Human Rights Reforms Map for Ukraine’s EU Integration is an analytical online tool that shows how Ukrainian legislation and human rights practices align with EU standards. It provides a convenient way to see the whole picture: what has already been achieved, which human rights issues remain, and what changes could help bring Ukraine closer to EU membership more quickly. In addition, the Map broadly highlights possible pathways for further reforms, as well as the development and implementation of the National Human Rights Plan.

The Center for Civil Liberties implements the project. The Center for Civil Liberties is a Ukrainian human rights organization established in 2007. In 2022, it received the Nobel Peace Prize. It promotes reforms in the field of the rule of law, adapts legislation to human rights standards, documents war crimes committed in the course of Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, provides education on human rights and democracy, and monitors the activities of the police, courts, and local self-government. The organization participates actively in international networks and solidarity actions aimed at protecting human rights in the OSCE region.

About the Project

On the Human Rights Reforms Map for Ukraine’s EU Integration

On 28 February 2022, Ukraine submitted an official application for membership in the European Union (EU), and on 23 June 2022, it obtained the status of a candidate for EU membership. Preparations are currently underway for the opening of accession negotiations on the relevant chapters.

Accession to the EU is a complex process, as Ukraine must align its legislation, enforcement practices, and relevant public policies with EU requirements. A specific part of these requirements concerns human rights. We view Ukraine’s accession to the EU as an opportunity to transform the country and improve its human rights compliance.

Therefore, the Center for Civil Liberties has created the Human Rights Reforms Map for Ukraine’s EU Integration as a roadmap for human rights reforms on the path toward full EU membership. It simultaneously combines an analysis of specific Ukrainian problems and the need to adapt to EU law norms.

The Center for Civil Liberties is ready to demonstrate that Ukrainians need precisely such changes to improve the protection and realization of their rights, as well as to assist public authorities in implementing the stated recommendations. The creation of this Map was made possible by the knowledge and experience of many experts and Ukrainian non-governmental organizations that conducted analytical research.

The Map is a convenient and understandable resource which, through the analytical work of many experts, reasonably demonstrates explicitly how a particular human right is guaranteed and protected within the EU and how this same right is ensured in Ukraine, and most importantly, what the national legislator should pay attention to to bring our legislation closer to the European acquis communautaire in the field of human rights.

The Map also allows us to observe the progress in implementing the recommendations we have provided. We call upon public authorities, civil society, scholars, and others to work together to develop more detailed solutions to improve human rights compliance in Ukraine.

Research Methodology

Human Rights Reforms Map for Ukraine’s EU Integration is based on the research, expertise, and many years of human rights practice of the Center for Civil Liberties, as well as on contributions from project-involved experts, scholars, and human rights organizations. 

During the development of this project, we employed a mixed-methods research design that combined qualitative and quantitative approaches. In the course of the work, key EU legal sources (directives, regulations, resolutions, and rulings of the EU Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights) regarding the standards for the protection and guarantee of human rights were reviewed and analyzed, along with an analysis of relevant Ukrainian legislation, which together constitute the qualitative research component. At the same time, the project’s experts also used statistical data to substantiate various findings and strengthen their conclusions and expert positions, thereby reflecting the quantitative research component.                       

The work was organized according to the principle of either individual or collaborative expert analysis of a selected topic, resulting in:

  1. An analytical Policy Paper on the relevant human rights area.
  2. A detailed presentation of recommendations for aligning Ukrainian legislation with EU requirements on specific legal norms.

Thus, the experts involved, in collaboration with the Center for Civil Liberties, applied the following intermediate research methods using the corresponding tools:

1. Collection and Systematization of Information

  • Collection of information on current European Union legal acts related to selected human rights issues.
  • Systematization of key documents, such as directives, regulations, resolutions, and rulings of the EU Court of Justice, relevant to the topic.
  • Information on pilot and other significant rulings of the European Court of Human Rights regarding a specific human right.
  • Analysis of relevant provisions of Ukrainian legislation governing the same human rights issues.             

