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Despite de-globalization, which has become a trend in recent years, a high degree of interdependence between countries remains in the world, and the solution of global problems through international cooperation of subnational units is in demand. Intrastate regions affect interstate relations by strengthening their cultural, trade, and economic ties, often contributing to the intensification of interstate dialogue. The article looks for the primary factors and features of international activity of Russia’s border regions as territories located near foreign states and which have the most significant number of “points of contact.” It also tries to assess their impact on Russia’s foreign policy. The study shows that Russian regions have recently gained some independence in their external relations and managed to acquire all the features of influential non-state actors, according to the theory of actorness by Russet and Star. They have become integrated into a wide variety of international structures, where they can implement joint infrastructure projects with foreign regions and develop local self-government. Russian border regions become active on the international stage when they have common socio-economic and security problems, ethno-confessional, and cultural-linguistic affinity with the regions of neighboring states, and when the federal center uses their regions for important geopolitical factors for the foreign policy of the federal center. Building close ties based on cultural, linguistic, and ethnic affinity, the Russian regions perform a “compensating function,” making up for the lack of mutual understanding at the level of bilateral relations. They also act as “diplomatic agents” of the federal center in international organizations which promote local-level democracy. Regions also have the potential to build up Russia’s “soft power.” Although cross-border cooperation implies some costs, which the federal authorities try to reduce through legal regulation, it is still widely supported by federal governments.

International dialogue between regions has a strong influence on the development of political relations, economic integration and intercultural interactions. The European Union and Russia are the closest neighbours. International links between regions and regional integration play an important role in their relations. The aim of the article is to analyse the evolution of relations between the European Union and Russia in 1994–2019 within the regional dialogue as an instrument allowing for creating new opportunities for the development of bilateral cooperation. The following methods were used during the research: institutional and legal analysis, historical method, comparative method, desk research. Regional dialogue has been analysed in terms of legal basis, as well as directions and forms of development of cooperation in this area. It can be concluded that the most common forms of cooperation in the analysed period were the following: cross-border cooperation, between regions without a common border, between administrative units on the basis of partnership, dialogue within Euroregions, and regional cooperation within international projects.

The article is dedicated to the thirtieth anniversary of the establishment of INTERREG – a program of financial support for border regions in Europe. The main dates and organizations that defined the history of relations between European border regions are named. The course of cross-border cooperation scientific understanding is traced. Its contribution to the development of integration «in breadth» and the formation of European regions is marked. An idea is given about the evolution of INTERREG goals from a charitable program to support the periphery of the EU single market to a program that fulfills a pan-European mission. Based on the generalization of sources and specific examples of cross-border cooperation, the scale and effects of financial incentives from the EU budget are estimated. The leading role of the INTERREG program for cross-border cooperation in Eastern Europe was emphasized.

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The former post-socialist countries have become examples of the institutional transformation of public administration systems. An indispensable element of optimising public administration is intensification of cross-border cooperation and implementation of joint sustainable development programmes in the cross-border regions. It has been found that an efficient cross-border cooperation model in Slovakia was introduced after joining the European Union. The financial support within the Interreg EU programme, implemented during 2007–2013 (Interreg IV) and 2014–2010 (Interreg V), has played an essential role. It has been proved that the most effective model is the cross-border cooperation model in Trnava Region, territorially implemented with the neighbouring regions of Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic. It has been determined that the main directions of cross-border cooperation in the Trnava self-governing region are realization of joint socio-economic programmes (strategies of economic growth and regional employment, cultural and educational projects, transport system, etc.) as well as cooperation between municipal administrations on the issues of administrative systems optimization. It has been proved that the vast share of European financial resources (for instance, the European Regional Development Fund), aimed at the development of regional cooperation, should, above all, bridge the administrative resource gap between urban and rural areas and ensure that local communities have free and equal access to administrative resources. The traditions of effective cross-border cooperation between the Trnava self-governing region and respective cross-border regions of the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary have been prolonged in the format of the European Interreg V Consolidation Programme for the period of 2014-2010. Cross-border projects are usually implemented for a period of 1–2 years, being aimed at fortifying intercultural ties on the neighbour territories. In Trnava Region it is strategically important to intensify cross-border cooperation in order to increase inter-institutional cooperation at the level of municipal administrations as well as strengthen cross-border ties at the level of population. The correlation of strategic goals with the outcomes of cross-border cooperation with Euroregions, while retaining substantial financial support from the EU structures, is among the priority tasks.

In the article critical analysis of the main theoretical schools about the nature and mechanisms of the implementation of trans-border cooperation (TBC) was conducted. Author's approach for determining TBC essence, its covelopdentent, forms and subjects was developed. Special attention is paid to the classification of the subjects of the TBC and the system of their socio-economic interests.

The article reviews the relations between Moldova and the EU at the current stage. Reasons for the strengthening of cooperation between Moldova and the EU in these years are being analyzed, as well as the problems that further development of cooperation can face. It is described how relations with the EU influence the prospects of Moldova’s participation in the integration process in the post- Soviet space.

The article presents a study of the concept "cross-border brand" and the analysis of the formation of cross-border branding practices in transboundary territory of Europe and Ukraine. Today the cross-border territories united by common economic, social, cultural and political life strive to be transformed into a brand. That is why the issues related to their positioning and branding are of great importance. According to the author cross-border / inter-regional brand, an intangible asset of cross-border cooperation, which provides the promotion of the interests of cross-border areas, both inside and outside the cross-border. In recent years, such brands as part of Euroregions are being formed with the participation of many European countries.

The article considers the current state and perspectives of the trans-border territories mapping. Euroregions functioning features are highlighted. The existing approaches to the trans-border territories mapping have been analyzed. Forms of trans-border cooperation are considered. The need to use the system methodology in the trans-border territories study as well as the appropriateness of the system approach in the trans-border territories mapping is emphasized. The paper devotes special attention to the features of the trans-border territories system mapping and its importance for trans-border cooperation development.

The article deals with the experience of cross-border cooperation in some European countries, the problems of participation of Ukrainian regions in trans-borders formations are estimated and systematized, directions the state policy regarding cross-border cooperation improvement are offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]