Article

Institutional modernisation of public administration as a prerequisite for Ukraine’s European integration

Vitalii Bashtannyk Adel Bykova Mykola Popov Oksana Bashtannyk Petro Garasyim
Abstract

The study analyses the transformation of institutional quality in the context of Ukraine’s acquisition of candidate status for accession to the EU. Particular attention is given to the harmonisation of national law with European standards, namely the acquis communautaire, especially in the areas of transparency and accountability of public authorities. The article examines mechanisms for modernising the state apparatus aimed at creating flexible institutional structures capable of implementing reforms effectively. The authors emphasise that the stability and effectiveness of the institutions are the key factors that determine the successful negotiation process regarding EU membership. The methodological basis of the study is a qualitative approach using the tools of grounded theory, which made it possible to systematise the key factors of institutional modernisation and identify the relationships between them. The article proposes a conceptual model, the Institutional Modernisation Framework, which reflects the interaction between reform drivers, modernisation mechanisms, the institutional capacity of public authorities and the outcomes of transformation in the public administration system. Special attention is paid to Croatia’s experience of modernising public administration during the process of accession to the European Union, which helps to identify potential challenges and opportunities for Ukraine. It is demonstrated that effective institutional modernisation requires an integrated approach that includes legal adaptation to EU standards, the development of human capital in the civil service, the digitalisation of governance and the strengthening of local self-government. The study concludes that the institutional modernisation of public administration based on the concept of Europeanisation is a key prerequisite for Ukraine’s successful integration into the European governance space and for ensuring the sustainable development of the state. Drawing on the combination of the Institutional Modernisation Framework and Gartner’s governance maturity model, the article proposes an integrated model of institutional maturity in public administration

Keywords

human capital; institutional quality; local self-government; Europeanisation; institutional maturity

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Received 30.12.2025, Revised 27.03.2026, Accepted 28.05.2026 Published 25.06.2026

Retrieved from Volume 19, No. 1, 2026

Suggested citation

Bashtannyk, V., Bykova, A., Popov, M., Bashtannyk, O., & Garasyim, P. (2026). Institutional modernisation of public administration as a prerequisite for Ukraine’s European integration. Democratic Governance, 19(1), 59-69. https://doi.org/10.56318/dg/1.2026.59

https://doi.org/10.56318/dg/1.2026.59

Pages 59-69

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