PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE EU'S REGIONAL POLICY EXPERIENCE IN SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF CERTAIN TYPES OF TERRITORIES

Abstract

The article explores the challenges and prospects of implementing the European Union’s regional policy experience in Ukraine, with particular emphasis on its institutional architecture, instruments, and applicability to post-war recovery. The study analyzes the evolution of the EU Cohesion Policy and its key tools—Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI), Community-Led Local Development (CLLD), Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3/RIS3), the Just Transition Fund (JTF), and Interreg—demonstrating how they contribute to addressing disparities across various types of territories: urban, rural, mountainous, border, and industrial. Building on this analysis, the research assesses Ukraine’s current regional policy framework, including the Law “On the Principles of State Regional Policy” (2015) and the State Strategy for Regional Development 2027. The article highlights critical gaps in Ukraine’s spatial governance system: the absence of a national typology compatible with the EU’s DEGURBA classification, insufficient institutional capacity at the local level, and fragmented coordination among ministries and regional actors. A gap analysis identifies necessary legislative and methodological reforms to integrate EU approaches—particularly the introduction of DEGURBA-based territorial typologies, legal recognition of ITI and CLLD mechanisms, inclusion of S3 in regional strategies, and adaptation of recovery programs to reflect spatial differentiation. The findings underscore that Ukraine’s success depends not on direct replication of EU models but on their adaptive application, harmonized with the country’s decentralization process and post-war reconstruction priorities. The study concludes that embedding EU cohesion instruments into Ukraine’s recovery framework can establish a more balanced, innovative, and territorially integrated model of development.