2. Comparative Analysis of Law and Practice

  • Conducting a detailed comparative analysis of EU and Ukrainian legal acts regarding a specific human right or issue.
  • Identification of discrepancies and gaps between EU law and national legislation, as well as differences in its practical application.
  • Assessment of the compliance of Ukrainian legislation with the requirements of the acquis communautaire.                                  

3. Assessment of the Current Situation in Ukraine

  • Analysis of the practical implementation of existing Ukrainian legal norms concerning the relevant human right or chosen issue.
  • Evaluation of the effectiveness of human rights protection mechanisms in Ukraine.
  • Analysis of key problems identified in the European Court of Human Rights’ decisions.
  • Identification of major challenges and barriers to harmonizing Ukrainian legislation with the acquis communautaire.            

4. Preparation of an Analytical Document (Policy Paper)

  • Structuring and drafting a comparative-analytical document in the format of a human rights policy paper, including recommendations and a general analysis of EU and Ukrainian legal acts regulating the human rights field.
  • Inclusion in the analytical document of key findings and analytical data supporting the recommendations.
  • Providing clear and well-founded general recommendations for further key actions and necessary changes to harmonize Ukrainian legislation with the acquis communautaire.

5. Development of Detailed Recommendations

  • Development of specific, detailed recommendations on the necessary changes to national legislation to align it with EU standards, elaborating on the provisions of the analytical documents.
  • Proposals for improving legal mechanisms and procedures to ensure effective implementation of the acquis communautaire in Ukraine.

Analytical Research on Relevant Human Rights Law

This document reflects a general assessment of the needs for changes in legislation and practice regarding a specific human right, presented in the format of policy preparation on an individual right, analyzing problems and possible ways to improve the situation.

In the introductory part, the authors provided an overall characterization of the specific human rights area, including a brief overview of the relevant chapters of the acquis communautaire and particular articles contained in the foundational EU treaties and other EU law.

In the central part, an analysis of compliance with principles and norms defining human rights standards in the EU was conducted, in particular through the lens of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and other key documents. In addition, the situation in Ukraine regarding the implementation of these standards was analyzed, the current level of alignment of Ukrainian legislation with the acquis communautaire was assessed, and the main challenges and successes in the process of legal harmonization were identified, reflecting the experts’ synthesis.

In the concluding section, the authors presented their findings and formulated corresponding recommendations, justifying steps toward further adaptation of Ukrainian human rights legislation to EU law. Particular attention was given to the development of possible criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of the implementation of the acquis communautaire into national legislation.

Detailed Recommendations on the Adaptation of Ukrainian Legislation

This document contains a detailed and specific analysis of a particular aspect of EU law implementation in Ukraine, with a focus on human rights. Within the framework of this comparative analysis, the expert aimed to examine in detail a specific area or instrument important to harmonizing Ukrainian legislation with the acquis communautaire. For example, this may include implementing directives on non-discrimination, the rights of persons with disabilities, gender equality, data protection, and other areas regulated by EU law.

The analytical document provides recommendations on necessary legislative changes, the development of procedural safeguards to protect rights arising from the need to respect and guarantee a particular right, and the establishment of institutional mechanisms to ensure effective cooperation with EU Member States.

Thus, such a detailed analysis offers a comprehensive examination of a specific aspect of EU law implementation in Ukraine, provides recommendations for further action, and contributes to a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the context of legal harmonization.

Going forward, the Center for Civil Liberties, together with the involved experts, scholars, and human rights defenders, is ready to develop solutions to implement the recommendations.

Recommended Citation

To cite the Map as a resource: Human Rights Reforms Map. Center for Civil Liberties. 2026. URL: eurointegration.ccl.org.ua.

An example of citing individual expert studies is provided on the title page of each study. Use of published materials is allowed provided the source is appropriately cited.