IDEAS OF ACADEMICIAN V. V. KOPEICHIKOV ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EUROPEAN CHARTER OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT IN UKRAINIAN LEGISLATION

Abstract

The article is dedicated to a Ukrainian legal scholar, Doctor of Juridical Science, a professor, academician V. V. Kopieichikov. His views on the ideas on the improvement of Ukrainian legislation as to local self-government were reviewed. The article covers relevance of the scholar’s work on the European standards of making up of a state judicial fi eld. The focus is laid on the ratifi cation of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in Ukraine and the way it infl uenced the development of legislation of the country as to local self-government. It is highlighted that local self-government is a unique institute not based on the state authority, but on the public community. The evolution of beliefs and the progress of society itself proves the attitude to delegate some authority to self-govern bodies for make them more eff ective locally. Academician V. V. Kopieichikov was convinced that the unitary approach shall not be turned into a one-man rule power center. The scholar insisted on establishing authority bodies and legislation scope in accordance with regional principles as the basis of a democratic society. That is why the Basic Law is to be built on the achievements of the international legislation in order to be more eff ective. In his works, the scholar appealed to the European Charter of Local Self-Government adopted in Strasbourg by European Council member countries on October 15, 1985. This act of law became a basis for regulation of self-government in progressive European Council member countries. The legislation of Ukraine implemented it on January 1, 1998. Academician V. V. Kopieichikov insisted on striking a balance between municipality and state local government. That was exactly the benchmark promoted by the European Charter and appealed by the scholar.