Reforming Public Administration and Territorial Governance in Ukraine: Strategic Priorities and EU Alignment

Abstract

The article aims to determine the development priorities of the public administration and territorial governance sector in Ukraine in the context of European integration and the EU enlargement process. The study identifies the main transformation challenges of the public administration sector; analyzes its institutional capacity and policy planning tools; and evaluates the potential for alignment with EU standards and priorities outlined in the Ukraine Facility Plan, the EU’s Negotiation Framework (Cluster 1 - Fundamentals), and the Public Administration Reform Roadmap approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on May 14, 2025. The research uses a combination of content analysis, document analysis, and SWOT analysis. Quantitative data were obtained from the Decentralization Reform portal, and the SWOT analysis was applied to assess institutional strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats affecting public administration reform at the territorial level. The analysis shows that Ukraine’s public administration sector demonstrates increasing institutional maturity but still lacks harmonized regional policy tools and sustainable inter-municipal cooperation mechanisms. The study identifies key development levers within the Ukraine Facility and recommends targeted administrative capacity building, policy coherence mechanisms, and inclusive governance models. The conclusions stress the need for systematic reforms that reflect both Ukraine’s internal institutional dynamics and external integration commitments. The study confirms that strengthening local public administration is critical for Ukraine’s European integration trajectory and supports EU accession through decentralized, transparent, and accountable governance mechanisms.