Estonian formin: Digital transformation must be guaranteed for all countries

TALLINN - In his keynote at the networking dinner of the 2025 e-Governance Conference in Tallinn on Wednesday evening, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stressed the importance of embedding democratic values in the digital world and called on like-minded countries to strengthen cooperation and share best practices for building and strengthening the digital state and cyber systems.

"In the digital space, we are all vulnerable in one way or another," Tsahkna said according to spokespeople. "Therefore, it is a shared responsibility of us all to ensure that democratic values and respect for human rights are also transferred to the digital environment. All digital projects must also include key elements of cybersecurity to help manage the fast-changing digital world."

The minister stressed that the inclusion of human rights and international norms in digital discussions is especially important at the moment, as the role of artificial intelligence in society is growing.

"We must continue to work together to ensure that AI remains fair, safe and designed for people, and that all members of society benefit from its integration into everyday life," the minister said.

Tsahkna stressed that as the flagship of the e-state, Estonia has more than ten years of experience in building a digital society, and is always ready to share it with other countries.

"Digitalization helps build trust in the state, reduce corruption, boost economic growth and strengthen democracy," he said. "We are always ready to offer advice and support to other countries on their digital journey. Sharing experiences and perspectives from different regions will help ensure a human-centric, stable and open digital environment."

Digital diplomacy and building a digital space based on democracy, the rule of law and human rights is an important part of Estonia's foreign policy. This year, Estonia is also chairing the Freedom Online Coalition, which aims to protect freedom of speech and expression in the digital environment.

The 11th e-Governance Conference centers on the impact of digital transformation on economic growth and the sustainable promotion of public sector innovation. The conference, organized by the e-Governance Academy in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Estonian Center for International Development (ESTDEV), brings together more than 600 digital and cyber experts from nearly 50 countries.