FOREIGN EXPERIENCE IN REGULATING PROCEDURAL ACTIONS IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS DURING INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Abstract

The article analyzes foreign experience in regulating the conduct of procedural actions in international cooperation within criminal proceedings against the backdrop of growing transnational crime and the digitalization of the criminal process. It is established that the effectiveness of international cooperation largely depends on the combination of treaty-based mechanisms, proper institutional coordination, and compliance with procedural guarantees, particularly judicial oversight. The experiences of the European Union, Germany, France, the United States, and the United Kingdom are analyzed to assess the effectiveness of organizing international legal assistance and access to digital evidence across different legal systems. It is determined that contemporary regulation of international cooperation combines classical mutual legal assistance procedures with modern digital evidence exchange tools. In the EU, key instruments such as the European Investigation Order, Eurojust, and Europol ensure coordination of multilateral investigations and reduce the time required for evidence collection. At the same time, limitations in accessing digital data, data protection requirements, and the principle of proportionality create conflicts that require adaptation of national legislation. The approaches of the US and the UK demonstrate a combination of treaty-based international legal assistance, centralized coordination, mandatory judicial control, and human rights protection, while challenges remain regarding access to digital evidence across borders. A synthesis of foreign practices indicates the necessity for technological modernization, development of institutional specialization, and optimization of procedural sanctioning of investigative actions in Ukraine without compromising judicial oversight. The results provide a scientific and practical basis for improving Ukrainian criminal procedure legislation, including the implementation of digital evidence exchange systems, strengthening the role of competent authorities in transnational investigations, and ensuring a proper balance between investigative efficiency and protection of human rights.