On the eve of the EU-Ukraine Summit, the Government of Ukraine met with the College of European Commissioners and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov discussed with the European colleagues the priorities of digital European integration for the coming years.

“Our ambitious goal is to become part of the EU’s Digital Single Market. To achieve the so-called digital visa-free regime. To do this, we will continue to fulfill our obligations to our European partners,” said Mykhailo Fedorov.

In summer, Ukraine obtained an EU candidate status. The Government continues to draft legislation and implement reforms to speed up Ukraine’s accession to the EU.

To this end, the Ministry of Digital Transformation will cooperate with the EU on:

• updating the Roadmap for Ukraine’s integration into the Digital Single Market based on the Europe’s Digital Decade 2030 programme;
• EU assessment of Ukraine’s trust services sector for the purpose of mutual recognition;
• recognition of Ukrainian digital documents in the EU;
• Ukraine’s integration into the EU Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI);
• launching 5G technology and joining the EU 5G transport corridors;
• approval of an updated Annex 17-3 enabling internal market treatment in the telecom sector and bringing Ukraine closer to the EU roaming space.

For its part, the EU positively assesses the Government’s work, which guarantees Ukraine’s advancement towards digital visa-free regime with the EU.

Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of digital transformation, said that she was amazed by what Ukraine had achieved in the digital sector despite the war and its unprecedented resilience. At the same time, Ukraine is developing in a way that inspires others. It is an opportunity for them to learn from its experience.

The parties also reaffirmed their readiness for Ukraine to join the EU’s “roam like at home” space as soon as possible. Recently, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, in her annual speech to the European Parliament, pledged to permanently include Ukraine in the European roaming free area. Moreover, Ukraine has been granted exemption from paying fees for participation in EU programs, including the Digital Europe Programme, until the end of the war.