Political and legal provision of parliamentary reform in Ukraine: current state and proposals for European integration changes

Abstract

The article analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of the political and legal provision of parliamentary reform in Ukraine and to provide suggestions for its improvement at the current stage of Ukraine’s European integration. Two waves of parliamentary reform are singled out. 1st wave: 2014–2019. Strengths: the Memorandum of Understanding between the European Parliament and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine was signed; European Parliament’s Needs Assessment Mission, led by P. Cox, analyzed the activities of the Ukrainian parliament and developed a strategy for parliamentary reform – the so-called Roadmap; this political strategic document received the necessary legal basis, it was recognized as the basis for increasing the institutional capacity of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine; Jean Monnet’s Dialogues became an important component of the political support for the reform of the Ukrainian parliament; during the eighth term of the parliament, six meetings were held as part of the «Jean Monnet Dialogues» (in Ukraine, France and Switzerland). Weaknesses: out of 52 recommendations of the European Parliament, the deadline for the implementation of 49 recommendations fell during the period of activity of the Parliament of 8 convocations, however, most of the normative legal acts, the adoption of which was planned for 2016 and 2017, were never adopted. 2nd wave: 2019–2023. Strengths: after the parliamentary elections, as part of the seventh «Jean MonnetтDialogue», a decision was made to continue the parliamentary reform by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of a new convocation; during the ninth term of the parliament, two meetings were held within the framework of the «Jean Monnet Dialogues» (in France and Poland); the validity of the Memorandum between the European Parliament and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine was extended; the European Union and the United Nations Development Program implemented a parliamentary reform project in Ukraine, within which a number of important analytical documents were prepared by experts. Weaknesses: lack of a single center that would coordinate the work of various structures involved in parliamentary reform, in particular, such as the working group to promote the implementation of the Roadmap; Parliamentary Reform Office; the working group for the preparation of comprehensive legislative proposals on amendments to the laws of Ukraine in the field of parliamentary law; the National Council for the Recovery of Ukraine from the War. The need to adopt an updated parliamentary reform strategy and create clear coordination between the bodies that will implement it was emphasized. Key words: parliamentary reform, parliament reform strategy, dialogues of Jean Monnet, strategic plan, strategic goals of parliamentary reform, European integration.