The role of international inter-municipal and inter-regional cooperation in the post-war reconstruction of territorial communities of Ukraine

Iurii Kormyshkin*

The role of international inter-municipal and inter-regional cooperation in the post-war reconstruction of territorial communities of Ukraine**

Italian title:Il ruolo della cooperazione internazionale intercomunale e interregionale nella ricostruzione postbellica delle comunità territoriali dell'Ucraina

DOI: 10.26350/18277942_000185

Summary: 1. Introduction. 2. Materials and Methods. 3. Results. 4. Discussion. 5. Conclusions.

1. Introduction

For most rational observers, war in any form is seen as the most brutal and dramatic act of powerlessness and terror. The history of international relations contains many formulaic excuses, such as “war is terrible, but...”, which world leaders present as a forced and inevitable course of action. Almost every military conflict ended, ongoing or predicted, solely according to its initiator’s opinion, ensuring the protection of abstract freedom and, of course, justice. However, the subjective framework of these concepts for society is outlined and announced in advance. In practice, justice is characterized by the limitation of political will, manipulation, violence, and complete disregard for such fundamental goods as inviolability, choice, and protection. And although war is an unacceptable phenomenon in the diplomatic arena, for the most part, the crossing of the red line is held back not by the real threat of genocide or holocaust but by increased sanctions pressure and economic blockade.

There hasn’t been much research done on the possible contribution of inter-municipal and inter-regional collaboration to post-war reconstruction efforts, particularly in light of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Due to the total destruction of Ukraine’s towns and cities, an effective plan is required to restore the infrastructure, services, and housing stock that has been devastated. This paper presents innovative research that methodically examines the ways in which collaborations between territorial communities in Ukraine and their international equivalents could aid in this process of recovery. It addresses a critical void in the literature by offering guidance on utilizing intermunicipal/regional cooperation as a vehicle for post-war resuscitation. This is done by referencing previous examples from throughout the world, examining the existing legislative frameworks, and suggesting priority areas for collaboration. The insights gained from this research are needed to maximize existing resources and capabilities through cooperative channels, since Ukraine faces enormous reconstruction demands. The conclusions have significant ramifications for the long-term prospects of the nation’s rehabilitation.

In 2019, responding to aggressive comments from the Trump administration, Xi Jinping said that it would be “stupid” “for anyone to consider their own race and civilization superior and insist on recycling or replacing other civilizations”.^[1] It is clear that the mentioned statement of the head of the People’s Republic of China does not really correspond to the actual position of the superpowers. Still, until recently, it seemed that the illusion of a safe world had clearer outlines than global armed conflicts. It can probably be said that February 2022 had a fundamental impact not only on Ukraine and its neighboring countries but also comprehensive impact on the fate of the entire civilized world. A multi-million refugee flow, inflation, nuclear security, and food crisis - the full-scale Russian invasion of the territory of Ukraine created a new global precedent for the imposition of a “more acceptable” world order. The long-term campaign of the Russian authorities, which is currently reaching its peak, is generating catastrophic geopolitical and economic consequences, undermining the foundations of democratic rule and spreading a totalitarian regime.

Although Europe is suffering from an increase in migration, third-world countries are on the verge of starvation, and civilians of the Ukrainian state suffer daily from devastating armed aggression, losing their homes, lives, and future. These factors generate support from leading countries through humanitarian and financial aid, boosting Ukrainian business and renewing international partnerships. Since reconstructing a destroyed state requires the investment of considerable resources, the willingness of the Western and European parties to cooperate can be a necessary guarantee of sustainable development. It is the international inter-municipal and interregional cooperation with local self-government bodies and associations during martial law. Especially in the post-war period, that can contribute to the restoration of the vitality of Ukrainian territorial communities and the solution of various social or economic problems, such as, for example, attracting investments or improvement of administrative services.

