РОЗРОБКА НАПРЯМІВ ТА ШЛЯХІВ ПІДВИЩЕННЯ ЕКОНОМІЧНОГО ВПЛИВУ МІСЬКИХ АГЛОМЕРАЦІЙ НА ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ СТАЛОГО РОЗВИТКУ НАЦІОНАЛЬНОЇ ЕКОНОМІКИ

The article develops and substantiates comprehensive directions for enhancing the economic impact of urban agglomerations as strategic growth nodes in the context of Ukraine's post-war recovery and European integration. The research highlights that agglomerations represent spatial groupings of settlements unified by labor, production, and cultural-domestic ties, acting as the primary drivers of the national economy. The theoretical foundations of forming agglomeration effects-infrastructure sharing, labor market matching, and knowledge diffusion-which determine innovation activity and productivity, are analyzed. It is established that doubling the size of an agglomeration correlates with a 13.5% increase in the innovative activity of enterprises. The study investigates the architectonics of European Cohesion Policy, which operates with a budget of €392 billion for 2021–2027, as an institutional framework for modernizing Ukrainian urban areas. Key tools such as the NUTS classification and shared management mechanisms are explored, noting that post-war destruction will likely categorize most Ukrainian regions as 'less developed' (NUTS 2), allowing for up to 85% EU co-financing. The research details the objective 'Berlin Formula' for fund allocation and categorical co-financing rates. Special attention is paid to the digitalization of management through the DREAM ecosystem and the reform of Public Investment Management (PIM), transitioning from chaotic funding to data-driven planning. The article emphasizes the implementation of 'green' economy models, including circular economy advantages such as energy savings through closed production cycles, optimal waste utilization, and resource-efficient production methods. Ways to synchronize domestic legislation (including draft laws No. 13124 and No. 11054 regarding administrative-territorial organization and decent pay in local self-government) with the requirements of Chapter 22 of the Acquis Communautaire and the Ukraine Facility mechanism, providing €50 billion in support, are formulated. The research underscores that institutional quality is more critical for convergence than the mere volume of funding, advocating for multi-level governance, transparency, and macro-regional strategies like the Danube and Carpathian initiatives. Strategic goals for sustainable development involve achieving 7% annual GDP growth by 2026–2030, increasing employment to 70% by 2030, and implementing full energy consumption accounting systems. The findings suggest that agglomerations must serve as 'idea factories' that facilitate the integration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and veterans through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) while restoring human capital to ensure long-term resilience. Ultimately, the proposed directions focus on creating transparent governance systems capable of converting geographic concentration into high quality of life and global competitiveness by utilizing instruments like the European Investment Bank (EIB) expertise for blending structural funds with private capital.