Соціальні чинники подолання дивергенції економік України і ЄС: тренди та виклики для національного врядування

Abstract

The article applies synergistic interdisciplinary approach to the analysis of problems of divergence in the economies of Ukraine and the EU, to evaluate the present state and key problems of implementing the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU in terms of the socio-economic modernization of this country. The thesis about slow, partial (only in certain segments), unsystematic overcoming of divergent trends by Ukraine, which appeared in the first years after signing the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, is substantiated. In particular, there are clear trends of divergence between Ukraine and the EU in the areas of social development, personal security, rule of law, some civil and political rights and freedoms, which is primarily due to insufficient effectiveness of European integration reforms, lack of consensus in the political elite and society with regard to "Road map" of modernization, consequences of Russian aggression and the ongoing armed conflict in the east of Ukraine. At the same time, moderate convergence trends in areas such as social inclusion and innovation have been identified. It is proved that Ukraine still has a strong social foundation for economic modernization breakthrough. In terms of social parameters, Ukrainian society is significantly more powerful than the modern Ukrainian economy from the viewpoint of meeting basic human needs, social components of the quality of life and healthy environment. In particular, in terms of the level and dynamics of innovation, Ukraine is ahead of all post-Soviet member states of the Eastern Partnership and even Romania as an EU member state. It is argued that the Ukrainian Government still monitors mainly the formal fulfilment of the Action Plan оn implementation of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union and its member states for the years 2018–2024 without analyzing the Action Plan's impact on the institutional effectiveness and indicators of Ukraineʼs socio-economic development. Under such conditions, certain indicators of the Action Plan implementation may give a misconception about the real dynamics of the convergence / divergence process of Ukraine and the EU. This requires improved strategic monitoring of the implementation of the Association Agreement.