Impact assessment as a tool for sustainable development in the law-making of the European Union

Purpose: To define the role of the impact assessment in the legislative process of the European Union through the prism of the sustainable development concept. Methodology: The historical-legal and the formally-legal methods, as well as methods of analysis and synthesis were used. Results: The article highlights the main stages of impact assessment implementation in the EU and provides for their main characteristics: 1) the transition from the fragmented sectoral impact assessment to the integrated assessment based on key aspects of the sustainable development; 2) the development of a common methodological approach and the establishment of an appropriate institutional framework, and 3) the transition to the qualitative changes in the regulatory policy - smart regulation. The main characteristics of the impact assessment as a tool for sustainable development in rule-making, as well as its role in the EU institutions practice were defined. Novelty/originality/value: Article possesses the high scientific value as is one of the first comprehensive studies assessing the impact of EU law-making through the prism of the sustainable development concept.