Rule of law in the context of Ukraine's European integration: challenges and implementation in criminal justice
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21564/2225-6555.2025.27.326911Keywords:
rule of law, European integration, criminal justice, principles of law, human rights, legal reform, legal positivism, natural law, legal certaintyAbstract
The relevance of this topic arises from the challenge of ensuring the rule of law, especially in criminal justice, amid Ukraine’s candidate status for membership in the European Union. The national legal doctrine still faces uncertainty about the essence of this concept and its role in practical legal relations. The purpose of the article is to ascertain whether the rule of law is a genuine principle underpinning criminal justice or rather a strategic goal pursued by law enforcement and courts in the course of reforms and alignment with European standards. This inquiry was conducted through historical-legal and comparative analyses, examination of legislative acts and their enforcement, as well as a critical review of scholarly works addressing the impact of positivist traditions on understanding the rule of law in Ukraine. The findings reveal that formally recognizing the rule of law in the Constitution and legislation is not matched by its proper implementation. Residual Soviet positivism constrains its perception to a merely declarative norm. Additionally, the lack of a clear distinction between principle and goal hinders effective application in criminal proceedings. Based on the study, to enhance the rule of law in criminal justice, it is proposed to overcome legal formalism, update educational programs, and strengthen the role of natural law in legal practice. These measures will help establish a genuine foundation for the rule of law, making it an integral part of criminal justice and a key element in Ukraine’s successful European integration.
References
Winthrop, D. (1978). Aristotle and theories of justice. American Political Science Review, 72(4), 1201-1216. https://doi.org/10.2307/1954534
Ivančík, J. (2020). Roman principles – foundations of the European legal culture and their position in the changing world. Vilnius University Open Series, 6, 58–67. https://doi.org/10.15388/OS.LAW.2020.6
Kelsen, H. (2008). Reine Rechtslehre. Einleitung in die rechtswissenschaftliche Problematik. Studienausgabe der 1. Auflage 1934. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1628/978-3-16-156465-9
Duguit, L. (1917). The law and the state. Harvard Law Review, 31, 1-185. Retrieved from https://archive.org/details/jstor-1327671/page/n1/mode/2up
Pound, R. (1922). An introduction to the philosophy of law. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. Retrieved from https://archive.org/details/anintroductionto00pounuoft
European Union. (2007). Treaty of Lisbon amending the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community, signed at Lisbon, 13 December 2007. Official Journal of the European Union, C306. Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:C:2007:306:TOC
European Union. (2007). Consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union. Official Journal of the European Union, C115. Retrieved from http://data.europa.eu/eli/treaty/teu_2016/oj
Coman, R. (2020). Democracy and the rule of law: How the EU can uphold its common values. Journal of European Public Policy, 27(3), 359-373. Retrieved from https://dipot.ulb.ac.be/dspace/bitstream/2013/288936/3/ch18.pdf
Tamanaha, B. Z. (2004). On the rule of law: History, politics, theory. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511812378
Nozar, W. (2012). The 100% Union: The rise of Chapters 23 and 24. The Hague: Netherlands Institute of International Relations. Retrieved from https://www.clingendael.org/sites/default/files/2016-02/The%20100%25%20Union.%20The%20rise%20of%20Chapters%2023%20and%2024.pdf
Collomp, E. (2020). Democracy and human rights in the EU enlargement process: Focus on corruption from a human rights and democratic perspective, in relation to the EU adhesion of Western Balkan official candidates. University of Sofia, St. Kliment Ohridski. http://dx.doi.org/10.25330/664
World Justice Project. (2024). Rule of Law Index 2024 – Ukraine ranking. Retrieved from https://worldjusticeproject.org/rule-of-law-index/global/2024/Ukraine/
Gutmann, J., Kantorowicz, J., & Voigt, S. (2024). How do citizens define and value the rule of law? A conjoint experiment in Germany and Poland. Journal of European Public Policy, 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/13501763.2024.2326189
Pech, L. (2016). The EU as a global rule of law promoter: The consistency and effectiveness challenges. Asia Europe Journal, 14, 7–24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10308-015-0432-z
Schroeder, W. (2016). Strengthening the rule of law in Europe: From a common concept to mechanisms of implementation. Oxford: Hart Publishing.
Knežević Bojović, A., & Ćorić, V. (2023). Challenges of rule of law conditionality in EU accession. Bratislava Law Review, 7(1), 41-62. https://doi.org/10.46282/blr.2023.7.1.327
Holovaty, S. P. (2019). "The Rule of Law" Does Not Work. Commentary on the Venice Commission's "Report on the Rule of Law". Pravo Ukrainy, 11, 39-82.
Arajärvi, N. (2017). Rule of law in the 2030 agenda. International Journal of Law and Society, 5(1), 3-22.
Honcharenko, V. H., Nor, V. T., & Shumylo, M. Ye. (Eds.). (2012). Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine: Scientific and Practical Commentary. Kyiv: Yustinian.
Venice Commission. (2011). Report on the rule of law. Adopted at the 86th plenary session (Venice, 25–26 March 2011). CDL-AD(2011)003rev. Retrieved from https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL-AD(2011)003rev-e
Venice Commission. (2016). Rule of law checklist. Adopted at the 106th plenary session (Venice, 11–12 March 2016). CDL-AD(2016)007. Retrieved from https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL-AD(2016)007-e
Holovaty, S. P. (2011). The Rule of Law: How It Is Interpreted by the Venice Commission. Pravo Ukrainy, 10, 154-167.
Nazarov, V. V. (2017). Implementation of the Rule of Law Principle in Criminal Proceedings. Pravova Derzhava, 26, 137-143.
Voloshyna, V. K. (2018). The Rule of Law and Legality as Principles of Criminal Proceedings in the Context of the European Court of Human Rights Practice. Journal of Kyiv University of Law, 3, 250-255. Retrieved from http://nbuv.gov.ua/UJRN/Chkup_2018_3_57
Honcharenko, V. H. (2013). Fundamentals of the Rule of Law and Legality in Criminal Proceedings in Terms of Protection Implementation. Bulletin of the Academy of Advocacy of Ukraine, 3(28), 4-10. Retrieved from http://nbuv.gov.ua/UJRN/vaau_2013_3_3
Kuzmin, R. R., & Yuldashev, O. Kh. (2013). The Principle of the Rule of Law or Legality? European Perspectives, 7, 5-10.
Mykhailenko, V. V. (2017). The Relationship Between the Rule of Law and Legality in Criminal Proceedings of Ukraine. Prykarpattia Legal Bulletin, 6(2), 158-163.
Savenko, D. L. (2015). The Rule of Law and Legality in the Organization and Activities of the Prosecutor's Office of Ukraine: General Theoretical Research. [Abstract of dissertation for the degree of Candidate of Law]. Odesa: National University "Odesa Law Academy".
Leino, P. (2004). Rights, rules and democracy in the EU enlargement process: Between universalism and identity. Austrian Review of International and European Law Online, 7(1), 53-89. https://doi.org/10.1163/157365102X00028
Rabinovych, P. M., et al. (2016). The Principle of the Rule of Law: Problems of Theory and Practice. Lviv: Spolom.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Олександр Дудченко
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
