Institutional and Regulatory Readiness of Ukraine for Eu Cohesion Policy: Gaps, Comparisons and Europeanization Challenges

The article analyzes the level of regulatory and institutional readiness of Ukraine to implement the European Union’s cohesion policy. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between the formal approximation of legislation to the acquis communautaire and the actual institutional capacity to ensure strategic planning, interdepartmental coordination and effective administration of structural funds. The methods of comparative legal analysis, content analysis of regulatory and legal acts and strategies, as well as elements of case analysis on the example of Croatia and the Western Balkan countries are used. The study found that although Ukraine has taken a number of important steps towards adaptation, such as the adoption of the State Strategy for Regional Development, the introduction of digital management tools and the consolidation of the partnership principle, significant gaps remain in the formation of specialized management bodies, the creation of an effective system of financial control and performance monitoring. Additionally, the concepts of institutional capacity, Europeanization and multilevel governance as theoretical frameworks of the study are analyzed. The results of the study indicate that the key challenge for Ukraine is not only the regulatory implementation of European requirements, but also the formation of a capable institutional architecture capable of effectively implementing the goals of cohesion policy in the context of European integration. Directions for further research are proposed, in particular: assessment of institutional capacity at the regional level; improvement of the system of performance indicators; study of policy coordination models; analysis of factors of absorption capacity of regions. The results obtained can be used in strategic planning of reforms in the field of regional development, as well as in preparation for financing from EU funds.