The genesis of the decentralization process in Ukraine under the conditions of Ukraine's institutional convergence with the European Union

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the decentralization process in Ukraine, tracing its development from its historical prerequisites to the challenges it faces today. It emphasizes that local self-government is not a new phenomenon for the Ukrainian people. Since ancient times, the principles of local self-governance have constituted a fundamental basis for addressing public affairs at the local level. However, the detrimental influence exerted on the public administration system during the periods of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union distanced Ukrainians from the governance practices traditionally inherent to them, which were based on addressing public issues from the bottom up rather than through a top-down approach. Following the restoration of Ukraine’s independence in 1991-or, from a broader historical perspective, the restoration of its original statehood — the process of developing a modern system of local self-government in Ukraine commenced. Within the framework of the article, the aim is to demonstrate the path Ukraine has taken toward the gradual expansion of the powers of local self-government bodies in addressing public affairs, as a prerequisite for the effective utilization of available resources even under challenging socio-economic and political conditions. It is emphasized that the foundation for implementing European principles of local self-government lies in strengthening the institutional and financial autonomy of territorial communities, enabling them to operate not as subordinate units of central government but as autonomous subjects of public governance. This, in turn, ensures governmental accountability to the community, enhances the transparency of decision-making processes, and contributes to the development of local democracy. Ukraine’s decentralization model likewise directly reflects the principle that “government should be brought as close to citizens as possible.” In addition to the distribution of powers among different public authorities, this model provides legal guarantees for the independence of local self-government bodies from state authorities. In this context, decentralization is regarded as a systemic prerequisite for democratic governance, ensuring a balance between the unity of the state and the autonomy of territorial entities. The study concludes that, due to the war in Ukraine and the various objective factors it has generated, the needs of territorial communities differ significantly. These needs range from the restoration of destroyed infrastructure in regions located in close proximity to the aggressor state to the provision of adequate living conditions for internally displaced persons. Under such circumstances, local self-government bodies, without excessive intervention by state authorities, are best positioned to utilize available resources effectively and allocate them rationally in accordance with the specific needs of each territorial community. Furthermore, the ability of local self-government bodies to independently act as subjects of international cooperation provides a strong foundation for establishing and strengthening ties between territorial communities in Ukraine and those in European Union member states.

decentralization; European integration; local self-government; law, state; human rights