HARMONISATION OF UKRAINE’S PUBLIC POLICY WITH THE EUROPEAN ADMINISTRATIVE SPACE: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

This research paper examines one of the key challenges and priorities of the current stage of Ukraine’s development – harmonisation of the national public administration system with the European administrative area in the context of the implementation of the strategic course towards European integration. Particular attention is paid not only to the formal harmonisation of legislation with the acquis communautaire, but also to the in-depth reform of institutional mechanisms, administrative procedures, and the value framework that should form the basis for good governance, legal certainty, openness and respect for the dignity of the citizen. The author emphasises that European integration is not only a political or economic task, but above all a process of transforming the internal management culture aimed at improving the efficiency of public administration, reducing corruption and creating a people-oriented public service system. A special place in the article is given to the analysis of the Law of Ukraine «On Administrative Procedure», which came into force in December 2023. Its adoption was a historic event, as the issue of codification of administrative proceedings had remained unresolved for more than twenty years. The adoption of the law during the war not only demonstrates the political maturity of the Ukrainian state, but also shows its clear strategic choice in favour of European values and legal standards. The law creates a new model of relations between the authorities and citizens, based on the principles of fairness, impartiality, legal certainty and legal protection. This is not only an important step in the legal support of administrative procedures, but also a shift towards a qualitative upgrade of the entire public administration system. The importance of the European integration dimension of this reform was also emphasised. The Law on Administrative Procedure not only reflects the best European practices, but is also part of the implementation of EU administrative law standards reflected in the Code of Good Administrative Behaviour and recommendations of the Council of Europe. Thus, its implementation is an important part of the broader process of bringing Ukrainian administrative law in line with the requirements of the European legal area. The successful implementation of European administrative standards will form the basis for a new model of governance in Ukraine – open, fair, human rights-oriented and able to function effectively in the face of the challenges of the modern world.