Cooperation between Ukraine and Estonia: from data protection to russia’s international responsibility
On 27 November, Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice of Ukraine, met with Liisa-Ly Pakosta, Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs of the Republic of Estonia, to discuss joint efforts to create and improve the Register of information on children deported or forcibly displaced as a result of armed aggression of the russian federation, the European integration process, cooperation in creating and protecting registers, the penitentiary sector, confiscation of frozen russian assets and digitalisation.
Olha Stefanishyna informed the Estonian side about the process of screening Ukrainian legislation for compliance with EU law and the start of preparations for negotiations on the Internal Market chapter. She highlighted the challenges facing Ukraine and thanked Estonia for its willingness to support Ukraine with its experience and expertise. Both sides noted the importance of digitalisation in this process, emphasising the role of innovation in simplifying and improving the implementation of EU standards.
Among the key topics of the meeting was the work on the launch of the Register of information on children deported or forcibly displaced as a result of the armed aggression of the russian federation. The Estonian side expressed its readiness to assist in data standardisation and verification, and stressed the importance of cybersecurity in the process of data transfer. The participants discussed the possibility of engaging forensic experts to create new standards for digital forensics. Both sides noted that data standardisation was key not only for the work on the Register, but also for integration into the EU system.
They also discussed the confiscation of frozen russian assets. Olha Stefanishyna emphasised the importance of setting international precedents to ensure that russia started paying for its crimes now. She noted that Estonia’s experience was extremely valuable for developing effective confiscation mechanisms.
Particular attention was paid to cooperation in the penitentiary sector. The meeting summarised the visit of representatives of the penitentiary services of Estonia, Lithuania and Ukraine. According to the Deputy Prime Minister, this exchange was important for reforming the system, despite all the difficulties of wartime. The meeting participants discussed the possibility of further exchange of experience between officials and the search for joint solutions to adapt the system to modern challenges.
In addition, the meeting discussed the launch of a new initiative in Zhytomyr – the IMPACT-Zhytomyr programme, which is being implemented with the support of the Estonian government. This interactive educational programme aims to increase the capacity of local governments in Zhytomyr region of Ukraine to develop and implement projects funded by international organisations, in particular in the context of Ukraine’s European integration process.
Estonia also expressed interest in learning from Ukraine’s experience in the field of digital services. Of particular interest is Ukraine’s experience in maintaining the functionality of state systems in the face of war, cyber threats and thousands of attacks every day. Estonian partners stressed that Ukraine’s experience in this area was unique. This experience, combined with the support of the international community, can contribute to the effective resolution of issues related to ensuring children’s rights, holding russia accountable and implementing European standards. The Estonian side underlined the importance of continuing cooperation to share technologies and create more secure digital platforms.
“Ukraine is now a source of unique experience for the whole world – from protecting digital registers during the war to developing innovative solutions for data standards and cybersecurity. We are demonstrating that even in the face of thousands of daily cyberattacks, it is possible not only to maintain the functionality of government systems but also to create new, more secure structures. In cooperation with Estonia, we aim not just to share experience, but to jointly build a system that will become a model for the world. This applies to the register of deported children, standards in forensics, and mechanisms for confiscating the aggressor’s assets. russia must start paying for its crimes now, and we are ready to initiate systemic changes at the global level. Our partnership with Estonia is not only about technology exchange, but also about the synergy of two countries that understand the value of freedom, security and innovation even in the darkest times,” Olha Stefanishyna concluded.
The meeting was also attended by Erik Janson, Acting Deputy Secretary General for Digital Transformation at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications of the Republic of Estonia, Joonas Heiter, Director General of the Estonian Information System Authority, and Annely Kolk, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Estonia to Ukraine.