It is undeniable that the issue of military conflict, affecting almost every sphere of life, itself arouses considerable interest from scientists. So, for example, R.L. Harris^[2] and M. Wieviorka^[3] paid attention to the study of the Ukrainian-Russian war, emphasizing the war’s long-term and tangible consequences. At the same time, P. Asadzade and R. Izadi^[4] provide empirical evidence of unfavorable world public opinion regarding the Russian military invasion. Unjustified military aggression does create negative attitudes toward the aggressor, but the negative attitudes are primarily directed at the government and the country. As for the impact of the international inter-municipal or inter-regional partnership on the post-war reconstruction of Ukrainian cities and villages, this topic remains under-researched at the moment. Although, the concept of cooperation between municipalities appears periodically in the works of scientists. T. Jaaidane and S. Larribeau^[5] considered the impact of inter-municipal cooperation on the size of the local public sector in France. Among other things, the scientists concluded that the rationalization of costs at the level of local self-government is a justification for the mandatory membership of municipalities in the bodies of the inter-municipal cooperation. At the same time, A. Maiev^[6] covered the trend of community consolidation and analyzed various types of inter-municipal formations. In particular, the author emphasized that the implementation of the system of inter-municipal cooperation in Ukraine could primarily contribute to solving urgent problems, such as achieving the same level of quality of services provided in all municipalities or reducing costs for administrative services.

This study aims to explore the possible contribution of international inter-municipal and inter-regional cooperation to the reconstruction of territorial communities in Ukraine following the conflict. The specific goals of the study are the following:

• examining the legal and regulatory framework that facilitates such cooperation in Ukraine;
• analyzing case studies and previous instances of inter-municipal/regional collaboration, both domestically and abroad, to identify best practices;
• identifying the main sectors and areas where international partnership could be most beneficial for post-war reconstruction efforts in Ukraine;
• talking about how this kind of cooperation could support and reinforce the country’s ongoing decentralization reform.

Through an examination of these objectives, this study intends to demonstrate the effectiveness of intermunicipal/regional cooperation as a means of promoting the sustainable and efficient reconstruction of the Ukrainian communities that were ravaged by the Russian invasion.

2. Materials and Methods

This study was characterized by using the following scientific methods: generalization, analysis, and comparison. The theoretical analysis method made it possible to comprehensively consider the concept of inter-municipal/inter-regional partnership as a tool for revitalizing the life of territorial communities. It also helped to investigate the general legal grounds and principles of work of inter-municipal and interregional cooperation. The legal foundation for cross-border cooperation in the form of an international and national regulatory framework was analyzed: European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities^[7], European Charter of Local Self-Government^[8], Law of Ukraine No. 280/97-VR “On local self-government in Ukraine”^[9], Law of Ukraine No. 1861-IV “On cross-border cooperation”^[10], as well as Law of Ukraine No. 1508-VII “On the cooperation of territorial communities”^[11]. Using the comparison method, the experience of the inter-municipal partnership of European local authorities, the field of cooperation, its advantages, and future prospects for the Ukrainian state was studied. In the same way, the existing practice of interregional cooperation within the country was studied, and attention was paid to the decentralization issue and its role in developing territorial communities (specific administrative units at the local level that comprise a defined geographic area and its inhabitants).

Ukraine’s local self-governance structure is multitiered. Village, settlement, and city councils are the lowest tier. These combine to form unified territorial communities with greater authority over services, real estate, utilities, and taxes inside their borders. The next tier consists of 136 districts, 24 oblasts (regions), and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, which are run by republic/oblast councils. Within the parameters of their designated authority, all local self-government bodies are legally able to negotiate and carry out cooperative agreements with their counterparts in other municipalities. Although the Verkhovna Rada (national parliament) must provide its consent to some strategic decisions, including signing international treaties. Overall, since 2014, Ukraine’s decentralization reform has gradually given municipal governments more power, giving them greater freedom to pursue international collaboration in a variety of fields, including infrastructure development, environmental cooperation, and economic development.

