«EU Candidacy as an Intermediate Stage of Acquiring Membership in the Organization: Experience of Central and Eastern European Countries for Ukraine»
Students Name: Havryliuk Olena
Qualification Level: magister
Speciality: International Relations
Institute: Institute of the Humanities and Social Sciences
Mode of Study: full
Academic Year: 2022-2023 н.р.
Language of Defence: ukrainian
Abstract: The peculiarities of the European integration path of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the Baltic countries, Romania) were studied; the specifics of each of the specified countries’ fulfillment of the requirements for the candidate countries for joining the EU were considered, the main directions of systemic transformations that took place in the CEE countries from the time of the declaration of independence to the acquisition of EU membership were analyzed. The possible directions and areas of use of the European integration experience of the CEE countries by Ukraine as a candidate country for joining the EU have been determined. The object of study is the criteria for joining the EU and their implementation by candidate countries. Scope of research is the generalized experience of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe – EU members and its application in carrying out reforms in Ukraine. Purpose is to study the European integration of Ukraine into the EU using the experience of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, which share a similar historical fate with Ukraine and similar problems in various spheres of social life that need to be solved. The master’s thesis examines the experience gained by the countries of Central and Eastern Europe in the process of their European integration and the possibility of using this experience by Ukraine as a candidate country for joining the European Union. This experience consists in the fulfillment of three entry criteria - the Copenhagen criteria, which required the reform of all areas of social life: political institutions, economy, social relations. The paper reveals the peculiarities of the European integration movement of Ukraine, which, like the CEE countries, began its European integration movement after the declaration of independence in 1991, having the status of countries with a transition economy. The result of the implementation of political, economic and social reforms in the 1990s and early 2000s was the construction of modern state institutions in Ukraine, the creation of a functioning market economy, positive changes in Ukrainian society, and the adaptation of national legislation to European legal norms. The positive transformation of Ukraine in 1991-2022 allowed the country to bring its economic, political, legal and social spheres closer to meeting EU requirements for candidate countries for membership, and to obtain the status of a candidate country for EU membership on June 23, 2022. Like the CEE countries, Ukraine has gone through several stages on its European integration path: establishment of economic cooperation with European countries, conclusion of the Association Agreement with the EU in 2014, acquisition of the status of a candidate country in 2022. The latter obligates Ukraine to continue and improve the already started reforms. The list of priority seven blocks of reforms for Ukraine (reform of the Constitutional Court, continuation of judicial reform, improvement of the anti-oligarchic law, strengthening of the fight against corruption and money laundering, bringing the legislation on mass media in line with the European one, improvement of the legislation on national minorities) was defined by the European Commission. The implementation of these reforms is a condition for Ukraine to retain its candidate status, and the start of EU accession negotiations with Ukraine depends on the speed of completion of this process (as evidenced by the experience of the CEE countries). It has been studied what experience of the CEE countries Ukraine can use: mobilization of significant donor financial assistance from EU funds for carrying out reforms; timely reporting on the state of fulfillment of the entry criteria, necessary for evaluating the progress of fulfilling the requirements by both Ukraine and the European Union; prompt resolution of internal socio-economic problems; declaration of unchanging foreign policy course on European integration; carrying out an open, transparent and understandable integration policy for its citizens and the world, sharing European norms and standards of living; development of a clear program of government actions and mechanisms for its implementation. When carrying out individual reforms, the experience of Lithuania, Latvia and Poland (implementation of European judicial standards, anti-corruption activities, fight against money laundering), Slovakia (tax system reform, pension reform), Poland and the Czech Republic (decentralization reform), Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia (civil service reform). When solving the issue of the legal status of national minorities, the experience of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Romania, and the Baltic countries can serve as an example for Ukraine. Key words: European Union, Ukraine, candidate for membership of the European Union, Central and Eastern European countries, Copenhagen and Madrid accession criteria. References. Carmen, G. E. (2002). EU enlargement as seen from Eastern Europe. Expectations, experiences, disappointments and Euro-enthusiasm. Real Instituto Elcano. 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