METHODOLOGICAL BASIS OF NORM-SETTING IN THE CONTEXT OF ADAPTATION TO EUROPEAN UNION LAW: ECONOMIC AND LEGAL PARADIGMS

Abstract

Ukraine is actively moving towards integration with the European Union, as evidenced by the signing of the Association Agreement (2014) and the granting of EU candidate status (2022). These steps have become significant milestones on the path to European integration, opening up new opportunities for Ukraine's political, economic, and legal convergence with EU member states. The adaptation of national legislation to EU law is one of the key stages on the path to European integration. This process requires not only the formal transposition of EU legal norms into national legislation, but also their practical implementation, taking into account the national characteristics of Ukraine's legal system. Accordingly, harmonisation of legislation must be accompanied by institutional reforms, improvement of law enforcement practices and enhancement of the quality of regulatory drafting. The process of legislative drafting, that is to say, the creation of legal norms, is subject to the requirement of compliance with EU standards and principles. The principles of legislative drafting are aimed at ensuring that laws are not only adopted but also effectively implemented. Adaptation to EU law is not merely a matter of formal transposition of norms; it is also contingent on their practical implementation. The purpose of this study is to summarise the conceptual foundations and methodological principles of norm-setting as a law-making process, to identify effective adaptation mechanisms for integrating Ukrainian legislation into the legal space of the European Union, taking into account the challenges and prospects identified for Ukraine within the economic and legal paradigms of the present day. Methodology. The restructuring of domestic law during the formation of the Ukrainian legal system and Ukraine's subsequent integration into the European legal field is a dynamic process that requires constant methodological reflection. This study was conducted according to the principles of dialectical logic. The multifaceted and multifactorial nature of the law-making process necessitates a systematic, structural-functional and situational approach to its study. The provisions and conclusions were developed using theories of rational choice and a comparative approach. Within the scope of the conclusions, it can be stated that the formation and functioning of the legal system is a law-making process. The dynamics of processes occurring both around and within the system can have two different development patterns: unifying and disunifying. Legal monitoring in the law-making process is designed to identify them, while ensuring the implementation of the predictive function of law. The process of drafting regulations and adapting Ukrainian national legislation to EU law is a complex and multifaceted task that requires consideration of both the fundamental principles of regulatory drafting and new challenges posed by the specific nature of the European legal space and current global trends. Adapting legislation is a complex and multidimensional process which, in addition to implementing reforms and close coordination between state bodies and EU institutions, requires interaction with expert communities and international partners. The analysis presented in the article indicates that despite achievements in harmonising legislative norms and Ukraine's attempts to reform a significant part of the legal sector, there are still problems that require a wide range of opportunities and more decisive action on the part of both Ukraine and the EU. In general, the difficulties lie in the lack of a regulatory framework on the basis of which it is possible to effectively influence legislative changes, difficulties in legal support, corruption at all levels of government, and many other problems of an informational, economic and political nature. Such challenges are an obstacle to the further effectiveness of the integration process and have a negative impact not only on the country's reputation but also on the assistance provided by EU Member States. Successfully addressing these challenges is key to Ukraine's European integration, its development and a stable and competitive future as a powerful, free and economically developed country. Effective regulatory drafting will be a key factor in Ukraine's integration into the EU, contributing to the strengthening of the legal system and ensuring compliance with European standards in all areas of public life, in order to achieve the development and prosperity of the state.