EUROPEAN INTEGRATION OF THE TRAINING SYSTEM FOR SECURITY AND DEFENSE SECTOR SPECIALISTS OF UKRAINE: THE INSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL DIMENSION

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive study of the institutional and legal foundations of the European integration of the training system for specialists in Ukraine’s security and defense sector under martial law and in the context of the state’s post-war transformation. It is substantiated that contemporary security challenges are complex in nature and encompass military, law enforcement, intelligence, cybersecurity, and humanitarian dimensions, which necessitates the training of a new type of personnel. The need to shift from a traditional department-oriented model to an integrated interagency training system is justified; such a system should be compatible with European and Euro-Atlantic standards and based on the principles of functional interaction, institutional compatibility, and shared professional competencies. The activities of the European Security and Defence College (ESDC), the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL), as well as the European Union’s approaches to judicial and legal training, and NATO’s experience within the Defense Education Enhancement Programme (DEEP), aimed at modernizing military education systems and strengthening the institutional capacity of partner states, are analyzed. The main directions for improving the regulatory and organizational framework of the national security education system are identified, including the introduction of interagency educational standards, the development of modular training programs, and mechanisms for mutual recognition of learning outcomes. It is concluded that the European integration of the training system for specialists in Ukraine’s security and defense sector should be considered as a component of the state’s institutional modernization, strengthening of its defense capability, enhancement of resilience to modern threats, and ensuring the effective functioning of the security and defense sector under conditions of long-term transformation. It is emphasized that the successful implementation of European approaches will contribute to the formation of a unified security education space and increase the level of professional mobility of specialists.