A PLACE-BASED APPROACH TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EUROPEAN GREEN DEAL IN THE POST-WAR ECONOMIC RECOVERY OF COMMUNITIES IN THE WESTERN MACRO-REGION OF UKRAINE

Abstract

The article explores the application of the place-based approach to the implementation of the European Green Deal in the post-war economic recovery of territorial communities in the Western macro-region of Ukraine. It is substantiated that the current challenges of reconstruction require a transition from standardized recovery models to territorially differentiated strategies of economic transformation that take into account the resource base, functional specialization and spatial characteristics of local communities. The integration of the European Green Deal principles into the post-war recovery policy makes it possible to combine the objectives of physical infrastructure reconstruction with long-term structural modernization of local economies, strengthening energy security, decarbonizing production systems and promoting circular resource use. The study systematizes the key spatial and economic challenges that will shape the post-war development of territorial communities in the Western macro-region of Ukraine. These challenges include demographic and housing pressures in host communities due to large-scale internal displacement, the risk of a “carbon rebound” during infrastructure reconstruction, increased vulnerability of centralized energy systems, environmental consequences of military activities, and climate-related risks specific to the mountainous territories of the Ukrainian Carpathians. It is demonstrated that the use of uniform recovery policies does not adequately address these territorial differences, which necessitates the implementation of place-based mechanisms in designing economic transformation policies. A conceptual model of place-based economic transformation of territorial communities in the Western macro-region of Ukraine is proposed. The model integrates spatial, institutional and temporal dimensions of recovery policy and provides for the adaptation of green transition instruments to different functional types of territories. The paper develops a system of territorially differentiated priorities and policy instruments for economic transformation across short-, medium- and long-term time horizons. It is argued that the effective implementation of the place-based approach requires coordination of economic, climate, energy and infrastructure policies, the formation of local portfolios of green reconstruction projects, compliance with the “Do No Significant Harm” principle, and the development of monitoring systems to assess socio-economic and environmental impacts of recovery investments. The application of the proposed framework will contribute to structural modernization of local economies, strengthening energy and climate resilience of territorial communities, creating new employment opportunities and facilitating deeper integration of regional economies into the European economic space.