DECENTRALISATION OF POWER IN UKRAINE: HISTORY OF REFORM IMPLEMENTATION, ACHIEVEMENTS, LEGISLATIVE ISSUES, AND SOLUTIONS

Abstract

Background. It has been established that the decentralization process, which began in Ukraine in 2014, although not yet completed, has already brought noticeable results. However, there are issues with the legislative framework supporting the reform of local self-government, which necessitates proposals for their resolution and new scientific research on this topic. The material of this article has practical significance and will be useful for Ukrainian lawmakers, government officials, and local government representatives. 
Methods. The foundation of this research is the method of systematic analysis of Ukrainian legislation and issues of local governance. The formal-legal method was used to examine the current state of legal regulation for the implementation of the decentralization reform in Ukraine. The method of periodization was applied to describe the stages of reform implementation, and using the method of generalization, the author formulated conclusions and proposals. 
Results. The article analyzes the history of the decentralization reform in Ukraine and its legislative framework. The relevance of the decentralization reform is confirmed. It has been proven that the main evidence of the effective functioning of territorial communities is their mobilization efforts during challenging times for the country, particularly during the active phase of military hostilities. The article explores the legal challenges of the reform of local self-government and proposes solutions. It highlights the shortcomings of the legal regulation of the functioning and powers of local self-government bodies and offers recommendations for addressing them. 
Conclusions. The article proves that the decentralization reform has been successfully launched, but the state must exert maximum efforts to complete it. The legislative issues highlighted in the article require a fundamentally different level of interaction between central and local executive authorities and local self-government bodies, as the territorial communities are increasingly becoming the key object of regional policy. Therefore, it is crucial for territorial communities to establish cooperation with state authorities to ensure the effectiveness of their development.