Nowadays, society is increasingly interested in the work of local authorities and administration. Decentralization reform in Ukraine has not solved significant problems that hinder the strengthening of community control over local self-government. This article aims to find analogues of EU decisions to solve Ukrainian problems in terms of implementing public control. To address this goal, a comparative analysis of the experience of the EU and Ukraine, and the object of study are examples of the application of public control in the EU and Ukraine. Solving problems with data openness can be implemented through open meetings, maximum disclosure of information, and active use of the community website. The problem of fraud and inefficient use of budget funds can be solved by involving public organizations in inspections of government agencies. Making a mandatory conclusion from the community (for management decisions at the strategic level) will take into account their interests in the future. Especially the communities of Ukraine should pay attention to compliance with the requirements for web pages and reliability, completeness of information on them, which will allow the community to control the activities of local governments including financial control. 

local community, public control, amalgamated hromadas, local governments 

The article presents the results of research on the problems of cooperation between territorial communities in the regions of Ukraine in the context of activation of inclusive development. The author’s conceptual vision of theoretical basis for the study of the inclusiveness of the development of territorial communities is presented. The processes of concluding of agreements on cooperation of communities in the regions of Ukraine from the moment of its beginning till today are analyzed. The problems and challenges of the development of inter-municipal cooperation of united territorial communities of regions are identified, and on this basis recommendations for improving the efficiency of development of inter-municipal cooperation at the basic level are formulated and substantiated. In particular, it is necessary to conduct a consistent state policy to stimulate the development of inter-municipal cooperation. The main directions of such a policy should be: development and adoption by regional authorities of all regions of Ukraine of financial support and incentives for cooperation of territorial communities as well as identification of potential territories in regions where cooperation could be developing; inclusion of mechanisms of inter-municipal cooperation in regional programs of socio-economic and cultural development of regions; explanatory work among representatives of local self-government bodies on the practical use of inter-municipal cooperation; organization of trainings, seminars, round tables and other events, dissemination of scientific literature, invitations of leading foreign and Ukrainian scholars, experts and analysts; dissemination of positive experience of cooperation, public support and promotion of best practices of cooperation, conducting public competitions of projects with winners and supporting the implementation of their experience in other communities as well as forming of networks for experience exchange on issues of development of inter-municipal cooperation between local governments from different regions of Ukraine; organization of informal effective control by the public for the promotion of projects, implementation of events and obtaining results. Consequently, the cooperation of territorial communities not only creates problems, but also creates opportunities for them to be solved by activating entrepreneurial activity, expanding the possibilities of self-government and civic creativity at the basic level. In this regard, inter-municipal cooperation should become an effective instrument for completing the decentralization reform in Ukraine. 

united territorial communities, inter-municipal cooperation, territorial cooperation, inclusiveness, exclusivity, social exclusion, economic exclusion, inclusive development, exclusive development, economic instruments, region, Ukraine 

The article reveals the economic essence of the united territorial communities’ competitiveness. The relationship between the concepts of “quality” and “competitiveness” is considered. The model of strengthening the competitiveness of the united territorial communities is substantiated. The main factors hindering the development of the united territorial communities’ competitiveness are considered. The realization efficiency of the complex of tasks of combined territorial communities’ competitiveness development is investigated. The urgency and necessity of increasing the competitiveness and attractiveness of the united territorial communities in order to create favourable socio-economic climate for entrepreneurs, investors, residents and to gain advantages both on the domestic and foreign markets is substantiated. Based on the research of theoretical aspects of competitiveness, the main elements of the united territorial communities’ competitiveness were established, features of the formation of the competitive advantage of the region at different stages of economic development were investigated. It is concluded that in order to increase the competitiveness of the united territorial communities, it is necessary to form a holistic mechanism for managing the socio-economic, intellectual, natural potential of the united territorial communities, operating with the support of state programs at the local and state level. Competitiveness is the process of making strategic decisions on the choice of alternatives that are formed by comparing the existing potential of a specific region with the opportunities and threats of its external environment, as well as with global changes in the environment. Its essence is manifested in the formation and implementation of a modern concept of highly effective management on an innovative basis, adjusted by constant monitoring of internal and external changes, an assessment of the main parameters of the functioning and development of the region. The competitiveness of the united territorial communities is a multi-faceted category, which reflects a set of comparative advantages in various fields, the combination of which forms stable positions in a particular market or in certain spheres over a given period of time. 

competition, competitiveness of united territorial communities, decentralization, region