The general scientific method of generalization made it possible to identify the main opportunities and goals of international cooperation. This scientific work is focused on revealing the possibilities of Ukraine’s potential post-war global partnership with the countries of Europe and the West and emphasizing the legal and economic aspects.The theoretical base prepared by the author is an excellent scientific basis for further study of the given topic. Necessary materials were European legislation and Ukrainian nationwide and local legal acts. Also, the works of American, Polish, and Ukrainian researchers were used to implement the research. This research work was carried out in three main stages.

First, the author prepared the regulatory framework, analyzed current works on the given issue, and highlighted the leading properties of inter-municipal and inter-regional cooperation. In the first stage, an analysis of the nature of the world’s economic, ideological and cultural support for Ukraine was carried out, and the expediency of implementing the “Ukrainian Marshall Plan” was emphasized. Emphasis is placed on the effectiveness of international aid in the example of the post-war reconstruction of Europe in the 1950s, as well as the relevance of inter-municipal cooperation within the Ukrainian state.

In the second stage of the research, the Polish and Balkan, as well as the national experience of interregional policy implementation, was analyzed, and the results and consequences of the mentioned partnership were highlighted. The legislative framework for municipal cooperation and possible sources of income and financing are considered. Attention is focused on the importance of the further development of the decentralization reform and its impact on international cooperation and economic growth. The priority of the European integration course as a key to establishing international economic relations with market-capable states is also emphasized. The strategic vectors of the development of Ukrainian cities and villages, as well as the main goals of potential subjects of cooperation, were also indicated. In the second stage, the conclusions obtained from the research work were clarified and verified, and the author’s analytical and statistical material was presented.

At the final stage of the research, final conclusions were formulated regarding the subject under consideration, and promising methods of international post-war inter-municipal and interregional partnership in the reconstruction of Ukrainian cities and towns were proposed. Several priority systems of modernization and reconstruction have been identified, which will ensure the rise of the economic, social, and cultural sectors. The results of this scientific work are intended to become the basis for future studies of the directions of the prosperity of territorial communities and their interaction with international entities.

3. Results

Currently, it is impossible to reliably determine the number of dead among the civilian population of Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia at the end of February 2022, let alone announce the number of injured residents. United Nations (UN) statistics are updated daily, and these are only the data that have been confirmed – the actual number of victims is probably twice as high. On the other hand, it is known for sure about the destruction of civil infrastructure objects. According to the latest research by the KSE Institute (an analytical center at the Kyiv School of Economics), the results of which were made public in early August 2022, the damage caused by the destruction of infrastructure to the country’s economy is estimated at 108 billion dollars.^[12] Of course, these are not the final estimates. At the same time, speaking about the post-war reconstruction, the Ukrainian government cites a figure of 750 billion - this is precisely the cost of the 10-year Reconstruction Plan of Ukraine.^[13] Of course, the nature of the post-war reconstruction of the Ukrainian state depends on various factors: funding, access to the necessary technologies that will contribute to the modernization of the country, the ability of regional and local leaders to ensure the stable functioning of the affected territories, and therefore it is necessary to develop comprehensive reconstruction programs, taking into account risks and realistic prospects. Figure 1 shows the priority stages of post-war reconstruction, showing the vectors of priority initiatives.

Figure 1. Recovery Plan of Ukraine

Of course, it is unacceptable to qualify such large-scale projects as a local task since national reconstruction programs aim at collective political, technological, and material assistance. But the world community already had a similar experience almost eight decades ago, showing an unprecedented level of support and unity. The years following World War II were marked by an unparalleled speed of economic recovery from the most devastating conflict in human history, combined with equally impressive strength and scale of international cooperation that had never been seen before.^[14] And although the potential implementation of the “Ukrainian Marshall Plan”, at first glance, is a complex investment basis, in reality, the project is calculated not only on money, which undoubtedly remains a crucial component but also on a long-term partnership, which will play a decisive role in the future. Here it is worth recalling that the original Marshall Plan contributed not only to the economic development of the territories but also gave rise to the Organization of European Economic Cooperation, which enabled cooperation between its member states.^[15] That is why the international association with other states and organizations, which have experienced the need for external assistance, is the proper foundation of an effective, fast and safe recovery.

