European integration in digital space is getting closer: Ukrainian e-signatures to be allowed for use in the European Union

The European Commission has approved the list of countries TC AdES LOTL containing the e-signatures and e-seals of non-EU countries. Verification of e-signatures by means of the EU’s digital infrastructure will improve the daily life of millions of Ukrainians in the EU and improve their interaction with the EU countries accommodating them. Ukrainian businesses working with EU counterparts will be able to use electronic document flow and speed up their operation processes.

The software used in TC AdES LOTL – like, for instance, the European Commission’s demonstration platform for generating and verifying signatures, can already check and authenticate Ukrainian qualified electronic signatures on digital documents. Platform users whose signatures pass the check successfully receive the confirmation granting the “AdES Signature” or “AdES Seal” status. This status confirms that the respective signature or seal is legally valid and meets the requirements for qualified e-signatures or e-seals in the EU. Using TC AdES LOTL, it will also be possible for other public and private e-signature check tools to deploy the examination of Ukrainian qualified electronic signatures.

Ukraine is the first non-EU country that qualified for TC AdES LOTL, while the beta-testing for Diia.Pidpys (Дія.Підпис), in line with the European requirements, is already available in the Diia application. To obtain access to the new Diia.Pidpys-EU, users only need to update the application. Diia.Pidpys-EU meets the technical requirements of the EU and will be acknowledged as the advanced e-signature in the EU countries. Ukrainians will be able to use it to sign agreements, contracts and other documents with EU citizens and organisations in online mode. On the other hand, their European counterparts will be able to check these signatures on their signature generation and check platforms, like the European Commission’s demonstration platform.

The experts of the EU4DigitalUA project facilitated coordination and cooperation between Ukraine and the European Commission as well as supported the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and State Enterprise Diia in developing the e-signature meeting the EU standards.