Ukraine joins EU’s Single Digital Gateway Coordination Group as observer

Following the Single Digital Gateway (SDG) Coordination Group meeting in Lisbon, the European Commission invited Ukraine to join the SDG Expert Group as an observer. This status enables Ukraine to align its digital infrastructure with EU standards and prepare for full participation in the common European information space for electronic public services.

The SDG Coordination Group serves as a key European platform for connecting national digital systems and simplifying citizens’ access to public services across the Union. Ukraine’s delegation joined the meeting as part of the DT4UA project, funded by the European Union, which supports Ukraine’s digital transformation and integration with the EU’s Digital Single Market.

At the meeting in Lisbon, participants discussed how to make it easier for Ukrainians to access essential services in EU countries – from education and employment to social protection and business procedures. The goal is to make these processes smoother and more efficient, cutting out unnecessary bureaucracy. This achievement represents another meaningful step in deepening Ukraine’s digital partnership with the European Union.

In the meeting, discussions focused on making Ukraine’s digital systems compatible with EU standards, aligning national laws with the European Interoperability Act, protecting personal data under GDPR, and preparing for the Once-Only Technical System (OOTS) to allow automated cross-border data exchange.

Oleg Burba, Senior Expert at the e-Governance Academy and DT4UA Project coordinator, highlighted Ukraine’s progress in building the technical foundations for EU integration. He spoke about the launch of the OOTS national segment mock-up, the testing of the eIDAS node to connect Ukraine’s electronic ID system with the European network, and the recognition of Ukrainian electronic signatures in the EU. According to Oleg Burba, the Ukrainian electronic signatures are already supported by 32 trust service providers, eight of which are on the EU Trusted List.

These tools mean Ukrainians can now access online services for education, employment, social protection, and business in EU countries faster and more easily. For European countries, this translates into reduced bureaucracy, fewer paper documents, and faster data exchange between institutions. The Lisbon meeting confirmed that Ukrainian digital services are ready to operate according to European standards and deliver convenient public services beyond Ukraine’s borders.

Thanks to the European Union’s support and the e-Governance Academy’s systematic work in last five years within DT4UA and EU4DigitalUA projects, Ukraine is steadily moving toward full integration into Europe’s digital space. In particular, plans are underway to implement further legislation on personal data protection and harmonisation with the GDPR.