Dudkevuch V. European integration practices of Ukraine: political dimension

The dissertation emphasis on conclusion that Ukraine tended to the European way of governing and value orientations since its independence, and Europeanness was a marker of civilization is inherent in Ukraine historically, geographically and increasingly mentally. This western vector of development Ukrainians defended during the Revolution of Dignity, and then on the eastern fronts, repelling Russian military aggression. The author concludes that to harmonize a purely spatial European affiliation with the experience of democratic construction, to form an open competitive economy and parity relations with equal political partners is the essence of Europeanization of Ukraine's aspirations to find its place in the international arena. The content of the definition «European integration practices» are actualized and categorized for Ukrainian political science. The author formulates it as functional part of European integration policy organized in accordance with a specific plan of public authorities work to implement European standards in all spheres of public life through the process of creating a regulatory framework for integration, the formation of appropriate structures for the implementation of political and legal decisions in order to become EU members. Practices are concrete actions and decisions that are carried out in institutional, diplomatic and non-institutional areas. According to these criteria, Ukraine fulfills the terms of the Association Agreement in real time, improves national legislation, harmonizes the sphere of relations with neighboring EU member states, gains experience of democratization and constructive response to today's challenges and risks. The author accents the importance of public sector including in the European integration progress – representatives and civil society organizations, which are both a driver and an indicator of positive transformations, as well as act as a safeguard against possible abuses of power. Ukrainian civil society in the crucial periods of state formation proved its ability to defend a common national choice. The strategic demand for the topic of the dissertation research is substantiated by the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine and acts of hybrid warfare, first of all, by its information component (propaganda, misinformation). The research emphasizes that, on the one hand, European integration can become a kind of reframing to strengthen the country's defense capabilities, on the other hand, the Russian threat must consider as not only a Ukrainian problem, but also a security challenge for Europe. So, the research emphases on that consolidate efforts for joint resistance is an urgent need for EU partners.