FEATURES OF ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM IN WESTERN UKRAINE 2015- 2020: HISTORICAL AND LEGAL ASPECT

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the administrative-territorial reform in Ukraine, covering the period
from 2014 to 2020. Its primary focus lies on the legislative framework that regulated the reform's implementation,
the socio-political prerequisites of this process, and the specific impact of the reform on the western regions of the
country. The study emphasizes how decentralization of power (emerging as one of the key tools for modernizing
the state governance system) contributed to strengthening democracy at the local level. Attention is drawn to the
historical context in which the foundations of the reform were laid, highlighting the continuity of systemic changes
complicated by political crises, military aggression, and public demands for the renewal of governance
mechanisms.
The research aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of various aspects of the reform, including legislative,
socio-political, and regional dimensions. Particular attention is given to the key legislative acts that served as the
basis for the transformation of the country's administrative structure. The practical significance of these
documents for strengthening local self-governance and their role in the process of adapting to European
governance standards are explored in detail.
The paper summarizes the main stages of the reform's implementation, starting with the adoption of
conceptual documents in 2014 and culminating in the new administrative-territorial structure approved in 2020.
Specifically, it analyzes key legislative acts, such as the Laws of Ukraine "On Voluntary Amalgamation of
Territorial Communities" (2015), "On Local Elections" (2015), and the Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of
Ukraine "On the Formation and Liquidation of Districts" (2020). Particular emphasis is placed on the specific
features of administrative changes in the western regions of the country and their impact on the socio-economic
and political structure of these areas.
Furthermore, the article provides the author's assessment of the reform's impact on the development of local
self-governance. Special attention is given to strengthening the ties between government bodies and citizens as an
essential factor in democratization. At the same time, the significance of the reform is outlined within the context
of Ukraine's European integration course, which involves, to a certain extent, the adoption (and national
adaptation) of the best European practices in the field of regional policy.

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