DOI: 10.46340/eppd.2024.11.6.2
Inna Dudyk, PhD in Law
Private Higher Educational Institution “Kyiv Medical University” (part-time);
Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (main employment), Kyiv, Ukraine
Krystyna Rezvorovych, Doctor of Law
Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs, Dnipro, Ukraine
Viktor Melnyk, PhD in Political Science
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv
Oleksandra Gayevaya, Doctor of Law
National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute”, Kharkiv, Ukraine;
Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
Vladas Tumalavičius, PhD in Law
The General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania, Vilnius
How to cite: Dudyk, I., Rezvorovych, K., Melnyk, V., Gayevaya, O., & Tumalavičiusv, V. (2024). Strategies for Ukraine’s Legal Integration into the EU: Learning from the Experience of Central and Eastern Europe. Evropský politický a právní diskurz, 11, 6, 13-21. https://doi.org/10.46340/eppd.2024.11.6.2
Abstract
This study aims to analyze the legal integration strategies adopted by Central and Eastern European countries during their accession to the European Union (EU). The research employs the Prisma approach, developing three essential criteria for data inclusion. Data have been gathered from official documents and various academic sources directly related to the EU accession process. The analysis uncovers key strategies and mechanisms these countries implement to harmonize their legal systems with European Union law. Among the key strategies are the development of national integration programs, the establishment of specialized committees tasked with overseeing the process, and the adoption of comprehensive legislative frameworks to meet EU standards. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the critical role played by transparency, flexibility, and continuous adaptation throughout the legal integration process. Based on these findings, it is concluded that the legal integration strategies employed by Central and Eastern European countries provide valuable insights and guidance for Ukraine’s potential future accession to the European Union. The key lessons include the importance of well-executed strategic planning, institutional transparency, and the establishment of effective institutional frameworks. Moreover, the need for technical assistance from the European Union and the crucial role of public perception and societal adaptation are highlighted as central factors for a successful integration process. The study suggests that Ukraine can greatly benefit by adopting a carefully tailored approach, drawing from both the challenges and achievements of its Central and Eastern European counterparts. As Ukraine continues to pursue closer ties with the European Union, these lessons will be essential for navigating its path toward potential membership. This study contributes to a broader understanding of legal integration by providing a comparative framework that highlights the intricacies and essential components involved in aligning national legal systems with EU legal frameworks.
Keywords: European integration, legal strategies, comparative analysis, institutional adaptation, technical assistance, Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine.
References
Andriychuk, O. (2023). Towards a New Digital Competition Policy of Ukraine: The EU Matrix. In: Competition and Intellectual Property Law in Ukraine Springer Berlin. Heidelberg, 173-191.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-66101-7_8
Asgarova, M. P. (2022). Issues of International Cooperation in Criminal Proceedings: Some Problems of Reform. Revista Amazonia Investiga, 11(52), 186-194. https://doi.org/10.34069/AI/2022.52.04.20
Babenko, V., Biletska, Y., & Pelyak, H. (2020). Ukraine-EU: Economic Integration Strategy. Geopolitics under Globalization, 3(1), 12-23. https://doi.org/10.21511/gg.03(1).2020.02
Blikhar, M. (2023). Regulatory and Legal Support for the Adaptation of the Trade Policy of Central and Eastern European Countries to the Common Trade Policy of the EU. In: Transformation of Ukraine’s Economy: Formation of an Inclusive Economy System and Functionality of Financial Inclusion. Riga, Latvia: Baltija Publishing, 391-408. https://doi.org/10.30525/978-9934-26-321-7-17
Bobro, N. (2024). Key Factors and Structures of the Development of the Digital Transformation of the Economy. Věda a perspektivy [Science and Perspectives], 1(32). https://doi.org/10.52058/2695-1592-2024-1(32)-9-14
Bobro, N. (2024). Factors of Digital Economy Development. In: Transformation of the Economic System
in the Modern Context: Processes, Strategies, Technologies. Riga, Latvia: Baltija Publishing. https://doi.org/10.30525/978-9934-26-447-4-1
Bogdan, S. (2020). A Complex Legal Framework for a lack of Legal Certainty: Case Study of Romania. In: Bogdan, S. (ed.) Combatting Illicit Trade on the EU Border. Springer International Publishing, 213-252. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51019-0_7
Buriak, I., et. al. (2023). Future Legal Culture as an Element of the Legal System. Futurity Economics & Law, 3(2), 39-47. https://doi.org/10.57125/FEL.2023.06.25.03
Los-Nowak, T. (1998). Conceptualisation of the Adaptation Policy Model of Poland towards the European Union. Copenhagen Peace Research Institute https://web.archive.org/web/20221201070318/https://ciaotest.cc.columbia.edu/wps/lot01/
Council of Europe (1971). European Conventions and Agreements. Strasbourg.
