Advancing the convergence and integration of rural border areas
Advancing the convergence and integration of rural border areas

Summary/Abstract: The article touches upon the need for greater convergence and integration in order to provide economic converge and alignment of regional economies, in particular in rural border areas, which is based primarily on effective functioning of the priority areas and implementation of economic activities. The authors have conducted a rating evaluation in terms of GDP (GRP) per capita of the western border regions of Ukraine (Transcarpathian, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv and Chernivtsi regions) and border areas of the neighbouring countries (Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary). The study confirms that the border areas of Slovakia, Hungary and Poland differ favourably from the studied regions of other neighbouring Romania, and especially Ukraine, in terms of socio-economic development. The authors have studied European approaches to forming agricultural policy and sustainable rural development, consideration of which will facilitate the deepening revitalisation processes convergence and integration of rural border areas of Ukraine, as well as the competitiveness of Ukrainian agricultural enterprises and their access to the European market. EU Common Agricultural Policy towards 2020 and the Strategy of Development of the Agricultural Sector for the Period until 2020 adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine were considered in the research in order to provide effective mechanism of sectoral and territorial integration of the rural border areas. The conclusions have been formulated as follows. Ensuring convergence and integration of regional economic systems in accordance with the level the socio-economic development and compliance with environmental tenets of sustainable development is conditioned by the further integration into the European structures. In the long term, the actual task for Ukraine is to develop and adopt a new strategy of interregional and international cooperation, including integration and cooperation between the western border regions of Ukraine and the neighbouring countries, such as Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Romania, in the field of socio-economic activities and environmental protection. Such an approach will lead to finding solutions to the problems of agricultural development as an important component of sustainable rural development. Convergence and integration of rural border areas will help to build a sustainable living environment with further enhancement of the local population well-being and prosperity.

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