Harmonizing digital services of Ukraine and the EU: meeting held with partners in Lisbon

Ukrainians in Europe will have an opportunity to verify their education level, start a business, or enroll a child in school without collecting paper documents—thanks to the integration of Ukrainian digital services with European systems. This was discussed at a meeting of the Single Digital Gateway coordination group in Lisbon, where the Ministry of Digital Transformation team presented Ukraine’s digitalization experience.

The European Commission invited the Ministry of Digital Transformation team to join the Single Digital Gateway expert group as observers. Participation in this group opens opportunities for fully preparing Ukraine’s governmental infrastructure for European integration into a unified European information space for electronic public services.

Less Bureaucracy for Ukrainians in the EU

Deputy Minister for Digital Governance, Data, and Digital Infrastructure, Zoriana Stetsiuk, spoke about the new reality for Ukrainians in the EU and the value of integrating with European digital systems.

Millions of Ukrainians have found temporary protection in EU countries, creating unprecedented pressure on the administrative systems of member states. Integrating Ukrainian digital services with the Single Digital Gateway (SDG) is a way to simplify citizens’ lives and optimize the work of European institutions.

Through this integration, Ukrainians will gain quick online access to information and services related to employment, education, social protection, and business operations. For the EU, this means less bureaucracy, fewer paper documents, and faster data exchange.

According to Zoriana Stetsiuk, the process is seen as mutually beneficial cooperation: it strengthens the European digital space while demonstrating solidarity through practical actions.

Digital services during the full-scale invasion

Yurii Turii, Deputy Director of the Directorate of Electronic Registers and Data at the Ministry of Digital Transformation, outlined Ukraine’s regulatory plan for digital interoperability with the EU. The cornerstone is the draft Law of Ukraine “On Interoperability,” developed by the Ministry and planned for submission to Parliament by the end of the year. This is a crucial step toward aligning Ukrainian legislation with the European Interoperability Act.

A separate discussion focused on personal data protection: a draft law aligning Ukrainian legislation with GDPR has already passed its first reading. Simultaneously, the possibility of obtaining a decision on the adequacy of data protection levels is under consideration.

The next stage involves full harmonization with European regulations, specifically the Single Digital Gateway (SDG) and the Once-Only Technical System (OOTS), which are priorities for the coming year.

Harmonization of Ukrainian and European Digital Services

The event also highlighted Ukraine’s readiness to integrate with the pan-European Once-Only Technical System (OOTS). According to Oleh Burba, coordinator of digital European integration under the EU’s DT4UA project, implemented by the e-Governance Academy (Estonia), Ukraine already has the technical capabilities for full interaction with the EU:

- Within the EU’s DT4UA project, a prototype of the national OOTS infrastructure segment is being deployed. Ukraine will be technologically ready for cross-border data exchange, enabling Ukrainians to access public services in EU countries.

- A key element of cross-border interaction is the national electronic identification system. Experts from the e-Governance Academy, in collaboration with specialists from the Diia State Enterprise, have deployed and tested an eIDAS-Node for interaction with the European electronic identification infrastructure—a vital component for providing cross-border services.

- 32 qualified trust service providers operate in Ukraine, with 8 included in the European Trust List. This means Ukrainian electronic signatures based on European standards are already recognized in EU countries.

Integration with European digital systems simplifies life for Ukrainians abroad, reducing bureaucracy, providing faster access to services, and enabling the use of familiar digital services from any EU country. This is also beneficial for European states, as it accelerates data exchange and reduces administrative burdens.

The Lisbon meeting confirmed that Ukrainian digital services can operate just as effectively for citizens abroad. Efforts continue to ensure Ukrainians can access state services conveniently from anywhere in the world.

The Ukrainian delegation’s participation in the Single Digital Gateway coordination group meeting in Lisbon was supported by the European Union through the DT4UA project, implemented in collaboration with the e-Governance Academy (Estonia).