EY Baltics is leading the core programme of the flagship European Union (EU) EU4Digital Initiative to support digital transformation and generate economic growth in the EU’s Eastern partner countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus[1], Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine). Central to this initiative is the EU4Digital Facility: EY’s Baltics offices have led this programme through a successful first phase (2019-2022) and into the current phase (2022-2025). The project is implemented in collaboration with EY Belgium, EY Italy, the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) and Action Global Communications. EU4Digital seeks to extend the benefits of the digital single market to the partner countries, and is carried out on behalf of the European Commission in close cooperation with stakeholders from EU and partner countries.
EU4Digital contributes to developing a stronger digital economy and society in the Eastern partner countries. This will generate more jobs and economic growth, help businesses and improve the lives of citizens. Six main digital policy areas are addressed by the project, including Telecom Rules, eTrust and Cross-Border Digital Services, eTrade, ICT Innovation and Start-up Ecosystems, eHealth, and Digital Skills.
Through the EU4Digital Initiative, the EU aims to bring the Eastern partner countries closer to the EU’s digital single market. “Digital is one of the main priorities of our investment plan,” says Gérald Audaz, Team Leader at the European Commission DG NEAR[2]. “Especially given the situation in Ukraine, making digital systems more resilient and reinforcing digital infrastructure and eGovernment are central topics.” The EU support is provided within the framework of the Eastern Partnership (EaP), in line with a renewed policy agenda and targets.
To harness the potential of digital not only in the EU, but also in the EaP region, a wide range of legislative and market initiatives must be implemented at both conceptual and practical levels. Important groundwork was laid throughout the first three years of the EU4Digital Facility. This includes the piloting of digital cross-border solutions in the areas of eCommerce, eCustoms, eInvoicing and digital signatures, towards later full-scale development. Through benchmarking studies and comparisons with EU best practices, the project’s first phase created key recommendations for enhancing the digital possibilities and facilitating connections between EU and EaP stakeholders.
The second phase of EU4Digital will build on these achievements across the key policy areas. This includes supporting harmonised telecommunication roaming services to lower prices for citizens, preparing 5G readiness, and supporting access to affordable high-speed internet. Through new piloting of cross-border digital solutions in the areas of digital trust, eTrade and eHealth, the project will pave the way for further development of these solutions. Facilitating eCommerce flows, start-up ecosystem development, digital education for entrepreneurs, and digital performance monitoring in the countries are further activities to facilitate innovation and support businesses. The project will also assist in the development of digital transport corridors and electronic freight transport information exchange, digitalising government public services and refining eHealth strategies, with the aim to strengthen and improve the digital economy and society. These activities are complemented with communication activities, to present the progress and visibility of EU4Digital.
"Our task in implementing the second phase of EU4Digital will be to support the efforts of the Eastern partner countries in the field of digital transformation with specific knowledge in each of the areas of activity. For example, helping to develop various project and legislative implementation ‘roadmaps’, identify investment needs, helping in the implementation of cross-border recognition of e-services, supporting countries in the development of data management strategies and providing our knowledge on an even wider range of digital issues - from eCommerce to eHealth services for citizens," says Arturas Piliponis, EY Business Consulting Partner and EY Digital and Technology Leader for EU institutions.
