Legal security of mediation in Ukraine: shortcomings and prospects for improvement through the prism of the experience of the countries of the European Union

In the content of the article, the author investigated the peculiarities of the legal provision of mediation in Ukraine and the countries of the European Union. Despite the fact that today in legal science, a significant body of scientific works has been formed, which relate to certain aspects of mediation, it is worth noting that the issue of legal support for mediation in Ukraine has not been properly studied scientifically. Modern studies of the legal provision of mediation are especially relevant, given the high degree of its variability in Ukraine. On the basis of a critical analysis of the provisions of Ukrainian legislation in the field of mediation, its shortcomings and prospects for improvement were determined. The following are noted as shortcomings of the legal provision of mediation in Ukraine: a) the absence of provisions that would regulate the issues of mediation procedures, in particular before submitting an appeal to the court, during court proceedings, as well as during the execution of a court decision, etc.; b) inconsistency of its categorical and conceptual apparatus with established legislative terminology (for example, the terms "conflict” and "dispute”); c) inaccuracy of the legal provision of mediation principles; d) superficial, too general regulation of the mediation process itself; e) failure to take into account the European standard of mediation transparency, etc. The analysis of the peculiarities of the legal provision of the EU countries (France, Germany, Italy, Austria, etc.) made it possible to substantiate the prospects for improving the legal provision of mediation in Ukraine. It is summarized that the Ukrainian legislation has experienced legal transformations in the field of mediation, moving from the least effective and least reliable informal model to a specialized model by adopting the framework Law of Ukraine "On Mediation”. In our opinion, the most effective model of legal support for mediation is the specialized model chosen by Ukraine, which, among other things, should be complemented by effective mechanisms of self-regulation of this legal activity through the development and application of acts of the so-called "unofficial law” adopted by professional associations of mediators. The combination of the legal regulation of mediation in Ukraine was noted: a) the typicality of the law "On Mediation”, which established the legal foundation of mediation and regulated the most general and important issues in this area; b) self-regulating mechanisms of mediation, designed to ensure a quick response to the dynamic development of mediation and relations where it should be applied.