HARMONISATION OF THE DIGITAL MARKETS IN THE EASTERN PARTNERSHIP - STUDY REPORT

The purpose of the study was to assess the readiness of digital markets in the Eastern Partnership countries for harmonisation with the EU's Digital Single Market. The Geographical scope of the study covered the six EaP countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

The specific objectives of the study are the following:

a)    To lay the foundation for the development of Digital Market Agendas for the Eastern Partnership countries;

b)    To  analyse the benefits that would result from an HDM between the Partner Countries  and the EU, and

c)    To identify follow-up actions in the form of a roadmap for the priority areas under the HDM and for each Partner Country.

The report evaluates the level of digital market infrastructures, regulation and services development focusing on six priority HDM areas: Network and Information Security and Cyber-security, Electronic Identification and Trust Services, eCustoms, eCommerce for SMEs, Digital Skills, and Telecom Rules.

It also analyses the Digital Markets using as a baseline the EU legal framework, best practices, standards and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) platforms. For each of the six HDM areas, the report identifies the EU baseline (that comprises relevant EU legislation, best practices, standards and ICT platforms), conducts stock taking in the six Partner Countries, analyses gaps in the state of play of the digital market, analyses benefits and readiness for harmonisation, and identifies follow-up actions needed in the short to medium term for the Region and each Partner Country.