Ukraine and the European Union have established a new work plan aimed at advancing electronic identification and trust services. This plan outlines key actions that will enable Ukraine to gain recognition of certain electronic trust services by 2026 and achieve a single market for these services by 2027.
«This step confirms that Ukraine is moving from a candidate country status to a partner actively collaborating with the EU in shaping Europe's digital standards. Even during challenging times, we have continued to implement digital technologies and have become the first country outside the EU to be recognized in the EU Trusted List. The update of the plan is a testament to the high regard for our efforts and technologies. The mutual recognition of electronic trust services is an important step towards deeper digital integration that we have achieved through partnership and real change,» — emphasized Valeria Ionan, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation.
What this means upon successful execution of the plan:
- By 2026, the EU will recognize some Ukrainian electronic signatures, seals, and other trust services, allowing their legal use in Europe.
- From 2027, all Ukrainian electronic identification means and trust services will be automatically recognized in the EU on par with European ones.
This will enable Ukrainians to seamlessly sign documents, access electronic services in the EU, and interact with European institutions using Ukrainian electronic signatures.
The process involves several stages, including assessing Ukrainian legislation, testing cross-border service compatibility, and amending Ukrainian laws. Ukraine has already begun preparations for legislative and infrastructural changes to meet new European standards.
It is worth noting that the first joint work plan between Ukraine and the EU in the field of electronic identification and trust services was approved in 2021. The updated eIDAS Regulation came into force in May 2024, and the finalization of the EU implementing acts in this area is currently underway.