TRANSNATIONALIZATION OF THE EU ECONOMIC SPACE: SPATIAL PATTERNS AND FORECASTS OF GREENFIELD INVESTMENTS BY 2030

Abstract

The relevance of the study is driven by the growing influence of transnational corporations on the spatial organization of the European economy and the formation of new investment axes in the context of the green and digital transitions. The need for scholarly understanding of the structural changes occurring under the impact of TNCs is further reinforced by intensifying global competition for investment and the ongoing transformation of the economic development model of EU member states. The subject of the study is the processes of transnationalization within the European economic space, manifested through the activities of transnational corporations, the spatial structure of foreign investments, and their impact on the economic development of EU member states. The aim of the study is to analyze the current economy of the European Union countries in the context of increasing transnationalization, with a focus on the role of the largest transnational corporations in shaping the EU economic space and modeling the dynamics of greenfield foreign direct investment (FDI) projects. The research methodology is based on a comprehensive geographical approach using statistical methods, as well as the application of modeling the dynamics of greenfield foreign direct investment (FDI) projects for the period 2025–2030, taking into account both their number and announced value. Comparative-geographical analysis and synthesis, along with mathematical processing of statistical data, were also employed. The results of the study have both theoretical and practical significance, which is manifested in identifying the spatial patterns of the transnationalization of the European economic space and determining strategic guidelines for enhancing the investment attractiveness of EU countries. Scope of application of the results: The results can be used in Ukraine for the development of a national strategy for attracting foreign direct investment, the design of regional economic development programs, the adaptation of European approaches to business internationalization, and the strengthening of Ukraine’s integration into the European economic space. Conclusions: the study demonstrates that transnational corporations play a decisive role in shaping the spatial structure of the European economic space and influencing the dynamics of greenfield foreign direct investment projects. The identified patterns of transnationalization can serve as a basis for developing strategic measures to enhance investment attractiveness and guide economic policy in EU countries and Ukraine. Prospects for further research: future studies should focus on forecasting transnationalization while considering geopolitical risks and shifts in the global competitive dynamics of foreign direct investment.