European integration imperatives of transformation of funding for sustainable development of rural territorial communities

The scientific monograph is devoted to solving a complex scientific task – substantiation of conceptual foundations, development of theoretical and methodological provisions and scientific and practical recommendations for the transformation of funding for sustainable development of rural territorial communities, taking into account European integration imperatives. It is argued that the relevance of this task is due to the need to adapt the system of funding for rural communities to European standards, overcome social challenges, support environmental sustainability, strengthen the institutional capacity of local self-government and implement Ukraine's European integration prospects.

In order to achieve scientific results that will be important for society and can be implemented by state institutions, a theoretical and methodological design of the study of European integration imperatives for the transformation of funding for sustainable development of rural communities has been developed. The scientific and methodological basis of the European integration imperatives of transformation of funding for sustainable development of rural territorial communities is streamlined.

The approaches of trend analysis of publication activity by the search query «sustainable rural development funding» in the scientometric database Scopus are applied. A cluster analysis was carried out and a bibliometric map of the distribution of publications by country for the search query «sustainable development» and «sustainable rural development funding» was built. Based on the works of domestic and foreign scholars, the author explicates the conceptual and categorical apparatus, clarifies the content of such definitions as «European integration imperative», «transformation», «funding», «rural territorial communities».

Using the example of a decomposition model, the key principles of sustainable development of territorial communities are methodologically substantiated and presented in the form of a concept, their functional dimension is formulated, and the goals and objectives of progress are defined. It is argued that a sustainable community is not in a certain frozen state, but rather is constantly in search of a balance between different spheres of life, and therefore performs certain functions that allow it to achieve the expected results. It is established that the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with an emphasis on environmentally friendly consumption and production, infrastructure development, reliable healthcare systems and quality education, are priorities for territorial communities. The author analyses the main stages of development of cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in the areas of implementation of the key principles of sustainability. The key risks of integration for Ukraine and the EU are identified.

Based on the results of the study of funding mechanisms in EU countries, it is proved that the joint budget is a tool for implementing policies and programs that promote economic growth, social cohesion and stability in the European Union, and help member states solve problems and achieve the SDGs. It is argued that decentralisation and strengthening of local self-government have allowed rural communities in Poland, Bulgaria and Romania to manage their resources more effectively and implement local initiatives. It is found that the main areas of support for the sustainable development of rural communities in non-EU countries are their infrastructure rehabilitation, economic support, social integration of vulnerable groups of the population, and the introduction of new technologies and innovations in business activities. The main instruments of financial support for such countries are highlighted, including grants and loans on favourable terms.

The importance of financial inclusion for the transformation of funding for sustainable development of rural communities is emphasised. Based on a survey of residents of territorial communities, the state of accessibility of financial services in their settlements is revealed. Using the tools of correlation and regression analysis, the influence of various factors on financial inclusion is revealed. The key elements of the concept of post-war recovery and development of financial services accessibility are proposed, taking into account the requirements of EU regulations and describing key steps and actions that will help restore the stability and functionality of the financial system, ensure the availability of services for the population and business, and contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. Priority areas of financial inclusion, tools for their implementation, and expected results in the context of sustainable development of rural communities are identified.

The instruments of interaction between stakeholders and the stages of formation of a participatory management system for the financial provision of rural communities are determined. An algorithm for the formation of a participatory management system in communities is proposed. The key elements of the ‘Smart Rural Community’ strategy, which is proposed to be implemented on the basis of innovative development, participation and financial inclusion, are identified. A conceptual model of transformation of funding for sustainable development of rural territorial communities is developed. It is emphasized that the combination of financial inclusion, participatory governance and European integration imperatives creates a solid basis for the effective transformation of funding for rural communities, which will contribute to their sustainable development, improve the quality of life of the population and ensure economic, social and environmental sustainability.