Iaroslav Petrunenko

Europe faces sustained demographic contraction—sub-replacement fertility and aging—and Ukraine, whose full-scale war triggered Europe’s largest forced-displacement episode, is its sharpest case. We treat demographic security as a measurable state and construct a composite Demographic Security Index from nine indicators across five dimensions (natural change, aging, migration, health, and gender balance), measured identically for the EU-27 and Ukraine, 2014–2024. Construction uses pooled min–max normalization and equal-indicator weighting—so the volatile migration indicator receives one-ninth weight and cannot dominate the composite—with leave-one-out, random-weight, and alternative-scheme sensitivity checks, winsorized migration, and fixed-effects regressions on income. Ukraine ranks 26th–28th during 2014–2021 and reaches the panel’s lowest score, 0.282, in 2022, with the fall concentrated in the migration, gender-balance, and natural-change dimensions. Its limited 2024 uptick to 27th is driven by one projected migration input; removing the migration dimension leaves Ukraine last. Across countries, demographic security and income co-occur strongly (r ≈ 0.81); within countries, the short-run association is weakly negative, shared between the migration and gender-balance channels. Demographic security is thus a structural correlate of the economic dimension of development, not a short-run driver, and crisis-era composites should be read by dimension, not their headline score.

The subject of the present study is the conceptual, legal and institutional framework for the development of Ukraine's financial-budgetary legislation in the context of European integration. The study's primary focus is on the transformation of financial-budgetary relations, the modernisation of financial control, the development of public finance governance, and the gradual adaptation of national mechanisms to the standards of the European Union. Particular focus is given to the relationship between medium-term budget planning, performance-based spending, managerial accountability, risk-based financial control, digital transparency, international financial assistance, external auditing and safeguarding public and European financial interests. Methodology. The research is based on a combination of comparative legal, systemic, institutional, financial law and public governance methods. The analysis integrates the Budget Code of Ukraine, national strategies for reforming public finance management, the EU acquis in the field of financial control, Regulation (EU) 2024/792 establishing the Ukraine Facility, European Commission evaluations and OECD approaches to integrity, auditing and public financial management. This methodological approach enabled the interdependencies between budget planning, financial control, institutional responsibility, fiscal risk management, digital traceability and the effectiveness of public expenditure to be identified. The work aims to define conceptual directions for the further development of Ukraine’s financial and budgetary legislation within the context of European integration, and to substantiate an integrated model of public finance governance. This model is based on medium-term planning, performance evaluation, preventive control, institutional accountability and digital transparency. The article demonstrates that Europeanisation in this area should not be limited to the formal alignment of legal norms, but should instead result in the functional transformation of the entire public financial management system. The results of the study show that Ukraine’s financial and budgetary legislation is gradually shifting towards a broader system that combines legality, efficiency, effectiveness, risk management and responsibility for financial consequences, rather than focusing solely on the legality of expenditure. Medium-term budget planning, performance audits, managerial accountability, external public audits and preventive, risk-based controls are becoming increasingly important elements of this transformation. The study also demonstrates that digital systems such as ProZorro and DREAM enhance the traceability of public funds, expand opportunities for public oversight, and establish the foundation for integrating procurement, public investment, budget planning, and financial monitoring within a unified information environment. This text focuses on the management of international financial assistance. The Ukraine Facility shows that access to substantial European financing is linked to certain requirements regarding internal control, auditing, the prevention of fraud and corruption, the protection of the financial interests of the European Union, and accountability for the use of resources. Based on this, the article highlights the importance of developing a unified model for managing national budget resources, international assistance and financial risks. Such a model should incorporate medium-term and performance-oriented planning, risk-based financial control, and the institutional accountability of public authorities for the consequences of their decisions. It should also include the financing of preventive measures, the digital traceability of budget resources, and the stronger integration of audit results into subsequent budget decisions. Conclusion. In the context of European integration, the development of Ukraine’s financial-budgetary legislation should be based on the formation of an integrated, results-oriented, risk-sensitive and institutionally accountable system of public finance governance. Transitioning from controlling the formal use of funds to controlling results, risks, and long-term financial consequences signifies a profound shift in the legal nature of financial control. Effective Europeanisation requires coordination between budget planning, internal control, external auditing, digital transparency, public investment management and international financial assistance. The future development of this model hinges on Ukrainian legislation's ability to align financial authority with responsibility for the legality and economic impact of expenditure, thereby bolstering fiscal sustainability, reconstruction capacity, and Ukraine’s preparedness for comprehensive participation in the European Union's financial mechanisms.

