INSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE EU AND UKRAINE IN THE FIELD OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM

Abstract

The article analyzes the peculiarities of the institutional and regulatory framework that forms the basis for cooperation between the EU and Ukraine in the field of local self-government reform. It has been established that the main act defining the legal framework in the field of local self-government is the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine, which serves as a roadmap for the implementation  of this reform. The EU and Ukrainian institutions involved in the implementation of local self-government reform have been identified. It was found that the common institutional formats are: the Ukraine-EU Summit, the Ukraine-EU Association Council, the civil society platform, the EU’s Eastern Partnership Initiative, and cross-border cooperation within the framework of Euroregions. Key internal and external constraints on the institutional and legal dimensions of interaction between the parties have been identified. The main obstacles hindering the process of interaction within the framework of this reform are the lack of a framework agreement in the field of local self-government, the low capacity of some communities to implement reforms, the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war, the economic crisis, the occupation of territories and military actions, and the differences between European and Ukrainian legislation. The article uses the SWOT analysis method to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the institutional and legal dimensions of cooperation between the parties. Recommendations are made to improve cooperation between the EU and Ukraine, in particular the signing of a framework agreement on local self-government to regulate the strengthening of local self -government reform, the need for the EU to strengthen its monitoring of the reform, increasing the capacity of communities, involving local self-government associations in the EU-Ukraine dialogue, and creating contact platforms for interaction between Ukrainian and European communities. The conclusions emphasize that Ukraine’s accession to the EU will be a driving force for successful local self-government reform.