Grynko O. Regional policy of European Union

Object; regional policy as a form of political activity, its essense, functions and tasks; purpose: complex analysis of formation amd modernization of regional policy of European Union in the context of studying its potential and using it in terms of reformation of regional policy of European Union; methods: on the basis of analysis of common and special methods of scientific research the methodological base of research is formed. On the basis of literature analysis and legislature of regional policy the stages of its development are presented, factors under the influence of which the process of formation, working out and conceptualization was taking place is shown; novelty: the thesis has made an attempt for the first time ever in domestic research to thoroughly analyze regional policy of European Union, in particular: the interrelation of regional politics of complementary with other directions of EU is thoroughly researched, its role in a broad spector of humanitarian tasks that are parts of the “Europe – 2020” strategy are shown; forms and methods of governing structures of EU on carrying out the plan of complementary policy for 2014 – 2020 are analyzed; a periodization of four stages of EU regional policy is proposed: 1951 – 1988, 1988 – 2000, 2000 – 2008, 2008 – till current moment; the following is improved: the framework of categories and concepts, in particular: such notions as “region”, “euroregion”, “crossborder cooperation”, “regional policy”, “ The Policy of Cohesion” in context of new approaches of their interpretation; conceptual vision of Ukraine’s regional policy principles; the following was given further development: the analysis of factors that affect the formation of regional policy in particular influence of EU on the development of the Eastern cooperation program and the role of statute documents on formation of new territorial structures; analysis of the Policy of Cohesion and its role in the context of regionalization processes of EU: clearing out the criteria of effectiveness of the Policy of Cohesion currently, importance and role of the Policy of Cohesion in terms of formation of European identity and attractiveness of EU image. The practical significance of the results of the research lies in the opportunity of deepening level of scientific analysis of both the role of regional policy in general and importance of the Policy of Cohesion in functioning of such a complex and multilevel structure as European Union.