Ukraine and European Commission launch bilateral screening meetings on digital transformation and media

On 31 March, a bilateral meeting between representatives of Ukraine and the European Commission started in Brussels, Belgium, as part of the official screening of the compliance of Ukrainian legislation with EU law under the negotiated Chapter 10 – Digital Transformation and Media. Such meetings are an integral part of the negotiation process of Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.

The head of the delegation and chief negotiator, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and Minister of Justice of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna opened the meeting online. In Brussels, the meeting is chaired by Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation Valeriya Ionan and attended by Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine for European Integration Andrii Nadzhos, member of the National Commission for the State Regulation of Electronic Communications, Radio Frequency Spectrum and Postal Services Liliia Malon, representatives of the State Service ща Special Communications and Information Protection, the Government Office, the Ministry of Justice and others.

“Ukraine’s digital transformation has become an example of resilience and creativity, even in the face of unprecedented challenges. Ukraine’s experience shows how digital tools can increase transparency, empower citizens and promote economic growth. An important step was the adoption of the Law on Media, which is fully harmonised with the EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive. We are committed to protecting freedom of speech and ensuring that Ukrainian citizens have access to diverse, accurate and reliable information,” said Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna in her opening remarks.

According to her, Ukraine is dynamically approaching EU standards and is actively joining the European digital and media space, participating in EU programmes such as Digital Europe, Connecting Europe and Creative Europe. Ukraine participates as an observer in European expert groups, has signed an agreement with the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), and the Ukrainian regulator participates in the work of BEREC.

Olha Stefanishyna stressed that Ukraine sought to continue and expand this practice and accelerate integration in terms of joining the Roam Like at Home policy, mutual recognition of trust services and electronic identification, Ukraine’s integration into the DESI (Digital Economy and Society Index), access to the EU Cyber Reserve and the strategic goal on semiconductors under the Digital Europe Programme. Ukraine also seeks to accelerate integration to participate as an observer in a number of EU expert groups.

“We are fully aware of the responsibility that comes with EU membership. We reaffirm our readiness to implement EU legislation in this area, and during the negotiations, the delegation will present a vision of the schedule for the adaptation of legislation. I would like to conclude my speech by appealing to the European Commission about Ukraine’s readiness and determination to open the first negotiating clusters. We have a report from the European Commission, we have prepared the Roadmaps necessary to open the first Cluster, and we have developed other necessary documents. This was a nationwide effort: members of the Ukrainian Parliament, the Government, civil society organisations, experts and all public services, including the judiciary, were involved in the process of preparing the country for the opening of the first Cluster. We expect that the decision to open it will be made as soon as possible. And I look forward to a merit-based approach for all the enlargement countries,” the Head of the delegation stressed.

The EU-Ukraine bilateral meetings under Chapter 10 – Digital Transformation and Media will last for two days, on 31 March and 1 April. During the sessions, Ukrainian experts will present progress in the approximation of legislation to EU law and next steps in the following areas:

• Electronic Communications;
• Digital services;
• Data;
• Trust in digital technologies and cybersecurity;
• Media;
• Artificial intelligence and others.

EU legislation within this section includes rules on electronic communications, information environment services, including e-commerce and conditional access services, as well as audiovisual services. In the field of electronic communications, the EU acquis aims to remove obstacles to the efficient functioning of the internal market for telecommunications services and networks, promote competition and protect the interests of consumers in this sector, including the general availability of modern services.