United State Portal Extension; Electronic Government Information Services Unification; Modern Tools for Electronic Identification (UA0058)

Event: Introduction of administrative services provided in electronic form: 1) Extension of the functionality of the unified state portal for administrative services in order to provide administrative services in electronic form; Implementation timeframe: 2016-2018; Entities responsible: Ministry of Economic Development, State Agency for E-governance, other central executive agencies, Regional and Kyiv Municipal State administrations; Partners: Transparency International Ukraine non-governmental organisation, other civil society institutions and international organisations (by consent).; Expected results: Ensuring the: Development of draft regulations on the maintenance procedures and operational requirements of the unified state portal for administrative services and the submission of these drafts in accordance with established procedures for consideration by the Government. Integration of information systems and information resources into the unified state portal for administrative services. Operation of the common platform for the provision of administrative services on the basis of the unified state portal for administrative services. Provision of administrative services in electronic form (complete cycle): in 2016 — 15 services; in 2017 — 20 services; in 2018 — 25 services. 2) 2) Introduction of the unified system for electronic interaction between government information resources.; Implementation timeframe: 2016-2018; Entities responsible: State Agency for E-governance, Ministry of Economic Development, other central and local executive agencies, local government authorities (by consent).; Partners: Eidos Centre for Political Studies and Analysis non-governmental organisation, other civil society institutions and international organisations (by consent).; Expected results: Ensuring the: Development of a draft regulation on electronic interaction between government electronic information resources and submission of the draft in accordance with established procedures for consideration by the Government. Development of software application interfaces for granting access to priority government electronic information resources. Connection to electronic interaction: in 2016 — 10 priority government electronic information resources. in 2017 — 20 priority government electronic information resources. in 2018 — 30 priority government electronic information resources. 3) Introduction of modern tools for the electronic identification of individuals and legal entities.; Implementation timeframe: 2017-2018; Entities responsible: State Agency for E-governance, Ministry of Regional Development, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Economic Development, State Special Communication Service.; Partners: Civil society institutions and international organisations (by consent).; Expected results: Ensuring the: Development of draft regulations regarding the implementation of the electronic identification of individuals and legal entities in the governmental information and telecommunication systems and submission of the drafts in accordance with established procedures for consideration by the Government (May 2017). Development of the appropriate technological base (June 2018).

2. Introduce administrative e-services

Commitment Text:

Introduction of administrative services provided in electronic form:

1) Extension of the functionality of the unified state portal for administrative services in order to provide administrative services in electronic form.

Expected results: Development of draft regulations on the maintenance procedures and operational requirements of the unified state portal for administrative services and the submission of these drafts in accordance with established procedures for consideration by the Government. Integration of information systems and information resources into the unified state portal for administrative services. Operation of the common platform for the provision of administrative services on the basis of the unified state portal for administrative services.

Provision of administrative services in electronic form (complete cycle):

in 2018 — 25 services.

2) Introduction of the unified system for electronic interaction between government information resources.

Expected results: Development of a draft regulation on electronic interaction between government electronic information resources and submission of the draft in accordance with established procedures for consideration by the Government. Development of software application interfaces for granting access to priority government electronic information resources.

Connection to electronic interaction:

in 2018 — 30 priority government electronic information resources.

3) Introduction of modern tools for the electronic identification of individuals and legal entities.

Expected results: Development of draft regulations regarding the implementation of the electronic identification of individuals and legal entities in the governmental information and telecommunication systems and submission of the drafts in accordance with established procedures for consideration by the Government (May 2017). Development of the appropriate technological base (June 2018).

Responsible Institutions: Ministry of Economic Development, State Agency for E-governance, other central executive agencies, Regional and Kyiv Municipal State administrations; State Agency for E-governance, Ministry of Economic Development, other central and local executive agencies, local government authorities (by consent); State Agency for E-governance, Ministry of Regional Development, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Economic Development, State Special Communication Service.

Supporting Institutions: Transparency International Ukraine non-governmental organization, other civil society institutions and international organizations (by consent); Eidos Center for Political Studies and Analysis non-governmental organization, other civil society institutions and international organizations (by consent); Civil society institutions and international organizations (by consent).

Start date: December 2016..                                     End date: August 2018

Commitment Aim:

The commitment seeks to extend the functionality of the Unified State Portal of Administrative Services. The extended functionality includes provision of services in electronic form and a unified system for electronic interaction between government information resources. The extension effort would also involve introducing tools for the electronic identification of individuals and legal entities.

