Received 01.03.2020, Revised 18.06.2020, Accepted 19.07.2020
Reform of the administrative-territorial system and local self-government are among the most pressing issues of Ukraine. On that basis, the impact of administrative-territorial reform in Ukraine on the formation and development of territorial communities was researched in the paper. It was defined that the purpose of optimizing the economy, which is based on a fundamentally new for Ukraine system of territorial organization and the corresponding intensification of cross-border cooperation is to create an effective system of government in administrative-territorial units, able to provide favorable opportunities for sustainable socio-economic development of all territories by means of rational usage of their potential based on formation of capable territorial communities. The purpose of this article is to study existing theories and scientific concepts on the formation of adequate to the current requirements territorial structure in Ukraine on the basis of creating conditions for effective management of sustainable territorial communities and real cross-border cooperation in the European space. The main idea of the new regionalism is determined to be the transformation of regions into the key unsubs of implementation of socio-economic development programs, which is ensured by giving the regions broad powers (the principle of subsidiarity). One of the scenarios for establishing strong interregional ties that will meet the requirements of integration of both the region and the country as a whole into the European space is the establishment of frontier cooperation in all spheres of life of the territorial community. The main directions of cooperation of frontier territorial communities of the country are shown. An innovative approach to intensifying cross-border cooperation with the European vector of development of Ukrainian territorial communities is suggested - the formation of a regional network of Border Advisory Centers (Platforms) with the possibility of providing online consultations and training
administrative-territorial reform; decentralization; territorial community; development; European cross-border area