Civil society in the process of European integration in the conditions of war

Abstract

Introduction. The participation of civil society in democratic and European integration processes is important, since experience shows that this happens in parallel and depends on the efforts of all actors of both political and social systems of the state.

Problem. In the context of achieving strategic goals for Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic future, it is important to realize the need for constant cooperation between the state and civil society institutions in order to lobby the interests of Ukraine, which in the face of military aggression is even more striving for the European community, to explain its goals to the leadership of the countries that have just become members of the EU, NATO, which are in a favorable position and remember the difficulties of the transition period, and to appeal to the most influential European states.

The aim of the study is to study the peculiarities of the formation of civil society in Ukraine at the present stage, as well as to determine the peculiarities of its influence on the process of European integration in the conditions of military aggression.

Methods. The methodological basis of the article is general scientific and special legal methods and principles - dialectical, formal-legal, comparative, analysis, synthesis.

Results. The development of European integra­tion requires a number of conditions – the merging of national economies; common interests and cooperation in the main issues of international life; traditional unity – common spiritual values; availability of public support and loyalty for the implementation of the necessary socio-economic and political reforms. The European vector of development of the Ukrainian state is enshrined in the Constitution, the Law of Ukraine «On the Principles of Domestic and Foreign Policy». On February 24, 2022, Russia made a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, after which on February 28, 2022, our state applied to join the EU, and on June 23, 2022, Ukraine received the status of a candidate for EU membership. The role of civil society in this regard to solidarize Ukrainians to help each other became noticeable in the first days of the war (the activities of volunteers, human rights organizations, the resistance movement, territorial defense). So, in critical conditions of military aggression, civil society turned into a partner of the state, which can perform an important function – strengthening cooperation with donor organizations of European states.

Conclusions. The main tasks for civil society in Ukraine today are to defeat Russian aggression, consolidate democratic circles, overcome poverty, ensure the country’s economic growth, approximation and implementation of European values – to help society develop a democratic political culture based on civic responsibility, overcome conformism, corruption, intolerance towards minorities.