This study examines the role of legal norms in fostering innovation for sustainable development (SD). The focus of this study is on a comparative emphasis on the European Union (EU) and Ukraine. It analyzes how regulatory designs enable or constrain eco-innovation and evaluates the potential of Ukraine to harmonize its framework with EU standards in the context of post-2022 reconstruction and EU accession. The main sources of the research are the EU green deal and regulation (EU) 2021/2085, and the laws of the country regarding innovation and sustainable energy in Ukraine. The secondary data is borrowed through organizations such as OECD, UNDP, and the World Bank, and also the European Patent Office. The outcome reveals that there is a great variation between the two regions under investigation. More than 70 percent of the difference in innovation performance (measured by patent applications, research and development expenditure, global innovation index rankings, and so on) can be associated with the cohesive and enforceable legal system of the EU, which is supported by programs such as Horizon Europe, whereas Ukraine is only 43%. In the study, bureaucratic inefficiencies and corruption have been noted to be the biggest impediments to the implementation of eco-innovation in Ukraine. The results of this research confirm that the Porter hypothesis applies to the EU, where strong environmental regulation can help to increase innovation; however, they also indicate the weakness of this theory in a transitional economy, where the enforcement capacity is low. Nevertheless, the latest events in Ukraine can promise new perspectives on green reconstruction and eco innovation. The policy suggestions include the fact that Ukraine should modernize the law, incorporate the sustainable development goals, and employ EU-style investment facilitation schemes. These actions might assist in the empowerment of the innovation ecosystem in Ukraine and fast-track its integration with the EU, finally leading to the SD agenda.

Ukrainian enterprises face significant challenges in leveraging innovation for competitiveness and sustainable development amidst postwar reconstruction and global market integration, with limited empirical evidence guiding effective strategies. This study examined the impact of innovative activity on companies' competitiveness and its contribution to sustainable development within Ukraine's national economy from 2018 to 2024. Utilizing a quantitative data analysis of 612 enterprises across key sectors such as information technology (IT), manufacturing, and agriculture, the research employed fixed-effects regression models on longitudinal data from Ukraine's State Statistics Service. Key metrics included Research and Development (R&D) Intensity, Patent Activity, Process Innovation Adoption, alongside competitiveness indicators (Export/Revenue Growth and Market Share), as well as sustainability indicators (Job Creation, Energy Efficiency, and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions). Results demonstrated that a 1% increase in R&D Intensity drove 2.71% higher Export Growth (p < 0.001), while Process Innovation boosted Revenue by 4.38% per implementation level (p < 0.01) and reduced GHG Emissions by 12.7% (p < 0.001). A critical R&D Intensity threshold of 3.5% triggered exponential returns in competitiveness. Sectoral analysis revealed superior innovation resilience of IT (78% wartime retention vs. 42% in manufacturing) and reliance on Non-R&D Innovation for Job Creation in agriculture. The findings necessitate tiered R&D tax incentives for enterprises that exceed the 3.5% intensity benchmark, as well as the establishment of sector-specific innovation hubs. Policymakers should prioritize sustainability-linked financing and wartime adaptation funds targeting regions with more than 15% infrastructural damage. This study provided the first quantitative evidence linking types of innovation to dual competitiveness and sustainability outcomes in conflictaffected Ukraine, hence offering actionable pathways for economic recovery.