The readiness of advanced countries for joint coordinated work was demonstrated at the International Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine on August 4, 2022, in Lugano, Switzerland. It was there that more than 40 countries of the world, including the United States of America, Canada, Norway, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom, pledged to contribute to the post-war reconstruction of the Ukrainian state by signing the Luhansk Declaration.^[16] The document contains several so-called “Luhansk principles”, most of which are primarily aimed at expanding Ukraine’s partnership relations with its international allies: “the recovery process should promote the cooperation of national and international entities”. At the same time, the declaration sets the course for developing local self-government, civil society, and decentralization as a guarantee of the presence of European and Western partners. These theses, without a doubt, emphasize the improvement of municipal management, which will be an impetus for international partnership in regions and territorial communities. Inter-municipal/inter-regional cooperation, which is the coordinated cooperation of two or more relevant entities, is both a universal tool of modernized administration and a potential challenge to the inefficient, outdated system, offering new and effective management mechanisms. Since the inability of local self-government bodies to ensure the proper level of service delivery causes the need to establish relationships through the cooperation of several municipalities,^[17] similar shortcomings at the regional level or in the international arena force state authorities to accumulate available resources to improve the efficiency of public administration.

First of all, it should be noted that the practice of using regional, municipal, or even cross-border partnerships is not an unprecedented experience for Ukraine. The regional centers of the state have been actively applying these concepts during the last decade. For the most part, these programs provided for a “friendly community” in the field of education, tourism, sports, or culture, which were ultimately aimed at increasing the socio-economic potential of the respective territories. For example, as part of a joint project between the Klevan Territorial Community of the Rivne District of the Rivne Region and the Vydmina Commune, a significant increase in the tourist attraction of the area took place as a result of the program on the exchange of experiences of Ukrainian-Polish youth, the holding of ethnocultural exhibitions, and volunteer activities. At first glance, insignificant initiatives lay the necessary foundation for future international in-depth relations between administrative units, contribute to the accumulation of experience and ensure the attraction of other international programs and investments. There are an infinite number of similar proposals, which also apply to cooperation between relevant entities within the country, which forces Ukrainian scientists to develop appropriate methods, including a comprehensive analysis of the potential of inter-municipal relations.^[18] It should also be emphasized that Ukrainian legislation contains the seeds of regulatory regulation of international or domestic cooperation, as demonstrated in Figure 2. Implementing pan-European standards and principles of institutions of local self-government and international cooperation into the national legislation of Ukraine shows the readiness of the state to ensure the autonomy and independence of municipal institutions and to promote the establishment of in-depth economic, scientific, or social relations with relevant international subjects.

Figure 2. The normative and legal framework of the international inter-municipal and interregional cooperation

Source:^7-11.

As for the world experience of the use of inter-municipal and interregional cooperation, during the last decade, these concepts have gained more and more important in Europe, which is often considered as an alternative to the unification of communities, although the idea itself originated in countries such as France and the Netherlands as early as the 19th century.^[19] For example, Poland quite successfully uses the possibilities of the collaborative partnership of regional centers to develop the forest resource potential of the woodworking and forestry sectors.^[20] In general, the need for inter-municipal or inter-regional cooperation may be based on entirely different components:

1. A deficit of own resources and budget funds makes it impossible to maintain and, even more so, increases the vitality of a particular administrative unit, creating complex problems in the economic and social sectors.

2. The need to attract significant investment projects and implement their own programs is unattainable without the accumulation of networks and funding sources.

