EU policies’ impact on cross-border cooperation’s institutional frameworks in the Transcarpathian region of Ukraine

Absztrakt

Cross-border cooperation (CBC) is a key instrument for advancing local democracy, balanced socio-economic development, regional security, and the integration of candidate countries into the European Union (EU). Although CBC has existed in Europe since the 1950s, its institutional typology remains underdeveloped, especially in candidate countries like Ukraine. This article examines the institutional landscape of CBC in Ukraine, focusing on the Transcarpathian region. It addresses two questions: (1) which institutional forms of CBC are established by Ukrainian legislation for public actors; and (2) how EU policies influence the institutional choices of public and non-profit actors in the region.

The study analyzes Ukrainian legislation, particularly the 2024 Law ‘On International Territorial Cooperation,’ and empirical data from EU-funded programs such as the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI, 2014–2020) and Interreg NEXT (2021– 2027). It identifies institutional forms including bilateral and multilateral agreements, joint projects and programs, Euroregions, Euroregional Cooperation Groupings (ECG), and European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC). However, implementation is constrained by legal inconsistencies and limited local administrative capacity. The EGTC ‘Tisza’ is currently the only active example involving Ukraine.

EU policies shape institutional choices by setting eligibility criteria, incentivising formal partnerships, and promoting administrative professionalisation. Key participants include local governments, development agencies, NGOs, and service providers. Nonetheless, disparities in capacity and resource access create uneven participation. While Ukraine has made significant legal progress aligning with EU principles, subnational implementation remains incomplete and uneven.