As part of Ukraine’s preparations for EU accession, the Cabinet of Ministers has adopted three strategic roadmaps under Cluster 1: Fundamentals of the Accession Process. These documents - addressing rule of law, public administration reform, and the functioning of democratic institutions - lay out planned reforms to shape Ukraine’s legislative and institutional trajectory in the coming years. Civil society actors actively contributed to the drafting process.
The approved roadmaps are comprehensive strategic documents, setting a detailed plan for the development, adoption, and implementation of legislative and policy measures. These reforms are crucial to address long-standing concerns and align Ukraine’s democratic processes with EU standards. The European Union must now review and endorse the documents before negotiations begin.
Importantly, the roadmap on the functioning of democratic institutions specifically outlines the key actions needed to strengthen democratic governance and the enabling environment for civil society. This Roadmap defines the core legal, regulatory, and policy framework for CSOs and covers essential elements of democratic governance, including free and fair elections, financing of political parties and campaigns, media involvement during elections, parliamentary transparency, accountability and integrity, and the overall environment for civil society institutions. This development provides a rare opportunity to institutionalise guarantees for civic freedoms, improve transparency in CSO–state relations, and increase accountability of state bodies towards civic actors.
If implemented effectively, these reforms can lead to more predictable and participatory mechanisms for civil society engagement, while also offering protection against restrictive regulations. Importantly, the roadmap process reflects a multi-stakeholder approach, setting a positive precedent for inclusive policy-making.
CSO representatives participated in the development of the roadmaps, signalling the state’s recognition of civil society’s value in guiding reforms. This inclusive approach not only enhances the relevance and quality of the reforms but also fosters mutual trust and accountability between the state and civil society. Such collaboration is particularly important in the context of post-war recovery and Ukraine’s path toward EU integration, where sustainable change depends on broad-based support and civic engagement.
The next critical step is endorsement by the European Union, followed by practical implementation in Ukraine. This will involve adopting concrete legal amendments and launching institutional reforms. The CSO community will need to stay actively engaged, ensuring that commitments do not remain on paper but translate into real improvements.
The CSO Meter recommendations can serve as a benchmark for monitoring progress, particularly regarding civic space and participatory governance. This process also presents an opportunity to integrate civil society more formally into Ukraine’s EU negotiation structure.