3. Expanding the consumer market and, as a result, reducing the costs and cost of public services.

4. Improve tourist attractiveness, sports, scientific, and educational spheres.

Each listed component has a place on the agenda when it comes to the needs of the area that has become the territory of military operations. Restoration, improvement, involvement, development – the set of these characteristics formulates the post-war state of the regions and the process of their stabilization. Considering the experience of the reconstruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the end of the 1990s, there is an opportunity to understand the importance of global partnership thoroughly. Losses for the republic alone were estimated at 50-70 billion dollars, which was 15-20 times higher than its gross domestic product (GDP) in the first year of peace after the war.^[21] With the help of cooperation with European Union (EU) countries, multi-vector development programs are already in the early 2000s. Business competitiveness was partially restored, inter-subject relations with local authorities were established, and agricultural production increased, which is of great importance for today’s economy of the country. Undoubtedly, the reconstruction after the civil war in the 1990s of the state was accompanied by several mistakes, including the absence of a single administrative center, which created obstacles to stable economic development. Still, it can be assured with certainty that without external response, and the establishment of partnership relations with neighboring countries, the state would not have made any progress and would not receive powerful tools for the further restoration of organizational and internal production processes.

It is appropriate to emphasize that international cooperation gained particular importance for Ukraine during the war years as a means of establishing sisterly relations between cities and as a potential auxiliary tool for cohesion, taking into account new realities. In particular, in the first years of the military conflict, the Donetsk regional state administration concluded international agreements on cooperation with seven regions of 4 countries, including Belgium, the Czech Republic, and Poland, at the same time, the local self-government bodies of Donetsk region signed memorandums on international inter-municipal partnership with 20 cities of 8 countries.^[22] It is currently problematic to assess the results of this cooperation, but such steps, at least de jure, demonstrate the desire to ensure the sustainable development of the frontline territories. Taking into account the scale of the destroyed area, as well as the necessary amounts of funding, it can be argued that Ukraine currently needs world support more than ever in the form of close cooperation with international organizations, associations, and communities, creating a “balanced dialogue between cultures”.^[23] An international collaboration between municipalities\regional networks of different countries will create an appropriate bridgehead for the gradual but potentially effective recovery of life in Ukrainian regions:

1. Infrastructure and financing. According to the official Ukraine Recovery Plan¹³ portal, the destruction of almost 60 million square meters of living space and the destruction of more than 14% of roads have been confirmed. Currently, the territorial communities of Zaporizhzhya, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions are receiving the most powerful blows, and restoring the functioning of critical infrastructure is a priority task for the Ukrainian state. Of course, funding is the first thing that comes to mind, and it makes sense since financial support remains a critical element of the Recovery Plan. Still, inter-municipal partnerships provide a host of additional opportunities. The developed municipalities of the partner countries are already twinned with many towns or villages in Ukraine. Therefore the “adoption” of a specific affected community is seen as a quite probable and rational concept. It is about technical support, combining resources to create new jobs and attracting qualified foreign personnel.

2. Ecology. In addition to the deadly impact on human lives, military conflicts significantly affect ecosystems, polluting the soil and destroying the environment.^[24] As a result of the current armed aggression, ecologically dangerous enterprises were damaged, objects of the nature reserve complex were distorted, mines were flooded, the consequence of which is the salinization of groundwater. International cooperation will support the system of environmental monitoring, promote the safe disposal of military waste in the controlled territory, the joint use of water resources, and multifaceted eco-modernization since the issue of environmental protection is a priority task of world organizations. Eco-modernization can refer, for example, to the selection of environmentally friendly urban transport for the region. In addition, recent studies show that inter-municipal cooperation is a critical factor in ensuring better environmental outcomes in metropolitan areas.^[25]

3. Education and tourism. The cross-border inter-municipal and interregional cooperation in these areas is probably the most well-established among others since the practice of attracting tourists or sharing experiences in the field of education, thanks to cross-border partnerships, is widely used by the Ukrainian authorities. Even during the war, the municipalities of Ukraine cooperate in their efforts with foreign neighbors to implement joint educational projects.^[26] The partnership is mainly concerned with educating children who were forced to go abroad and creating a favorable academic environment. The cooperation also involves obtaining and using scientific/educational grants, exchange programs for local residents, which in turn will help increase visibility for potential tourists. Tourism development is seen as the most promising field of international cooperation, which first concerns the Lviv and Volyn border regions.

