The EU4Digital eTrade thematic area’s eCommerce accelerator provides updated Eastern partner country-specific recommendations and action plans for eCommerce harmonisation in the priority areas with the EU. It also pilots solutions that could increase cross-border eCommerce flows with the EU, providing Eastern partner countries with individual recommendations, training and consultation sessions on national and company level.

This activity includes a pilot ‘national pavilion account’ to facilitate cross-border eCommerce for small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Through the creation of government-owned national accounts on selected EU eCommerce marketplaces, SMEs from Armenia and Ukraine can use those accounts without further registration, documentation or other requirements from the marketplaces. This will allow them to showcase and sell their products in the EU, allowing them to tap into a global customer base and expand their business beyond national borders. This initiative provides SMEs from participating countries with an opportunity to test their products in the EU market, increase cross-border sales, and potentially create a base for further project development in their respective countries.

Moreover, the eCommerce accelerator’s consultation centre group trainings and individual consultation sessions are given by a team of experts to selected SMEs from Eastern partner countries. This enables them to start selling on selected European marketplaces on their own, without the need for the pavilion account. To increase the reach of SMEs that engage in eCommerce, EU4Digital is also exploring ways to deliver upskilling on major EU marketplaces though eLearning. The ultimate goal is long-term impact on the development of the eCommerce ecosystem in the Eastern Partnership region.