Damirchiyev, M. I., et. al. (2019). Protection of Ukrainian Business in the European Union Competition Law. Financial and Credit Activity: Problems of Theory and Practice, 4(31), 105-111. https://doi.org/10.18371/fcaptp.v4i31.190806
Dermine, P. (2023). EU Fiscal Capacity – Legal Integration after COVID-19 and the War in Ukraine. Journal of Contemporary European Studies, 1-2. https://doi.org/10.1080/14782804.2023.2254643
Derviş, L. (2023). Transformation of Geopolitical Perceptions in the Russian-Ukrainian War: Impact
on Regional Relations in the Future. Futurity of Social Sciences, 1(1), 21-34. https://doi.org/10.57125/FS.2023.03.20.02
Dragneva, R., & Wolczuk, K. (2015). Ukraine and Russia: Managing Interdependence.
In: Dragneva, R. & Wolczuk, K. (eds.) Ukraine between the EU and Russia: The Integration Challenge. Palgrave Macmillan UK, 8-28. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137516268_2
European Commission (1998). Regular Report from the Commission on Czech Republic’s Progress towards Accession. https://web.archive.org/web/20240813052819/https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2016-12/czech_en_0.pdf
European Parliament (2000). Briefing No. 12 Note on Poland’s Political and Economic Situation
and its Relations with the European Union with a View to Accession. https://web.archive.org/web/20220814171953/https://www.europarl.europa.eu/enlargement/briefings/12a3_en.htm
European Union (2003). Council Decision of 19 May 2003 on the Principles, Priorities, Intermediate Objectives and Conditions Contained in the Accession Partnership with Romania. https://web.archive.org/web/20240701071534/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32003D0397
Fabbrini, F. (2022). EU Fiscal Capacity: Legal Integration after COVID-19 and the War in Ukraine. Oxford University Press.
Földes, M. E., & Kaposvári, C. (2021). SARS-COV-2 Vaccination and Employment: The Legal Framework
in the EU and Hungary. Medicine, Law & Society, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckab164.301
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (2014). Association Agreement Between the European Union and its Member States, of the One Part, and Ukraine, of the Other Part: Brussels. https://web.archive.org/web/20241214041222/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A22014A0529%2801%29
Holovko-Havrysheva, O. (2021). Adjusting National Consumer Protection Legislation in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine to EU Standards: Practices, Experience and Challenges. In: European Union and its Neighbours in a Globalized World. Springer International Publishing, 289-316. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-82291-0_14
Hruzevskyi, O. (2023). A Systematic Analysis of the Impact of the Military Conflict on the Distance Education System in Ukraine. E-Learning Innovations Journal, 1(1), 71-87. https://doi.org/10.57125/ELIJ.2023.03.25.04
Janković, D. (2018). Different Legal Aspects of the Intellectual Property Rights. EU and Comparative Law Issues and Challenges Series (ECLIC), 1, 143-170. https://doi.org/10.25234/eclic/6526
Kaplina, O. (2022). Prisoner of War: Special Status in the Criminal Proceedings of Ukraine and the Right to Exchange. Access to Justice in Eastern Europe, 5(4-2), 8-24. https://doi.org/10.33327/ajee-18-5.4-a000438
Krap, A., et. al. (2024). Examination of Digital Advancements: Their Influence on Contemporary Corporate Management Methods and Approaches. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 7. https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2024spe026
Kregul, Y. et. al. (2020). Ukraine and the EU: Institutional and Legal Ensuring Transparency. Foreign Trade: Economics, Finance, Law, 108(1), 14-22. https://doi.org/10.31617/zt.knute.2020(108)02
Kuczabski, A., et. al. (2023). The Analysis of the Effectiveness of Regional Development Management. International Journal for Quality Research, 17(3), 695-706. https://doi.org/10.24874/IJQR17.03-05
Kuryliuk, Y., et. al. (2021). Сriminological Profile of Corrupt Border Guard (Ukrainian Experience).
