Administrative-Legal Frameworks for Cross-Border Heritage Protection: Ukraine and the European Union

Abstract

The article examines the features of administrative and legal support for cross-border cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union in the field of cultural heritage preservation. The urgency of the problem is associated with the deepening of European integration, the development of border regions, the consequences of armed aggression, the need to restore damaged objects, the threat of illegal movement of cultural values, and the lack of coordination of the activities of relevant bodies. The aim of the work is to comprehensively determine the main components of the legal regulation of cross-border cooperation and substantiate the directions of its improvement in the issues of protection, restoration, accounting, return and further use of cultural heritage. The methodological basis was comparative law, systemic, axiological, formal-legal, institutional and functional approaches. Cultural heritage is considered as a social and legal value, a factor in the consolidation of territorial communities and an important resource of international partnership. Regulatory, organizational, procedural, financial, informational and control instruments of cooperation are highlighted. It was found that Ukraine has an appropriate legal framework, but needs to strengthen interdepartmental and cross-border coordination, digital data exchange, interaction with customs authorities and more active involvement of European funding. Priorities are identified as harmonization of procedures, expansion of community participation, development of coordination platforms, use of Interreg programs and strengthening of preventive control.