The article analyzes scientific approaches to the interpretation of the concept «smart-specialization». It investigates the specifics of smart specialization in the European Union (EU). National/regional innovation strategies for smart specialization RIS3 must be based on four «Cs» smart specialization principles – Tough Choices and Critical mass; Competitive Advantage; Connectivity and Clusters; Collaborative Leadership. The article emphasizes «the entrepreneurial discovery process» which includes entrepreneurial actors, researchers and the remainder of society as innovation users in addition to public administration. The reasonability of defining the term «smart specialization» in the Law of Ukraine «On Innovation Activity» as innovative approach aimed at realization of unique combination by state planning documents of competitive advantages of corresponding area and innovation development activity. To realize planning strategy for regional development in Ukraine on smart specialization principles, this article proposes to amend: the Law of Ukraine «On the Priority Directions of Innovation Activity in Ukraine» (Article 4), which should establish the Strategic Priority Directions of Innovation Activity in 2021-2030 for national, sectoral and regional stages as a basis for state-funded priorities under state planning documents on smart specialization; the Law of Ukraine «On principles of State Regional Policy» with specification of state regional policy priorities on state, regional and local stages; European smart specialization practices; determining exclusively by this Law of the algorithm of design, coherence, approval and implementing of State Strategy for Regional Development, regional and local strategies for development on smart specialization principles; compiling of a publicly available national multistage info-analytical platform for electronic verification of state planning documents. 

smart specialization, smart specialization principles, innovation development, development strategy 

The paper is devoted to the problems of rural territorial communities’ development in Ukraine in conditions of modern economic reforms, in particular in terms of priorities of decentralization policy and European integration. The nature of «rural territorial community» scientific category in its theoretical-methodological, historical and institutional-legislative senses is examined. Special attention is paid to legal controversies that create the field for emergence of institutional barriers for rural territorial communities’ development in Ukraine. The paper draws parallels between the principles of rural territorial communities’ development in the EU Member States and Ukraine, contributing to finding major factors of preventing the development of rural territorial communities’ development in our country in current conditions of conducting the administrative and territorial reform. In particular, the destructive impact of excessive decentralization in terms of making management decisions related to the forming of consolidated territorial communities is emphasized. It brings the institutional dysfunctions, in particular the institutional traps, and reduces the efficiency of the use of human and social capital in many rural settlements of Ukraine. Conceptual foundations and mechanisms of rural territorial communities’ development stimulation in the EU Member States are analyzed from the viewpoint of the perspective of their adaptation in Ukraine. The priority of principles of subsidiary, balanced development and multifunctional rural economy is emphasized in the context of enhancing the exploitation efficiency of rural human, financial and natural resources and improvement of the level of life of rural residents and social and economic development of rural territorial communities. The decisive role of institutional, financial, social and informational mechanisms in stimulation of rural territorial communities’ development and adaptation of EU conceptual foundations and social and economic priorities is revealed. On this basis the recommendations for state authorities and local governments of Ukraine on the use of EU experience in rural territorial communities’ development in current Ukrainian realities are suggested. In particular, we recommend securing the transfer to local governments of the sufficient amount of administrative and management liabilities and financial resources in the course of authorities’ decentralization policy, providing the improvement of financial, institutional, transport and informational infrastructure of rural territories’ development and guaranteeing the sustainability of rural development policy. 

rural territorial communities, European integration, spatial development, EU regional policy, decentralization of authorities 

The reasons and consequences of stagnation of rural territories’ social and economic development improvement in modern conditions are outlined. Systemic flaws regarding the maintenance of rural territories’ spatial planning are found and long-lasting tendency of territorial factor overlooking in their development is emphasized. The priority of taking into account the territorial factor for maintenance of rural territories’ balanced development and sufficiency of combined territorial communities is explained. Implementation of integrated combination of territorial, sectoral and managemental components of state regional policy in the sphere of rural territories at the level of administrative region is suggested. Complex medium term program of rural territories’ modernization in the administrative region is defined as the innovative instrument of rural territories’ management able to maintain implementation of the components of state regional policy on rural development at the level of administrative region with participation and in the interests of territorial communities. The basics of forming, contents and implementation mechanism of the program are presented. The program is directed at solution of the following major tasks: maintenance of differentiated approach to organizational – legal and social-economic regulation of rural territories’ complex development on the basis of application of spatial planning instruments; activation of personal participation and mobilization of rural communities’ resources for solution of local problems and maintenance of development perspectives; growth of rural population employment, strengthening of their motivation for entrepreneurship activity development in rural areas as one of the major conditions of population living standards’ improvement; creation of conditions for the development of non-agricultural types of economic activity on the basis of their local stimulation and increase of job places in villages, promotion of International Technical Assistance attraction for that end; assistance to competitive ability of local producers under the functioning of EU-Ukraine Association Agreement; maintenance of knowledge communication on European practices of rural development in order to improve social and economic wellbeing of rural territorial communities through conducting of educational and information activities; creation of ecologically sound conditions for living activity, preserving of environment and rational management of natural resources. The mechanism and advantages of priority introduction of planning and spatial justification of complex rural development along with implementation of the suggested program are outlined. 

rural territory, modernization of rural territories, modernization mechanisms, decentralization