Babanska O. Cross-border cooperation of Ukraine with countries members of EU under conditions of economic association.

The thesis is devoted to the elaboration of theoretical approaches and practical recommendations on forming an effective mechanism of cross-border cooperation between Ukraine and EU Member States to ensure the economic stability of the Ukrainian economy and effective entry into the world integration processes. The definition of “cross-border cooperation” has been, which is shown as a multi-level system of international regional economic relations between the subjects of cooperation of two or more countries which have common borders on the development of priority directions, programs and projects of collaboration based on evaluation of the general potential of cross-border areas; the identification of strong and weak sides and risks for the implementation of the economic interests of all the subjects of cooperation, legalized by correspondent international agreements which do not contradict the existing legislation. The mechanism of cross-border cooperation has been determined, which includes the national and international regulatory framework; intergovernmental agreements on cross-border cooperation at regional and international levels; principles, forms and bodies of cross-border cooperation; specific programs and projects of cooperation, which is the theoretical basis for the diagnostics of its condition and directions of development. Directions of efficiency elevation of cross-border economic cooperation of Odessa region with Member States have been identified by determination of barriers and obstacles in its way and mechanisms of elimination. A model of cross-border cooperation between Ukraine and the EU member states forming is offered, which includes the following steps: the determination of the socio-economic interests of the subject cooperation; diagnostics of common problems and opportunities; determination of goals; estimation of total and partial potential of cross-border regions of each country bordering Ukraine and comparative analysis of their strengths and weaknesses; determination of priority directions and strategies for cooperation; determination of forms of cross-border cooperation; identification of risks; elaboration of specific programs and projects of cooperation.