Liisa Pakosta and Valeryia Ionan: A Strong Digital State Ensures Independence and Democracy

Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa Pakosta and Deputy Minister for Eurointegration at the Ministry of Digital Transformation Valeryia Ionan called for cooperation between the public and private sectors in developing digital services during a panel discussion at the Tallinn Digital Summit, emphasizing that only through such collaboration can the best solutions and innovation emerge.

The panel discussion at the Digital Summit focused on how digitalization can support the independence, democracy, and freedom of nations. Building a strong digital state contributes to making countries more resilient during crises. In her speech, Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa Pakosta highlighted that over 99% of public services in Estonia are available online, and 98% of the population has a digital identity. Both countries have worked on finding the best ways to make public services accessible via mobile phones. In Estonia, this will soon be possible through the eesti.ee app, while in Ukraine, the Diia app is available. "Estonia, together with Ukraine, is an excellent example of like-minded countries that can truly change the world. This doesn't always mean inventing a brilliant new solution; change can also come from learning from others and sharing our own experiences. Through close cooperation, we are stronger as nations, complementing each other in different ways, and setting an example in the world for ensuring democracy and freedom," saidMinister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa Pakosta. The Diia government app in Ukraine has 21 million users and offers over 125 services on its website. Similar to Estonia's e-Residency, Ukraine has introduced u-Residency, which allows individuals to establish a business remotely and operate it in Ukraine. "Ukraine and Estonia demonstrate how two countries can combine efforts to create world-changing digital standards. We are extremely grateful for the partnership, support, and shared experiences. Estonia is a global leader in digital branding and has been a reliable partner and mentor for us in digital development for over five years. Soon, the eesti.ee app, developed based on the knowledge gained through cooperation between our two countries, will be available to the wider public in Estonia," said Valeryia Ionan. The Tallinn Digital Summit took place from November 19-20. In addition to the discussion "The Estonia-Ukraine Dimension," Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa Pakosta also participated in the panel "Securing Innovation in a Geopolitically Tense World: Balancing Innovation, Regulations, and Human Rights." She also had bilateral meetings with OECD Deputy Secretary-General Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen, Deputy Minister of the International Telecommunication Union Tomas Lamanauskas, Cyprus' Digital Minister Damianou, and the Netherlands' Digital Minister Zsolt Szabó.