DIGITAL ECOSYSTEM OF THE STATE AS A DRIVER OF PROFESSIONALIZATION OF PUBLIC SERVICE: THE EXPERIENCE OF UKRAINE AND EU COUNTRIES

In the context of the public administration transformation in Ukraine, digital public services are becoming a determining factor in increasing the transparency, efficiency and professionalism of the public service, providing new formats of interaction between the state and citizens, optimizing management processes, contributing to the formation of modern competencies of civil servants and creating conditions for the transition to a service- oriented model of the state. The need for research is due to the fact that existing scientific approaches consider digitalization mainly as a tool for increasing management efficiency, not sufficiently taking into account its systemic impact on the professionalization of the public service. In the context of active digital transformation in Ukraine, a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between the development of digital services, the level of digital competencies and the institutional capacity of the public service is relevant. The purpose of the article is to explore the potential and effectiveness of digital public services as a tool for increasing the professionalism of the public service, to determine their impact on the competence, effectiveness and openness of the public service, and to outline promising ways of their improvement. The study uses systemic, institutional and structural-functional approaches, as well as analysis, synthesis, comparison, content analysis of official digital platforms, analysis of statistical data and monitoring of digital governance practices. As a result of the study, it was established that digital public services are a system-forming factor in the professionalization of the public service of Ukraine. It is proven that the introduction of digital tools, digital ethics and digital communications forms new competencies of civil servants, expands the range of managerial roles and increases the need for digital literacy, data management, cybersecurity and electronic systems. A comparison of the level of digital skills of citizens and e - government development indicators revealed interdependence: a higher level of competence of the population ensures a faster implementation of digital services, and electronic services themselves stimulate further growth of digital literacy of society and public service employees. The analysis of public investment in digitalization has shown that the effectiveness of the digital services development depends not only on the amount of funding, but also on the ability of the state to integrate digital solutions into personnel policy, educational programs and the management system. The article demonstrates that digital public services are not just automation tools, but a fundamental mechanism for the professionalization of the public service. Their implementation contributes to the renewal of the competencies of officials, improvement of management, improvement of the quality of public services and the formation of a service- oriented model of the state. This ensures sustainable progress in reforming Ukraine's public service and its compliance with European standards.