Decentralization Reform, Its Potential and Opportunities in Ukraine, Reliance on Foreign Experience

The article details the process of decentralization reform in Ukraine and in the Kharkiv region. The methods for solving problems that arise during the reform are determined, through improvement of public information provision and legislative powers. The European experience of implementing this reform and the countries, which can become an example for Ukraine, are analyzed. The process of creation and functioning of the associated territorial communities in Ukraine and the Kharkiv region, their number, efficiency and efficiency are researched. It was revealed that the economic situation will improve and the living standards in the country will become higher due to decentralization. It is revealed that associated territorial communities should be formed with the support of state authorities, providing them with additional financial resources for further development and improvement of intergovernmental relations necessary for the successful implementation of the decentralization reform. A comparative analysis of the number and financing of the associated territorial communities of Ukraine with data on the Kharkiv region was carried out, which revealed that the Kharkiv region is at the sixteenth place in the region ranking for the formation of associated territorial communities. Based on the dynamics of local budgets, it is concluded that their number increases with each passing year, as well as the size of intergovernmental transfers aimed at sustainable development of regions. The ways of familiarizing the population with the education of officials are revealed, with the purpose of effective functioning of the communities, they include: holding forums, seminars, trainings, using different types of communication channels, involving people in projects implementation.