This systematic review examines the role of project management in restoring the economies of Ukrainian territorial communities, particularly in the post-2022 context marked by conflict, infrastructural damage, and socio-economic disruption. Utilizing the PRISMA methodology, 52 peer-reviewed studies (2018–2024) were analysed to identify strategies, success factors, and challenges in applying project-oriented approaches to local governance. Key findings reveal that digitization, stakeholder collaboration, and adaptive frameworks significantly enhance recovery outcomes by improving transparency, resource allocation, and community engagement. For instance, digital tools reduced project delays by 20% in Mykolaiv, while cluster models in Lviv fostered economic diversification. However, bureaucratic inefficiencies (affecting 70% of projects), resource scarcity (85%), and skill gaps (60%) persist as critical barriers. The review raises the question of the fit between global funding architectures and local contexts, suggesting that the purpose of implementing hybridized structures is to address this discrepancy. The recommendations include dispersion of management authority, establishing capacity development programs, and using flexible, conflict-neutral approaches to project structuring. Therefore, policymakers, local governments, and international organizations must adopt participatory frameworks that combine technical expertise with socio-political flexibility.Copyright© 2025 The Author(s). This article is distributed under the terms of the license CC-BY 4.0., which permits any further distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.Article’s history: Received 15th of October, 2025; Revised form 19th of November, 2025; Accepted 4th of December, 2025; Available online: 30th of December, 2025. Published as article in the Volume XX, Winter, Issue 4(90), December 2025.

The article is devoted to the scientific and practical foundations for improving the effectiveness of rule-making activities in Ukraine through a full regulatory cycle of “ex ante” – “adoption” – “ex post”, taking into account the requirements of European integration. It is argued that the current principles of state regulatory policy (expediency, proportionality, efficiency, balance, predictability, transparency and consideration of public opinion) serve as declarative guidelines, but need to be operationalized in the form of clear procedures and minimum standards at all stages of regulatory drafting. The aim of the work is to develop evidence-based proposals, consistent with EU standards (better regulation), for improving the planning of regulatory initiatives, regulatory impact analysis (RIA) and performance monitoring. The methodological basis of the study consists of a comparative legal analysis of EU and OECD guidance documents, a doctrinal approach, case studies of state practice (decisions of the State Regulatory Service of Ukraine on refusal or elimination of violations, quantitative analyses of regulatory impacts of central executive bodies), as well as an institutional analysis of the roles of the State Regulatory Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, parliamentary structures and courts. The scientific novelty of the research results lies in a systematic package of legislative and organisational proposals: the introduction of a 12-week standard for “call for evidence” consultations, mandatory SME-test and competition-assessment as part of RIA, the “one-in – one-out” principle, digital readiness of regulations (machine-readable, API, open data), independent quality control based on the RSB model, and planned ex post-evaluation (REFIT-orientation). The practical significance of the results obtained lies in specific mechanisms: a single public register of intentions and a consultation calendar; screening of issues prior to the start of RIA; a prioritisation matrix; flexibility tools (fast-track with safeguards, sunset/review-clauses, regulatory sandbox); KPI architecture with baselines and open dashboards. The expected results of implementation are a reduction in the regulatory burden, improved quality and predictability of the “rules of the game”, increased stakeholder participation and trust, enhanced competition and innovation, and accelerated convergence with the EU acquis. The materials of the article can be used as a basic draft for updating Article 4 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Principles of State Regulatory Policy in the Sphere of Economic Activity” and a roadmap for institutional harmonisation.

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.

