The paper justifies that cross-border cooperation (hereinafter — CBC), as part of state policy, now holds a high position in the system of priorities of both socio-economic development and European integration of Ukraine. But in Ukraine it is a typical situation when decisions, taken by state administration bodies regarding the development of CBC, do not fully take into account the real situation in this area, because they does not rely on a deep knowledge of the subject in sufficient volumes. The adverse conditions and obstacles of CBC development in the border regions of Ukraine were found, based on the results of the sociological and expert research (public opinion research of the border areas inhabitants, experts, representatives of civic organizations, regional development agencies, scientists, entrepreneurs, officials of local government agencies and local self-government bodies). The obtained results helped the authors to provide a rationale for the priority actions to be implemented to enhance CBC based on the research findings.