INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS OF ACTIVIZATION SYNERGY OF CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION AT UKRAINE-EU BORDER

Abstract

Specific features of the current stage of globalization modify the motivations, influencing the development of cross-border cooperation. This conditions the necessity to re-assess the driving forces of this cooperation and the factors of its performance. In the article has been studied the evolution of institutional factors, that ensure the provision of a positive synergetic effect of cross-border cooperation of regions and communities of Ukraine – at the border with European Union – in the process of evolving globalization and strengthening the real permeability of national borders. Based on the adaptation of the general theory of social systems’ synergy to the analysis of cross-border interaction, the risks and obstacles for the positive emergence have been determined, derived from the institutional insufficiency of Ukrainian partners in cross-border cooperation. Has been stressed upon the implicit change of borders’ perception at the local level due to the spontaneous diffusion of institutions. Has been distinguished the asymmetry of institutional frameworks, where partners from opposite sides of Ukraine-EU border act in. The asymmetry obstructs the formation of synergy and threatens the sustainability of cross-border integration institutions due to “gravitational” resources’ flows towards institutionally more stable economies, providing better factor productivity. The author grounds the importance of integration the development of cross-border cooperation into the national-level strategic documents and the development strategies of border regions and communities. The current situation in this sphere in Ukraine has been studied. The priority directions of institutional changes have been suggested, giving the opportunity to optimize cross-border interaction and to improve the positive impact of cross-border cooperation for the development of border regions and communities. In particular, author stresses upon the measures for institutional improvement of local actors, strengthening its subjectness and capacity for rational decision making in the sphere of cross-border cooperation. The author’s vison has been suggested for the methodology of actual problems’ capable to become the subject of interterritorial interaction identification.