FEATURES OF THE INTERACTION BETWEEN STATE AUTHORITIES AND LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT IN UKRAINE DURING THE TRANSITION PERIOD

Abstract

This article examines the features of the interaction between local government bodies and local selfgovernment bodies in Ukraine at the current stage of state formation. It has been clarified that the key factor in the transformation of this interaction was the decentralization reform, which significantly expanded the powers of territorial communities in the area of financial provision, management of land resources, and organization of public services. At the same time, institutional duality remains at the regional and district levels, where local state administrations and representative self-government bodies operate simultaneously, leading to competition over powers and certain management conflicts. The article emphasizes the positive trends following the implementation of the decentralization reform, which include an increase in the financial independence of communities, the expansion of inter-municipal cooperation, the development of the institute of elders, as well as the introduction of digital management tools. Despite this, the reform of decentralization of power has not been fully implemented, as the local state administrations remain a quite influential institution over local self-government, which should have been replaced by prefectures with oversight functions rather than direct influence at the local level. The article separately highlights both the positive changes in the implementation of the decentralization of power reform, particularly regarding the change of powers related to expanding the functions of local self-government bodies, as well as a number of shortcomings that should be taken into account by the authorized persons for its full, rather than partial, realization. Overall, in the long term, the key tasks remain to complete the administrative-territorial reform, implement the prefectural model with a focus on the oversight functions of state representatives, as well as to form a new model of partnership between the state and local self-government.