A digital economy is the key to socio-economic development and GDP growth in today’s society. Under the EGAP Program, we are focused on putting the principle of “digital by default” to work. Our goal is a country in which all services and spheres related to the life of the society have been digitalized.

The digital by default principle means that any activities by government agencies, including the provision of public services, interagency cooperation, interactions with physical and legal entities, the government’s informational and analytical efforts, and so on, are carried out in electronic form as a priority, while the planning and implementation of any reforms, projects or assignments involves the use of information and communication technology — ICT.

The “digital by default” principle was approved in Resolution #56 “On certain issues related to digital development”, dated 30 January 2018. This confirmed the Basis for Central Executive Bodies (CEBs) to implement the principles of state policy on digital development.

As of 8 April 2019, the State Agency for e-Governance of Ukraine, now the Ministry of Digital Transformation, undertook a digital examination of draft legislation and regulations relating to informatization, electronic government, the formation and use of national electronic informational resources, the development of civil society, e-democracy, the provision of administrative services, or digital development in accordance with the principles of implementation by the executive authorities of the principles of state policy of digital development.

Now, all drafts of Government acts will be reviewed prior to approval as to how realistically all the processes they describe can take place in electronic form. A similar audit will be applied to ensure that there is no conflict with European legislation, anti-corruption policies, and so on. This will make it possible to speed up the course of digital projects, including e-services, at least double. In this way, executive bodies will be able to save time, reduce costs, increase transparency, and improve the quality of the services they provide to the public and business.