The article is concerned with the studying of the challenges and prospects of Ukraine receiving the status of a candidate for the European Union, in particular in the direction of sustainable rural development. The article defines the areas of support for the rural development of communities within the framework of the IPARD III program in EU pre-assessment assistance. The EU framework program for financing IPARD III provides for 13 different measures. The list of those determined for a specific country is set out in the sectoral agreement concluded between the European Commission and IPARD beneficiary countries. Municipalities in IPARD beneficiary countries link their potential funding to specific activities included in their IPARD III programs. The authors emphasize the importance of studying the experience of countries that received funding under the IPARD program in order to foresee and implement a similar program in the "Municipality Recovery Strategy". At this, it is important to choose activities that best meet the specific needs identified in the municipality development strategies and the program needs assessment, and which will contribute to the relevant priorities of the IPA framework program. Due to the IPARD III tool, municipalities get access to financing for the rural areas development. Local government representatives need to be aware of the importance of their own powers in the field of rural development, and in view of the considered examples of the use of IPARD III support for the rural development of communities in other countries, take into account the financial instrument and the needs of the municipality.
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