DEVELOPMENT OF SMART CITIES IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF INTEGRATION OF UKRAINE'S TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE INTO THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA

The article examines the issues of integrating the transport infrastructure of Ukrainian cities into the European economic space, which is relevant in the context of intensifying globalization, deepening international cooperation and Ukraine's integration with the European Union. Transport infrastructure is a key component of economic development and mobility, and its modernization and adaptation to European standards is an important prerequisite for the integration of Ukrainian cities into the European economic space. Taking into account the needs of the European economy, harmonizing transport policy and increasing the competitiveness of Ukraine's transport system are critical factors for the country's sustainable development in the face of global market changes. The relevance of the study is due to the need to address a number of problems related to the inconsistency of the regulatory framework, infrastructure deficiencies, and insufficient use of innovative technologies. To ensure Ukraine's effective integration into the European economic area, it is necessary to modernize the transport infrastructure, implement EU safety and environmental standards, optimize logistics processes and promote the development of international transport corridors. These measures will help to create conditions for intensifying foreign economic activity, attracting investment, increasing transportation volumes and expanding export and import operations. The article analyzes the dynamics of competitiveness of Ukraine's transport infrastructure according to the Global Competitiveness Index for 2009–2019 and the dynamics of exports of transport services in Ukraine for 2010–2023. The emphasis is on the environmental challenges posed by transport infrastructure. For this purpose, the level of greenhouse gas emissions from transport in Europe and the forecast scenario until 2040, which reflects the impact of existing policies and measures adopted at the EU level on future emissions, are studied. The strategic goals of the Ukrainian transport system are presented. It is emphasized that for the development of smart cities, it is necessary to transform the linear economy into a circular economy model, in particular the bioeconomy, which contributes to the achievement of sustainable development goals and solves global climate change problems.