The study evaluated the effectiveness of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in Ukraine’s social infrastructure, comparing them with fully public projects in terms of cost-efficiency, implementation speed, employment, and user satisfaction. A mixed-methods design was applied, analysing four PPP cases: Biopharma Blood Center, Zhytomyr Hospital, Rinat Akhmetov Emergency Ambulance Initiative, and EdCamp Digital Education Program. Quantitative analysis using SPSS 28.0 included paired t-tests, multivariate and logistic regressions, and Social Return on Investment (SROI). Qualitative insights were drawn from 15 stakeholder interviews coded in NVivo 12. The PPPs reduced costs per beneficiary by 24% to 27%, shortened implementation time by five to six months, and improved user satisfaction by more than 35 percent. Access to services in underserved areas expanded by 25% to 30 %, while job creation exceeded that of public projects by 40% to 50%. Regression models confirmed statistical significance (p < 0.05), and robustness was validated through non-parametric testing. Qualitative findings identified five key success factors: strategic alignment, strong governance structures, agile implementation, technological innovation, and regulatory coordination. Internal managerial practices such as KPI dashboards, cross-functional teams, and performance-based decision systems significantly contributed to positive PPP outcomes. The study emphasized that these internal mechanisms, often neglected in policy-oriented analyses, played a critical role in transitional and post-conflict contexts. It recommended standardizing SPVs, implementing digital monitoring tools, reforming licensing protocols, and establishing centralized PPP data systems to enhance scalability and institutional success.Copyright© 2025 The Author(s). This article is distributed under the terms of the license CC-BY 4.0., which permits any further distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.Article’s history: Received 5th of August, 2025; Revised 9th of September, 2025; Accepted 23rd of September, 2025; Available online: 30th of September, 2025. Published as article in Volume XX, Fall, Issue 3(89), 2025.

The article is devoted to a comprehensive legal analysis of the One Hundred Year Partnership Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ukraine, concluded on 16 January 2025. The author argues that the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership Agreement is a unique model of a long-term international treaty which combines political, security, economic and legal components of strategic bilateral cooperation. The article presents an analytical review of official texts, supporting documents, British parliamentary analytics, expert assessments of leading European think tanks, and the international legal context. The author focuses on the historical origins of Ukrainian-British relations, which go back to the depths of European diplomacy, and demonstrates the logical continuation of these relations in the context of the new European security architecture. The author describes the main provisions and reveals the legal nature of the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership Agreement as an international treaty that combines elements of a framework contract, sectoral commitments and political coordination mechanisms. The legal status of the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership Agreement in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine and international law is analysed, and the correlation of the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership Agreement with other international obligations of Ukraine, in particular in the context of Euro-Atlantic integration, is determined. Attention is paid to the study of legal risks associated with some specific provisions of the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership Agreement, for example, on the Black and Azov Seas, participation in the investigation of war crimes and legal regulation of defence partnership. The mechanisms for implementing the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership Agreement are also described. The author identifies possible legal, economic and geopolitical consequences of the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership Agreement in the short and long term. Based on the results of the legal analysis, the author formulates conclusions regarding the potential of the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership Agreement as a foundation for a new type of strategic alliance and its impact on the national legal system of Ukraine.

The article provides a comparative analysis of the main models of regulatory activity established in the EU countries, namely, the Anglo-Saxon, continental, Scandinavian-consultative models, as well as the supranational model of “better regulation” at the EU level. The author focuses on the institutional, procedural and methodological peculiarities of drafting legal acts in different legal systems. Based on a comprehensive study of European practices, the author identifies the key elements that ensure high quality of the legislative process: professionalisation of drafters, mandatory impact assessment of regulatory acts (RIA), institutionalisation of legal technique standards, and broad stakeholder involvement in the development of policy decisions and the regulatory framework. The article also provides a critical analysis of the current state of regulatory drafting in Ukraine, identifying the main challenges that significantly affect its quality and stability, including dispersion of procedures, insufficient coordination between public authorities, weakness of impact assessment institutions, and imperfect linguistic and structural aspects of legislative texts. Based on the findings of the study, the author offers a number of practical recommendations for the implementation of elements of European models in the national legal system of Ukraine. In particular, these include the need to create a professional corps of legislative advisers, introduce mandatory impact assessment procedures, develop a single law on regulatory legal acts, and digitalise and ensure openness of the rulemaking process. The results of the study have theoretical and practical value for improving Ukraine’s regulatory drafting on the path to European integration, contributing to improving the quality of legislation, strengthening the rule of law, and the development of democratic governance.