New Partnership Between Ukraine and the EU in Electronic Services
Ukraine and the European Union have strengthened their collaboration in electronic identification and trust services. This plan outlines key actions that will enable Ukraine to gain recognition for its electronic trust services by 2026 and integrate into the EU internal market by 2027.
«Ukraine is confidently moving towards a status of a state that shapes the future digital landscape of Europe together with the EU. Even in the challenging circumstances of war, we have maintained our course towards digital transformation, becoming the first country outside the EU to be included in the EU Trusted List. The updated plan is a confirmation that our technologies and approaches are highly valued. Mutual recognition of electronic trust services is a testament to the deep digital integration we have achieved through consistent work and trust from our partners,» — emphasized Valeriya Ionan, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation for European Integration.
What this means if the Plan is successfully implemented:
- In 2026, the EU will recognize certain Ukrainian electronic signatures, seals, and other trust services, allowing their legal use across Europe.
- From 2027, all Ukrainian electronic identification means and electronic trust services will be automatically recognized in the EU on par with European ones.
This will allow Ukrainians to effortlessly sign documents, use electronic services in the EU, and interact with European institutions using Ukrainian electronic signatures.
The process includes several stages, such as evaluating Ukrainian legislation, testing cross-border service compatibility, and amending Ukrainian laws. Ukraine has already begun preparing legislative and infrastructural changes to comply with new European standards.
It should be noted that the first joint workplan between Ukraine and the EU in the field of electronic identification and electronic trust services was approved in 2021. The updated eIDAS Regulation entered into force in May 2024, and the finalization of the EU implementation acts in this area is currently ongoing.
