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European approaches to rural development in Ukraine: implementation of the «SMART Village» concept and adoption of the LEADER approach
The article provides a comprehensive study of the current European Union policy in the field of sustainable rural development, with a particular focus on the strategic initiative «Long-Term Vision for EU Rural Areas up to 2040» and the accompanying Rural Action Plan. The subject of the study encompasses the institutional, economic, and socio-environmental mechanisms shaping EU rural development policy in the context of transforming rural regions into multifunctional spaces of sustainable growth. The aim of the research is to generalize the EU’s strategic approaches to rural development, identify key implementation instruments, and substantiate the possibilities of adapting European experience to the Ukrainian context. The methodological framework of the study is based on a systems approach, structural-functional and comparative analysis, as well as elements of strategic and institutional policy analysis within the EU. This allowed for a comprehensive assessment of the interrelation between policy decisions, financial instruments, and practical outcomes of rural development policies. The study reveals that the EU rural development strategy is built around four interconnected pillars: building stronger rural areas through empowered communities and social innovation; ensuring connectivity by addressing the digital divide and improving infrastructure; developing resilient rural areas through ecological transformation aligned with the European Green Deal; and fostering prosperous territories through economic diversification and support for entrepreneurship. The Rural Action Plan is identified as a key implementation tool ensuring coordination of policies across EU Member States. Special attention is given to the role of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Cohesion Funds as primary financing mechanisms, as well as the Rural Proofing concept, which ensures that rural interests are systematically integrated into all EU policies. It is demonstrated that a transition is underway from an agriculture-centered rural development model to a multisectoral, innovation-driven, and socially inclusive paradigm. The scientific novelty lies in the systematization of contemporary European approaches to rural development within the framework of the long-term 2040 strategy and the identification of their adaptation potential for Ukraine. The practical significance of the study is reflected in substantiating the applicability of EU instruments for the recovery and development of Ukrainian rural and de-occupied territories. It is established that the implementation of EU approaches, including Rural Proofing, CAP funding mechanisms, smart village practices, and renewable energy solutions, may serve as a foundation for transforming Ukrainian rural areas into competitive and innovative spaces capable of acting as drivers of national economic development.
Keywords: European rural paradigm, rural development, community resilience, energy decentralization, sustainable economy, digitalization, Common Agricultural Policy, territorial cohesion, postwar recovery of Ukraine.
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