Morhunova E. Political and Legal Framework of the State Energy Policy of Ukraine in the Context of European Integration

The relevance of the research topic is due to the following reasons: 1) energy issues are insufficiently analysed from the point of view of political science; 2) in recent years, the emphasis in considering energy policy issues at all levels has changed due to aggressive weaponization of energy, and this requires a critical review of the results of previous studies; 3) Russia's war against Ukraine has actualized new energy problems, posed new challenges to Ukraine, the EU and other actors in the field of energy security; 4) the political and legal foundations of Ukraine's state energy policy need to be clarified in view of the intensification of the European integration process and growing threats to the energy security of both Ukraine and the EU. The purpose of the study is to examine the political and legal framework of Ukraine's state energy policy in the context of European integration. The objectives of the study are: 8 1) to identify global trends in the functioning of the energy sector in terms of the main challenges and risks; 2) to characterise changes in the EU energy policy and the factors that determine them; 3) to study the system of challenges for the energy sector of Ukraine caused by Russian aggression and the response to them in accordance with the task of ensuring energy security and European integration goals of Ukraine; 4) to analyse the process of implementation of EU legal and regulatory standards into Ukrainian legislation on energy issues; 5) to define the political and legal framework for the reconstruction of the energy sector of Ukraine and further rapprochement with the EU; 6) to clarify the role of values and culture of energy consumption in the implementation of modern energy strategies; to identify the main tools for the formation of energy and environmental values; 7) to study the content and characteristics of the concept of energy citizenship and to argue for the feasibility of its integration into the energy policy strategy of Ukraine; 8) to argue for the importance of forming, studying and taking into account public opinion in the implementation of energy policy. The object of research is the state policy in the energy sector. The subject of the study is the political and legal framework of the state energy policy of Ukraine in the context of European integration. The working hypotheses of the study are as follows: 1) the nature of energy policy in both the EU and Ukraine is currently most influenced by geopolitical factors, although climate, economic, and other factors do not reduce their impact. This puts special pressure on the sustainability of the energy system and requires new approaches to energy policy implementation; 2) the configuration of the system of political and legal framework of Ukraine's energy policy is currently determined, first of all, by Russia's armed aggression and the 9 aggressor state's use of energy as a weapon; Ukraine's European integration course, which requires the implementation of EU legislation; climate change, etc. This system is not sustainable due to the growing challenges and risks to the functioning of the energy sector in both the EU and Ukraine, which requires timely political and legal responses; 3) the energy sector is currently particularly sensitive in the EU, and the processes of solving/mitigating problems highlight problems with the solidarity of member states and differences in national energy strategies. This affects both the implementation of the common energy policy and cooperation with Ukraine on energy issues; 4) effective energy policy requires not only political will of the authorities in making and implementing institutional decisions, but also consistent implementation of the state policy on formation of energy and environmental values and behavioural patterns, a new culture of energy consumption, and energy-saving behaviour at all levels. To verify the working hypotheses, a comprehensive methodology was applied, which included a set of logical operations, general scientific and special scientific methods. The most important results of the study were achieved by applying, first of all, the systemic approach, neo-institutionalism and axiological approach. The scientific novelty of the results obtained is due to the set of tasks and methods of their solution. The study has obtained results of scientific significance. The dissertation constructs a system of political and legal foundations for Ukraine's implementation of energy policy, restoration of the energy sector in the conditions of European integration.