APPROXIMATION OF UKRAINE'S CIVIL SERVICE TO EUROPEAN ADMINISTRATIVE SPACE STANDARDS: СHALLENGES AND РRIORITIES.

Abstract

This article is devoted to the analysis of how Ukraine is adapting its civil service to the requirements of the European community, what obstacles stand in the way, and what steps should be prioritized for building a professional apparatus capable of functioning effectively within a single European family. The article examines the transformation process of Ukraine’s civil service in the context of its candidate status for European Union membership. The author emphasizes that adaptation to the standards of the European Administrative Space (EAS) is not merely a formal requirement from Brussels, but a critical necessity for building a resilient, professional, and citizen-oriented public administration system. The purpose of the article is a comprehensive analysis of the current state of Ukraine's civil service regarding compliance with the SIGMA principles, identification of key obstacles to the reform process, and substantiation of priority areas for further harmonization of national legislation with European standards. The study employs methods of systemic analysis, the comparative legal method, and the institutional approach. These methods allowed for an assessment of the gap between existing management practices in Ukraine and EAS expectations in the areas of accountability, transparency, and meritocracy. It has been established that the key challenges for Ukraine remain the high level of politicization of middle-management positions, the outflow of qualified personnel due to military actions, and an imperfect remuneration system. At the same time, the implementation of a general administrative procedure and the digitalization of public services are identified as positive developments. Priority steps identified include: the final separation of political and administrative functions; the transition to a grading system of remuneration to minimize corruption risks; and the restoration of transparent competitive procedures based on a competency-based approach. It is argued that successful integration into the EAS depends on the formation of a new organizational culture among civil servants, rooted in the values of integrity and public service.