TRANSFORMATION OF UKRAINIAN REGIONAL POLICY IN THE CONTEXT OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION: FROM EU INSTITUTIONAL STANDARDS TO LOCAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

Abstract

The current state of regional development in Ukraine requires a fundamental revision of approaches to territorial management in the context of deep socio-economic gaps and the need to adapt to European Union standards. The relevance of the topic is due to the need to form a sustainable model of regional renewal, which would be based on the principles of territorial cohesion and effective use of limited resources. The purpose of the article is a comprehensive analysis of the principles of EU regional policy and the development of strategic recommendations for their implementation in Ukrainian practice to ensure a high quality of life for the population and institutional stability of communities. The methodological basis of the work is a systematic approach to the analysis of socio-economic processes. In the process of research, the method of comparative analysis was used to compare the EU structural support instruments and existing mechanisms for financing regional development in Ukraine. The method of logical generalization was also used when studying the principles of subsidiarity and additionality, which allowed identifying potential growth points for the national management model. Statistical and descriptive methods were used to assess the current economic, social and environmental challenges faced by Ukrainian regions under martial law. The analysis found that the European cohesion policy offers a universal toolkit for leveling territorial asymmetries through the system of structural and investment funds. It was found that the key factor in the successful transformation of Ukrainian regional policy is not only financial support, but also the implementation of rigorous methods of monitoring and assessing the impact of projects. The critical role of legislative changes in the field of decentralization and digitalization of management as prerequisites for increasing the accountability of recovery processes was established. The priority of a people-centered approach that integrates issues of security, inclusiveness and environmental sustainability into the development strategy of each community was substantiated. The results obtained can be used by state authorities and local governments in developing and adjusting regional development strategies, as well as in forming a regulatory framework in the field of territorial management. The proposed approaches to assessing the impact of policies on the quality of life of the population will increase the efficiency of using budget funds and international technical assistance.