in EU countries. The launch of the Ukrainian e-Apostille is the first time that a non-EU country will introduce such cross-border digital services. Such initiatives deepen Ukraine’s integration into the European digital space and simplify citizens’ lives. 

Also among the key tasks is the modernisation of the Vulyk system, which helps administrative service centres (ASC) of Ukrainian municipalities work effectively. The updated version of Vulyk will enable the connection of more service centres across the country, automate processes, and ensure convenient integration with government services, making services even more accessible to citizens. 

Creating a common digital future 

Ukraine’s European integration in digitalisation paves the way towards a shared future where digital solutions work seamlessly across borders. Thus, our cooperation lays the foundation for Ukraine’s future EU membership, where digital transformation plays a vital part in the accession process. This partnership brings Ukraine closer to the European community and to a future where digital services connect people and countries without barriers, with Ukraine as an integral part of Digital Europe.