“Pravova derzhava”. Issue 36 (2025), pages 372–382.

DOI: 10.33663/0869-2491-2025-36-372-382

Shyshykin Sergii
Functions of Municipal Law in the Context of Ukraine’s European Integration: Theoretical and Methodological Aspects

Introduction: The influence of European integration processes on municipal law functions gains particular significance in the context of Ukraine’s candidate status for EU membership. The transformation of municipal law functions under the influence of acquis communautaire requires thorough scientific analysis and theoreticalmethodological understanding, especially during the implementation of decentralization reform and modernization of local self-government in Ukraine.
The aim of the article: To provide theoretical and methodological substantiation of the transformation of municipal law functions in Ukraine under European integration conditions and to determine prospective directions for their development. The research objectives include analyzing the impact of European integration processes on the system of municipal law functions, investigating the features of European local selfgovernment standards implementation, determining the main directions of municipal law functions transformation, and substantiating the prospects for the development of municipal law’s functional purpose in the context of European integration.
Results: The study reveals that European integration processes cause systematic transformation of municipal law functions. The regulatory function is enhanced through the implementation of acquis communautaire in national legislation. The constituent function focuses on forming new institutional mechanisms corresponding to the European model of public administration. The protective function is strengthened through additional legal guarantees for local self-government rights. The control function is transformed through the implementation of European standards of supervision. The integrative function ensures systematic unity with EU law and promotes inter-municipal cooperation. The law-making function determines the creation of a regulatory framework corresponding to European standards. The law enforcement function undergoes transformation through the mandatory implementation of European standards in administrative services. The information function gains new significance through the implementation of transparency standards and e-governance.
The axiological function is directed at forming a new system of legal values based on European principles of democracy.
Conclusions: The successful transformation of municipal law functions according to European standards is an important condition for forming an effective system of local self-government capable of ensuring sustainable development of territorial communities and proper living standards for citizens. Further research should focus on developing methodology for evaluating the effectiveness of municipal law functions implementation, studying mechanisms of municipal law adaptation to digital transformation challenges, analyzing the impact of European Court of Justice practice, and investigating innovative forms of municipal law functions implementation in the context of smart city development and digital democracy.
Key words: municipal law, functions of law, local self-government, European integration, acquis communautaire, decentralization, subsidiarity, e-governance, EU legal standards, territorial communities, municipal reform, local democracy.

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