---
title: "Ukraine Does Not Need a Separate Digital Document Following EU Models: eGA Expert Explains How to Build the WINWIN Strategy"
description: "eGA expert Serhii Karelin explained in a column for RBC-Ukraine that Ukraine does not need a separate digital document following the EU model: it is sufficient to align the WINWIN strategy with European priorities, specify indicators, and secure a budget."
date: 2026-10-30T09:52:34.031Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukraine-winwin-2030-digital-strategy-ega-expert
tags: [digital-transformation, eurointegration, winwin-strategy, eu-digital-decade, e-governance]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Ukraine Does Not Need a Separate Digital Document Following EU Models: eGA Expert Explains How to Build the WINWIN Strategy

![Wind turbine against the background of a vast solar panel field at sunset](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/30/ukraina-winwin-2030-cifrovaya-strategiya-ekspert-ega/ukraina-winwin-2030-cifrovaya-strategiya-ekspert-ega-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Ukraine already has the WINWIN strategy until 2030, so a separate digital document in the European format is unnecessary
- Digital Decade 2030 sets measurable targets (80% skills, 20M IT specialists, 100% online public services), but EU progress lags behind with 60% of the population having basic skills
- WINWIN emphasizes defense innovations, agritech, biotech, and space — areas not singled out in the Digital Decade
- Key gaps in WINWIN include the lack of a fixed budget, vague indicators, and the need to harmonize legislation with GDPR, DSA, DMA, and eIDAS 2.0

The question of whether Ukraine should replicate the European Union's digital path formed the basis of an expert analysis conducted by eGA (e-Governance Academy) under the EU DT4UA project. Senior eGA expert Serhii Karelin, in a column for RBC-Ukraine, compared the European Digital Decade 2030 program with Ukraine's Global Innovation Strategy for Digital Development WINWIN until 2030. The main conclusion: creating a separate strategic document in the European format just for the sake of the format is impractical — it is more important to align existing strategies with European priorities, define specific indicators, and secure sources of funding.

### Measurable Targets of Digital Decade 2030 and EU's Actual Progress

The European Union enshrined its vision for digital development in the Digital Decade 2030 program, which covers four areas: digital skills, business digitalization, infrastructure development, and electronic public services. A key feature of the European approach is measurability: 80% of the population should acquire basic digital skills, the number of IT specialists should reach 20 million, cloud technologies, big data, or AI should be applied in 75% of companies, and 100% of key public services should be available online. The annual European Commission State of the Digital Decade report notes that only 60% of the population currently possesses basic skills, showing that even with a clear strategy, transformation remains a complex process.

### WINWIN: A Strategy Built on the Context of War and Recovery

Ukraine approved the WINWIN Global Innovation Strategy for Digital Development at the end of 2024. Unlike the European agenda, it takes into account the conditions of full-scale war and the need for economic recovery. Priorities include defense innovations, agritech, medical and biotechnologies, and space technologies. Defense technologies are of strategic importance to Ukraine, whereas they are not highlighted as a separate area in the Digital Decade; agritech, on the contrary, is a promising area for the Ukrainian economy. The difference in emphases demonstrates that Ukraine and the EU are solving different tasks.

### Key Gaps in the Ukrainian Strategy

According to the author's assessment, the main weaknesses of WINWIN remain the lack of a fixed budget, vague indicators in certain areas, and the need to approximate legislation to European requirements — specifically GDPR, the Digital Services Act, the Digital Markets Act, and eIDAS 2.0. It is these elements, rather than the formal similarity of documents, that determine true compatibility with the European digital space.

### Does Ukraine Need a Separate Digital Agenda

The expert concludes that a separate Digital Agenda modeled after Europe is unnecessary: the EU itself lacks a unified approach to strategy formats, and implementation efficiency is what matters. The goal of digital European integration is interoperable systems and convenient services, rather than identical documents. Therefore, it is more rational to align existing strategies with European priorities, specify indicators, and establish funding sources.

### Ukraine's Competitive Advantages

Ukraine already possesses a developed system of electronic public services, proprietary technological solutions, and unique cybersecurity experience accumulated over more than a decade of countering cyber threats. In the expert's view, these assets should become the basis for dialogue with the EU: digital transformation remains an important part of the European integration path, but its logic must rely on the Ukrainian context rather than a mechanical copying of the European format.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Должна ли Украина повторять цифровой путь Европейского Союза](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/chi-povinna-ukrayina-povtoryuvati-tsifroviy-1793353535.html) - Primary source: column by Serhii Karelin (eGA, EU DT4UA project) in RBC-Ukraine. Digital Decade 2030 target figures (80%, 20m, 75%, 100%), current 60% figure from the State of the Digital Decade report, WINWIN priorities, and conclusions regarding the absence of need for a separate document are consistent with the basis.

## FAQ

### Does Ukraine need a separate digital strategy modeled after the EU?

According to the eGA expert's conclusion, no: the EU itself does not have a single strategy format, and implementation efficiency is more important. It is enough to align the existing WINWIN strategy with European priorities, determine indicators, and identify funding sources.

### What measurable targets are set in Digital Decade 2030?

Basic digital skills for 80% of the population, 20 million IT specialists, cloud computing, big data, or AI usage in 75% of companies, and 100% of key public services online. According to the State of the Digital Decade report, 60% of the population currently has basic skills.

### How does WINWIN differ from the European agenda?

WINWIN takes into account the context of war and recovery: priorities include defense innovations, agritech, medical and biotechnologies, and space. Defense technologies are not singled out as a separate area in the Digital Decade.

### What gaps in the Ukrainian strategy does the expert highlight?

The lack of a fixed budget for WINWIN, vague indicators in certain areas, and the need to approximate legislation to GDPR, the Digital Services Act, the Digital Markets Act, and eIDAS 2.0.