CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION OF THE REGIONS OF UKRAINE IN THE CONTEXT OF INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION

Abstract

The participation of the regions of Ukraine in cross-border cooperation contributes to the acceleration of Ukraine's European integration processes and is an effective tool for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The study uses generally accepted methods in economics: a monographic, theoretical, and comparative analysis; synthesis, system-structural, abstract and logical, statistical groupings – to determine and analyse the forms of cross-border cooperation. An important role in the development of cross-border cooperation belongs to the implementation of Neighborhood Programs. It is one of the ways to attract funds from the European Union for solving the problems of social and economic development of border regions. The analysis of the socio-economic development of the regions of Ukraine shows that they do not use the potential of cross-border cooperation, in connection with which there is a need to intensify cross-border cooperation. Prerequisites for intensifying cross-border cooperation are: crises in the economy, the development of market conditions, deepening European integration, reforms, changing the role and functions of urban settlements, migration. A necessary condition for achieving the sustainable spatial development of the regions is the development of an effective strategy taking into account: adaptation of Ukraine's regional policy to the regional policy of the European Union; coordination of cross-border cooperation at the state, regional, local and public levels; decentralization of public administration and development of territorial communities; convergence, reduction of regional development disparities; development of cross-border partnerships; investment support for the development of cross-border cooperation; introduction of new forms of cross-border cooperation; deepening of European integration processes, etc. The spread of the pandemic has also created a need to improve the existing cooperation mechanism. The results of the conducted study can be used in the educational process, in particular, in the training of specialists in project management, as well as in the implementation of practical activities of public authorities and local governments of urban settlements, cities, and regions that are cross-border regions.