Under a new resolution, Ukrainians will be able to use their electronic signatures in the European Union to access certain services, while EU qualified electronic signatures will be recognized in Ukraine.
Currently, many Ukrainians are abroad. To access services or verify their identity, Ukrainian citizens and businesses must use a qualified electronic signature. However, the procedure for recognizing electronic signatures within the European Union differs from the Ukrainian identification process.
Mutual recognition of electronic signatures with the European Union is a long-term process. However, an experimental project adopted by the Government will address urgent needs for interaction with the EU in the field of electronic trust services before a formal agreement is finalized.
This means that the European Union will be able to recognize the Ukrainian qualified electronic signature (QES) as an advanced electronic signature, while Ukraine will recognize EU qualified electronic signatures.
What opportunities does this experimental project open up for Ukrainians and Ukrainian businesses?
- European qualified electronic signatures will be recognized in Ukraine;
- The European Union may recognize Ukrainian qualified electronic signatures as advanced electronic signatures;
- Ukraine may recognize electronic signatures created in countries that ensure adequate protection of personal data as equivalents to handwritten signatures.
The latter point will facilitate the further implementation of document sharing between Ukraine and other countries.
Mutual recognition of qualified electronic signatures with the European Union will be an important step toward the further mutual recognition of our qualified trust services.