EUROPEAN INTEGRATION DIRECTION OF REFORMING THE NATIONAL POLICE OF UKRAINE (HISTORICAL-LEGAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL-LEGAL ASPECTS)

The article is devoted to the study of topical issues of reforming the National Police of Ukraine in the context of the implementation of measures defined by the European Union for Ukraine to gain full membership in this organization.The genesis of the European integration direction of the process of reforming the National Police of Ukraine is traced, it is emphasized that the creation of this law enforcement agency, which is completely new in its tasks and principles of activity, has become one of the most large-scale and radical reforms in this area. The analysis of the regulatory and legal framework for the creation of a new law enforcement agency has been carried out, which allowed to launch the process of implementing the requirements of the European Union for the transformation of the National Police of Ukraine into a socially oriented, democratic police service and to ensure full-fledged activities to create an effective structure of the National Police bodies. The content and significance of the Comprehensive Strategic Plan for the Reform of Law Enforcement Agencies as Part of the Security and Defense Sector of Ukraine for 2023–2027 is analyzed. The conclusion is formulated that participation in the implementation of this strategic and conceptual document allows the NPU, as a component of law enforcement agencies, to systematically and consistently continue work on reforming its activities in the context of Ukraine’s further European integration progress. The organizational and legal foundations of the National Police’s activities under the legal regime of martial law have been studied, it has been proven that the bodies and units of the National Police have undergone significant changes in the powers, competence, rights and obligations, orders and procedures of their activities, which are primarily related to the performance of their functions in ensuring the national security of the state. The conclusions identify priority areas for further reform of the National Police in the context of implementing measures aimed at implementing tasks for Ukraine to gain full membership in the European Union.