FEATURES OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL TERRITORIES: POLICY AND MODELS
The article briefly presents a theoretical overview of the concept of development of rural areas as a policy and process. Then the main models of rural development and the underlying policy are critically analyzed. The study of the models was carried out using a comparative method of analysis. In this article the study was focused on the analysis of European models and policy, aiming at identifying the main shortcomings that hinder the sustainable socio-economic development of rural areas. The study of scientific literature and international works helped to justify the model of economic diversification needed for the socio-economic development of rural areas. Then measures are presented which need to be taken into consideration for diversification policy. In order to identify the possibilities and scale of diversification of rural territories, it was proposed to carry out mapping, which will provide an opportunity to develop and implement a policy of targeted development, taking into account the specifics and potential of every individual rural territory.