Prioritization criteria for public investment project concepts: analysis of EU sustainability assessment practices

Introduction. Military actions and combat operations on the territory of Ukraine cause constantly growing needs for the restoration and reconstruction of real estate, construction and infrastructure, and also provoke a shortage of financial resources, which is only increasing. In such conditions, the most important is the effective mobilization of all available resources with priority for foreign direct investment and maximum attraction of domestic reserves; clear planning of investment projects based on strategic priorities and a medium-term budget framework; building a holistic, sustainable and transparent system of public investment management. Problem Statement. The existing criteria for prioritizing public investment projects are not clear and specific, and the indicators are not measurable. As a result, there is a lot of room for subjective interpretation, which can lead to reduced transparency of decision-making, subjectivity in assessment, uneven distribution of resources, risk of corruption and, ultimately, to reduced efficiency of project implementation and loss of trust in state institutions. Purpose. To investigate problems and develop proposals for criteria and indicators for assessing sustainability with the possibility of including them in the criteria for prioritizing concepts of public investment projects, using the example of implemented EU practices in agriculture. Methods. Analysis of regulatory acts and scientific publications, synthesis, statistical processing, scientific generalization, and systematization. Results. The study examines the assessment and prioritization criteria for public investment project concepts. Existing shortcomings in the criteria and indicators for prioritizing public investment projects are highlighted. Tools for sustainability assessment in agriculture (RISE, DINAK, IDEA4) used in the EU are explored. Recommendations are proposed for developing a unified standard for sustainability assessment of public investment projects, creating a digital platform for automated data calculation and analysis, integrating sustainability assessment results into mandatory project evaluation stages, and ensuring transparency and accessibility of data. Conclusions. The implementation of the proposed recommendations will enhance the efficiency of public investment management, increase trust among citizens, investors, and donors in state institutions, and promote the sustainable long-term development of the country, considering economic, social, and environmental aspects.