4. Humanitarian help. It is worth noting that although currently most countries, regardless of the category of development, continuously provide humanitarian aid to Ukrainian regions,^[27] it is essential to establish long-term relations with foreign communities and associations. Post-war recovery will primarily focus on the reconstruction of Ukrainian territories and the reconstruction of industry and business. However, material or social support for the civilian population, significantly internally displaced persons, also remains a strategic imperative.

5. Exchange of experience. The destruction of existing management stereotypes provides an opportunity to rethink the territorial space, which must be rebuilt after a qualitative analysis and study of the experience of other countries, taking into account new approaches to the design of safe territorial communities, the advice of urban planners and architects.^[28] Indeed, cooperation with experienced and progressive foreign communities and organizations will clearly demonstrate significantly new inter-municipal/inter-regional relations, which will allow for the formation of a policy for the development of a specific area and the ways to build them. The practical experience will become the basis of a significant state/municipal management policy reform, strengthen the negotiating position with potential investors, or even provide an opportunity to join transnational cooperation programs in the future.

The listed advantages are not exhaustive – the expediency of inter-municipal and inter-regional cooperation, especially with international entities, is supported by many determinants that encourage municipalities and regional centers to combine available resources and efforts to solve urgent problems effectively. At the same time, it should be emphasized that any form of cooperation does not serve as a transfer of power to an international partner but only provides better conditions for the provision of public services and maintenance of the livelihood of a particular area.

4. Discussion

Interregional and inter-municipal cooperation is an effective mechanism of transformational processes, developing the relevant territory given the available resource potential. It is not surprising that the trend is intensely used in European and Western countries. Nevertheless, this system still arouses interest among scientists since intersectoral, and even more so, the cross-border partnership is a very versatile concept that encompasses many fundamental elements. Cooperation includes power and democracy, scale and territory, governance and administrative tools, rules and laws, organizational culture and economic efficiency, and success and failure.¹⁹ It is difficult to disagree with the mentioned thesis – the implementation of joint initiatives is accompanied by constant risks, natural reforms, and political and organizational disagreements.

Of course, ensuring effective governance when attracting additional resources, including material support, requires the development of a national policy with the agreement of potential international partners. Investigating the effectiveness of municipal associations, B. Voorn et al.^[29] concluded that the lack of coordination between relevant entities increases the percentage of inevitable failures and is one of the most critical obstacles to obtaining tangible results. The author entirely agrees with this statement because, as the experience of Bosnia and Herzegovina shows, the lack of a single coordination center is the root cause of the imperfection of economic reconstruction projects, which slowed down the growth of the economy as a whole. Speaking about the Ukrainian rehabilitation aid program, in the author’s opinion, first of all, it is necessary to establish permanent coordination with donors and a monitoring and reporting system to assess the level of administration and targeted use of the provided goods and services. Secondly, it is necessary to adapt the goals and intentions of the program to the initial capabilities of the respective municipalities and regional centers, taking into account their management potential, as well as to agree on general strategies for the economic and social development of the area. It is also considered rational to classify regions (territorial communities) according to criteria: the number of internally displaced persons and the amount of destroyed infrastructure.

