Semenovych A. The regionalization of the member countries of the Visegrad group in the context of the accession in the European Union.

The object is the process of regionalization of the member countries of the Visegrad group. The aim is to study the features of regionalization of the member countries of the Visegrad group in the context of the preparation for European Union full-fledged membership. The methods are system approach, interdisciplinary approach; structural-functional analysis, institutional, problem-chronologic, retrospective and comparative methods. It is demonstrated that a clearly articulated prospective of EU accession became a powerful catalyst for regionalization, triggering the necessary reforms, disciplining the candidate countries, reducing the internal resistance and avoiding excessive and unnecessary delays. It is proved that, despite the fact that EU membership established itself as a sole valid alternative strategy for post-socialist countries, its impact was not holistic and comprehensive, but uneven and fragmented. It is argued that the EU's role during regionalization of the Visegrad countries varied not only depending on a number of internal and external factors, but also on what segment of regional governance underwent transformations. The ambivalent character of the EU influence is demonstrated because the lack of clear criteria and a coherent model of regionalization. It is proved that the specific domestic context of Visegrad countries affected the process of regionalization, enhancing or limiting the impact of the European Union. It is argued that the European Union did not always act systematically, because the enlargement process involved supranational EU institutions, member states and interest groups. In addition, the EU's role in the process of transformation in post-socialist countries was mixed up by the active position of other international actors. Application spheres are the European integration strategy of Ukraine, training courses.