Status

Midterm: Substantial

By midterm this commitment had made substantial progress. The unified portal (http://www.my.gov.ua) was fully active, [26] and as of November 2017, there were 52 services listed on it. [27] The government has issued three key documents on the interoperability of specific government information portals. The first is the decree on electronic interaction between government information resources. [28] Another involves a concept paper on the development of electronic services in Ukraine. [29] The third involves an action plan for the implementation of the concept paper. [30] According to the government’s self-assessment report, it was pilot testing a project on interaction between basic public registries. [31] During this period the government had not developed draft regulations for the electronic identification of individuals and legal entities. For more information, please see the 2016–2018 IRM midterm report. [32]

End of term: Substantial

By September 2018 the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade had made steady progress on this commitment. On 23 May 2018 the Cabinet of Ministers issued decree #395, which advanced work in this area in five ways. The decree extended the functionality of the portal to integrate other public services provied by central and local authorities. It enabled e-identification not only by digital signature, but also by other means of identification. The decree also required the integratation of the digital workflow of state electronic information resources into the e-services portal. It established the responsibilities of the portal owner. And finally, the decree clarified the procedures for government agencies entering information into the portal. [33] The government provided cybersecurity protection for the portal, which was licensed by the State Special Communication Service. [34] The government also adjusted the website for easier use by people with poor eyesight. Futhermore, according to the ministry representative, the government intergrated three new services to the portal. These included one from the Ministry of Finance, one from the State Committee on Television and Radio, and one from the Ministry of Social Policy. The government also signed agreements with eight state agencies for further cooperation. [35] According to the government, the Unified State Portal of Administrative Services [36] allows citizens to obtain 34 services online (out of the targeted 60). It also provides legal and practical information on 1,000 services, 44 government agencies, and 750 administrative service centers. In addition, the portal directs users to 30 e-services on other government websites. [37]

There has been progress in the introduction of the unified system for electronic interaction between government information resources. On 10 May 2018 the government adopted decree #357. That decree introduced technical procedures for the electronic interaction between government information resources. [38] An expert who works for the EGOV4UKRAINE project, aimed at implementing e-governance reform, noted that the government and its partners are developing a Trembita information system. Trembita would provide a unified system for electronic interaction between government information resources. [39] The government planned to complete its cybersecurity component by the end of 2018. [40] The government reported that it had launched a pilot project of electronic interaction between all planned government information resources. [41]

According to the government, a user can register on the e-services portal using their BankID from the National Bank of Ukraine. The government is also conducting a pilot project testing the MobileID identification format. [42]

Overall, the government has begun to offer the planned number of e-services at the Unified State Portal of Administrative Services. However, the unified system for electronic interaction between government information resources has not been launched in a fully operational mode. Also, the tools for the modern electronic identification of individuals and legal entities need to be introduced more widely.

Did It Open Government?

Access to Information: Marginal

As written, this commitment was not directly relevant to core OGP values. However, as implemented, it has positively influenced access to information. Through the aggregation of various e-services, the portal facilitates easier searching and filing. Such efforts led to marginal change in improving access to information on provided e-services.

Carried Forward

When this report was written, the government had not yet published the next action plan. It is not clear if the government carried this commitment forward. For next steps, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and the State Agency for E-Governance could focus on developing draft regulations for the electronic identification of individuals and legal entities. These bodies could also ensure that BankID and MobileID can be used as alternative means of identification for obtaining public services. The ministry could develop an interactive guide for users explaining which services match their requests. The State Agency for E-Governance could announce the next priority services to be digitized and launch an awareness-raising campaign for citizens about e-services.

[26] Unified State Portal of Administrative Services, http://www.my.gov.ua.

[27] Ibid.

[28] “The Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers on 8 September 2016 #606,” the Legislation of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine: The Official Web-Portal, http://zakon5.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/606-2016-%D0%BF.

[29] “The Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers on 16 November 2016 #918-p,” the Legislation of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine: The Official Web-Portal, http://zakon5.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/918-2016-%D1%80.

[30] “The Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers on 14 June 2017 #394-p,” the Government Portal, Unified Web-Portal of Executive Authorities of Ukraine, https://www.kmu.gov.ua/ua/npas/250069939.

[31] “The Interim Report on the Realization of the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Open Government Partnership Initiative in 2016–2018,” Civil Society and Authorities: Governmental Website, accessed 13 September 2017 (link no longer accessible as of 25 April 2018) http://civic.kmu.gov.ua/consult_mvc_kmu/uploads/attach-3467-910681586.doc.

[32] “Ukraine Mid-Term Report 2016–2018,” Open Government Partnership, https://www.opengovpartnership.org/documents/ukraine-mid-term-report-2016-2018-year-1/

[33] “Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The Regulation on 23 May 2018 #395, The Government Portal,” Unified Web-Portal of Executive Authorities of Ukraine, https://www.kmu.gov.ua/ua/npas/pro-vnesennya-zmin-do-poryadku-vedennya-yedinogo-derzhavnogo-portalu-administrativnih-poslug.

[34] “About,” Unified State Portal of Administrative Services, http://www.my.gov.ua.

[35] Victoria Herasymovych (Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine), interview with IRM researcher, 15 August 2018.

[36] Unified State Portal of Administrative Services, http://www.my.gov.ua.

[37] Victoria Herasymovych (Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine), interview with IRM researcher, 15 August 2018.

[38] “Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The Regulation on 10 May 2018 #357,” the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine: The Official Web-Portal,  http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/357-2018-%D0%BF.

[39] Victor Tymoshchuk (Center of Policy and Legal Reform), interview with IRM researcher, 9 August 2018.

[40] Victor Tymoshchuk (Center of Policy and Legal Reform), communication with IRM researcher, 18 October 2018.

[41] “The Report on the Realization of the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Open Government Partnership initiative in 2016–2018,” the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. https://www.kmu.gov.ua/storage/app/media/17-civik-2018/partnerstvo/zvit_OGP%202016-2018.doc

[42] Ibid.