Equally important are legal instruments, which are the basis for establishing partnership relations. For example, M. Furmankiewicz and A. Campbell,^[30] who confirmed that the most “integrated” and “sustainable” management of local resources in Poland is observed mainly in intersectoral cooperation, emphasized that collaboration in the republic with the participation of municipalities was initiated by radical legislative changes (creating self-government in 1990, administrative reform carried out in 1999, and accession to the European Union in 2004), which gave impetus to the development of other forms of association. As already mentioned, Ukrainian legislation contains a list of essential documents that enable internal and international inter-territorial cooperation. Although, the listed documents do not create any legal framework, legal protection, or responsibility for government officials, leaving aside the issue of delegation of powers or forms of cooperation. N. Palamarchuk^[31] also notes the imperfection of regulatory and legal support, which is one of the main problems of the development and spread of the system of interregional cooperation. In addition, the legal framework requires expanding and detailing aspects of interregional/inter-municipal collaboration and a comprehensive reassessment of the administrative management system. This research is one of the first talking about the decentralization police.

There is no doubt that a significant role in the implementation of the reconstruction program will rest on the territorial communities, mainly due to the disparity of the distribution of the destructive consequences of the war. It should be emphasized here that cooperation between several municipalities is inherent precisely to a decentralized administrative system since the results of collaboration directly depend on compliance with the principle of subsidiarity, which provides for the provision of public services by those authorities that are as close as possible to the consumers of these services, as well as on the level of independence of the bodies Local Government. According to scientists M.V. Maksymchuk and S.M. Klioba,^[32] inter-municipal cooperation should become an effective tool for reforming Ukraine’s power decentralization.

In the author’s opinion, inter-municipal partnerships within the country and with global actors and the promotion of reform are interdependent, as both concepts shape each other. Undoubtedly, the post-war reconstruction program must be implemented on the ground, understanding the actual scale of the destroyed infrastructure and possessing a wide range of powers. Moreover, such a system is most suitable for coordination with interested foreign municipalities. But, in this case, it is about gaps in Ukrainian legislation, which at the constitutional level delay the transfer of powers and funding to local self-government bodies. This statement is supported by the majority of Ukrainian researchers, in particular N. Bibik and G. Shapoval^[33] emphasize that without appropriate changes to the Constitution of Ukraine, first of all, consolidation of the status of a united territorial community and harmonizing the functions of state and local bodies, avoiding duplication, it is impossible to achieve European development. Otherwise, the process of centralization will begin, which has already shown its inefficiency, and without granting municipalities greater autonomy, the results of international cooperation will be insignificant. Thus, among other advantages of international cooperation, such a partnership will contribute to the fundamental transformation of the administrative and legal system.

It is also worth noting the attitude of the European Union towards international cooperation projects of regional centers. As G. Gardini and A. Malamud^[34] point out, “if it weren’t for the EU, we probably wouldn’t talk about interregional as much as we do”. So, the specified form of cross-border cooperation is one of the defining directions of the regional policy of the European Union, which is logical from the point of view of economic strategy and the single market, and therefore is of particular importance for the Ukrainian state, which is determined to have long-term bilateral relations with the countries of the interstate alliance. Granting Ukraine candidate status serves not only as a signal of solidarity but also as an additional incentive for the integration of the diplomacy of the European society into the internal processes of the state. The EU considers cooperation as a tool of regional management capable of turning problems into opportunities, hinted at by 14 transnational cooperation programs for 2021-2027 with a budget of almost 1.5 billion euros.^[35]

The interregional partnership acts as a supplement to European integration processes and will contribute to gradual adaptation to the rules of law and the governance system of the European Union. Many Ukrainian scientists, including K. Serebryak et al.,^[36] researching directions for expanding Ukraine’s relations with the countries of the Union, singled out international cooperation in the areas of the food industry, information and communication technologies, maintenance and repair of aviation equipment, production of spare parts and components for aerospace and aviation industry, engineering and tourism as effective ways of attracting global investments and donor funds. Of course, at the initial stage of post-war reconstruction cooperation, the state will not be able to reveal its own industrial potential. Still, in this case, it is essential to demonstrate the readiness of the Ukrainian country to ensure sustainable economic, cultural, and environmental development and the ability to withstand comprehensive difficulties.