Journal of Legal, Ethicsl and Regulatory, 24(1). https://web.archive.org/web/20241216211204/https://dspace.nadpsu.edu.ua/bitstream/123456789/4279/1/criminological-profile-of-corrupt-border-guard-ukrainian-experience.pdf
Laws, J. (2014). The Common Law and Europe. In: The Common Law Constitution. Cambridge University Press, 57-86. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139939478.007
Lipych, L., Khilukha, O., Kushnir, M., Volynets, I., & Shostak, L. (2021). Sustainability, Growth and Entrepreneurial Orientation of Small Innovative Enterprises. Law, Business and Sustainability Herald, 1(2), 34-47. http://doi.org/10.46489/lbsh.2021-1-2-3
Mereniuk, K., & Parshyn, I. (2024). Military units and symbolism: Utilization of imagery from medieval rus
in the russian-ukrainian war. Trames. Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences, 28(3), 293-310 https://doi.org/10.3176/tr.2024.3.05
Petrov, R., Van der Loo, C., & Van Elsuwege, P. (2015). The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement: A New Legal Instrument of Integration without Membership? Kyiv-Mohyla Law and Politics Journal, 1, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.18523/kmlpj52678.2015-1.1-19
Prysiazhniuk, I. I. (2023). Probation Institute: Experience of EU Member States and Ukraine. In: Development Trends in Legal Science and Education of Ukraine in the Context of European Integration. Riga, Latvia: Baltija Publishing. https://doi.org/10.30525/978-9934-26-372-9-45
Redko, A. (2017). Ukraine – EU: Historical and Legal Analysis of European Integration. Journal of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, 4(3-4), 95-102. https://doi.org/10.15330/jpnu.4.3-4.95-102
Roman, M., & Roman, M. (2020). Milk Market Integration between Poland and the EU Countries. Agriculture, 10(11), 561. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10110561
Sanakuiev, M. (2022). The Value of Knowledge in the Age of Globalization Challenges: Philosophical and Intellectual Context. Futurity Philosophy, 1(2), 42-54. https://doi.org/10.57125/FP.2022.06.30.04
Shcherbak, H. R. (2023). Legal Regulation of Online Platforms in Ukraine and EU Experience.
In: Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference. Częstochowa, Republic of Poland, 215-218. https://doi.org/10.30525/978-9934-26-372-9-55
Smyrnova, K. (2023). The “Europeanization” of Competition Law in Ukraine. In: Competition and Intellectual Property Law in Ukraine. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 103-122. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-66101-7_5
Tylchyk, O., Dragan, O., & Nazymko, O. (2018). Establishing the Ratio of Concepts of Counteraction to Legalization (Laundering) of Illegally-Obtained Income and Counteraction to the Shadow Economy: The Importance for Determining Performance Indicators of the European Integration Processes. Baltic Journal of Economic Studies, 4(4), 341-345. https://doi.org/10.30525/2256-0742/2018-4-4-341-345
Uberman, V. I., & Vaskovets, L. A. (2023). Legal Disagreements in the Basin Management of the Pollutants Discharges in Ukraine and the EU. In: Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference. Częstochowa, 112-116. https://doi.org/10.30525/978-9934-26-372-9-28
Vasylieva, V. A., et. al. (2019). Cooperatives in Ukraine: Applicative Peculiarities of Legal Integration up
to the EU Standards. Journal of Advanced Research in Law and Economics, 9(5), 1789-1797. https://doi.org/10.14505//jarle.v9.5(35).34
Vilchynska, L., et. al. (2023). The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Household Expenditures in the EU Countries (The Case of Central and Eastern Europe). Malaysian Journal of Consumer and Family Economics (MAJCAFE), 30, 155-175. https://doi.org/10.60016/majcafe.v30.07