DIGITAL GOVERNANCE IN EU COUNTRIES: DEVELOPMENT TRENDS AND INSTITUTIONAL MODELS

Abstract

The article summarizes the contemporary directions of digital transformation of public administration in the countries of the European Union and identifies key trends, institutional models, and effective digital governance practices that may serve as reference points for the development of a digital state in Ukraine. The purpose of the article is to generalize these directions and substantiate their significance for the modernization of the public sector. Methodology. The research methodology is based on systemic and institutional approaches. The study applies methods of comparative analysis of digital governance practices in EU countries, content analysis of regulatory and strategic documents, statistical analysis of the dynamics of the E–Government Development Index (EGDI) in 2018–2024, as well as synthesis and typology to develop models of digital governance. Scientific novelty. The scientific novelty of the paper lies in the first comprehensive combination of regulatory and strategic analysis of EU digital policies with an empirical assessment of the digital maturity of EU member states based on EGDI and the typology of institutional models of digital governance. The key directions of digital modernization are identified, including: development of e-government and digital identification, implementation of the “once-only” principle, expansion of open data platforms, institutionalization of data governance, adoption of GovTech and AI-based solutions, and development of e-Participation tools. Conclusions. It is proved that digitalization in the EU is systemic and goes beyond the automation of administrative procedures, as it integrates technological innovation with institutional reforms, data governance, legal guarantees of digital trust, and a human–centered approach to service delivery. The study reveals an increase in the digital maturity of most EU countries in 2018–2024 while maintaining differentiation: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, and the Netherlands remain leaders, whereas some Central and Eastern European countries demonstrate slower progress due to institutional and resource constraints. Four models of digital governance (centralized, decentralized, mixed, and European integration– oriented) are generalized. It is substantiated that the main challenges of digital transformation include fragmentation of systems and data, cybersecurity risks, digital inequality, lack of competencies, and ethical risks related to the use of algorithms and artificial intelligence.