EU transport policy: challenges for the development of Ukrainian legislation

Purpose. To analyze the legal imperatives of EU transport policy and identify key challenges for the development of Ukrainian legislation. Methodology. A comprehensive and objective analysis of the research subject was made possible through the use of a range of scientific methods and approaches – philosophical and worldview-based, general scientific, and specialized scientific. In the process of achieving the set objective, national legislation, European Union documents, and the national legislative practices of individual European Union member states were analyzed. Findings. The study found that the legal imperatives of EU transport policy regarding freedom of movement and safety are of paramount importance for implementation into Ukraine’s national legislation. In contrast, the imperative of competition requires gradual harmonization, taking into account the monopolization of certain segments of the transport market. Digitalization and environmental sustainability are viewed as promising areas for adaptation, capable of ensuring rapid integration with European standards. The strategic guidelines for Ukraine in the field of transport policy are defined as follows: the phased implementation of European standards, the modernization of the institutional system, and the development of legal mechanisms that will ensure the restoration of transport infrastructure, enhance its resilience, and facilitate integration into the single European mobility area. Originality. Based on a comprehensive theoretical study of the legal foundations of EU transport policy, this work provides a doctrinal justification for the strategic guidelines and directions for harmonizing Ukraine’s transport legislation with the EU acquis, which is a strategic prerequisite for integration into the European legal space. It has been established that such harmonization requires a comprehensive approach, which includes legislative adaptation, institutional reform, and infrastructure development. Corresponding amendments to Ukraine’s national legislation have been proposed. Practical value. The practical significance of the research findings lies in the possibility of their implementation in legislative activities, law enforcement practice, the academic sphere, and the educational process at institutions of higher education.