Prerequisites for the formation and development of interregional cooperation between Ukraine and Canada in the historical and legal context “special partnership”

Abstract

In the article, the research on the formation and development of interregional cooperation in the context of Ukrainian-Canadian “special partnership” is carried out. The contractual and legal support of bilateral relations, namely the points of establishing links between the regions/cities of Ukraine and the provinces of Canada were defi ned and analyzed. Thus, the contractual and legal framework comprised the main signifi cant documents: 1) “Joint Declaration on Special Partnership between Ukraine and Canada” of 1994 and 2001 years; 2) “Memorandum of understanding between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of Canada on the Canadian cooperation program”; 3) “Agreement on friendship and cooperation between Ukraine and Canada”. The authors have developed a typology of preconditions for the existence of bilateral relations in the direction of interregional cooperation, where the preconditions were divided into two types: ethnohistoric and institutional-legal, where the second type was found at both the state and regional level of Canada and Ukraine. Besides, a list of the most important offi cial documents between the regions and sister cities was identifi ed, which made it possible to assess the degree of involvement of the individual regions of each country. For example, on the part of Ukraine, Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions and individual regional cities, such as Kyiv, Odesa, and Uzhgorod, participated in the cooperation. On the other hand, – Canada – several provinces are actively involved namely Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, and the cities of Toronto, Vancouver, and Hamilton. Following paragraphs fi ve of the treaties of inter-regional relations, in-depth analysis, and evaluation of areas and areas of cooperation, where special attention is paid to education and science, as well as exchanges between the regions and provinces in these areas. However, the cultural and agricultural fi elds, health care, and economic cooperation are also identified as equally important. The authors’ research provides an opportunity to further identify priority areas for deepening interregional relations between Ukraine and Canada, taking into account the already clearly and effectively established “special partnership”.