Inter-municipal and inter-regional cooperation with the involvement of international entities opens up enormous prospects, but the question is how Ukraine will take advantage of them. Currently, when the whole world’s attention is focused on one state, it is more than ever necessary to show stability and determination, intelligently shaping its further political course. Post-war recovery must include material reconstruction and other political reforms, and continuous communication with experienced and economically developed states is a current prerogative that the Ukrainian government must skillfully use.

5. Conclusions

Summarizing the above theses, it should be noted that the full-scale Russian invasion of the territory of Ukraine radically affected the entire democratic world and forever changed the history of the Ukrainian state. For faster recovery, the country needs to develop modern methods of establishing relations within the state and with the international community to have a chance for a decent future. International cooperation of municipal bodies or regional centers can completely regenerate Ukraine’s internal politics, being an effective tool for modernizing the legal and administrative system.

Ukraine’s post-war recovery path will be unique, but it must rely on the experience of its European neighbors, and international cooperation will obviously play a key role. Military actions fundamentally affected the functioning of territorial communities, due to which there is a need to build radically new ways of interaction. International organizations, the World Bank, and leading countries are ready to provide material, technical, humanitarian, and personnel assistance. Coordination by experienced partners and continuous communication will contribute to the rational and practical use of the provided resources. First of all, it is necessary to understand that further economic, political or social growth will occur only under the condition of quality management. Implementing such ideas is possible only in the presence of a coordination center and an appropriate international entity (municipal institution, organization, foundation, a state body). Since Ukraine already had a successful experience of interregional/inter-municipal partnership, and the legislative framework contains the legal basis for forming and strengthening transnational relations, it is currently essential to take advantage of the potential opportunities that international cooperation opens up.

Although there are many potential advantages to international inter-municipal and inter-regional cooperation for Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction, a few key steps need to be performed in order to effectively seize this chance. First and foremost, the federal government ought to create a unified set of policies that encourage and simplify the procedure by which local governments create cooperative agreements with their international counterparts. This entails laying out precise legal standards, using needs analyses to choose partnership priority sectors and regions, and setting up a centralized organization to oversee activities. Secondly, in order to effectively manage complicated collaborative endeavors, it is imperative to engage in the administrative capacity building of local governments through training and knowledge sharing with seasoned international partners. Ukraine should also push to be included in financial programs managed by organizations like the EU, UN, and World Bank, as well as currently available forums for intermunicipal cooperation. By giving priority to these actions, Ukraine may quickly operationalize an inter-municipal cooperation model as a fundamental element of its national rehabilitation strategy, using international resources and experience to rebuild communities more robustly and resiliently after the destruction of war.

This article was aimed at revealing the role of the inter-municipal and inter-regional international association in the post-war reconstruction of Ukrainian cities and towns. As the research showed, cooperation in the future can play a primary role in restoring the vitality of territorial communities, developing the economy of a specific area, creating a favorable environment as for the tourism sector, as well as for residents of communities. Nevertheless, as already noted, the concept of international cooperation is multifaceted, including legal, financial, and cultural aspects, and therefore requires further multi-vector research in order to master this system entirely.

Abstract: This article analyzes cross-border inter-municipal and inter-regional cooperation regarding the post-war rebuilding of territorial communities. Likewise, scientific research reveals existing bridgeheads for future collaboration, as well as existing problems of providing state or municipal services within the country. The main methods of the research work were the methods of generalization, comparison, general scientific method of analysis. The article reveals the importance of the support of the world community in the struggle for democratic ideals and Ukrainian identity and the role of the world’s leading countries in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. At the same time, it establishes the importance of further reforming the decentralization of power within the state and following the course of European integration as a guarantee of establishing close economic relations with competitive countries. The materials of this research are designed to draw attention to the issue of international cooperation between municipal institutions and state bodies.

Key Words: decentralization reform, partnership, socio-economic development, local self-government, regional development strategies.

* Mykolaiv National Agrarian University, Mykolaiv, Ukraine, (iurii.kormyshkin@gmail.com).

**The contribution was submitted todouble blind peer review. 

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