Representation: Various associations represent local and regional interests before the central authorities:
The Convent of Voivodship Marshals of the Republic of Poland (Konwent Marszałków Województw Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej) is an advisory body to the Union of the Voivodships. It represents the interests of all 16 Polish regions (voivodships) and publishes positions of the Marshals on particular issues concerning the regions and regional policy.
Information and consultation: During the legislative process, information is provided to Local and Regional Authorities (LRAs) to the extent that it is published on the website of the Sejm (the parliament's upper house). Furthermore, the Government Centre for Legislation (Rządowe Centrum Legislacji) publishes on its webpage draft legislative acts and regulations as well as amendments to them. Some Ministries (e.g. the Ministry of Infrastructure) individually publish information concerning consultations.
Parliamentary consultation: The rules of procedures of both houses of parliament foresee consultation of LRAs during the legislative process. The Association of Polish Counties actively participates in the legislative process in both chambers of parliament, especially in the standing and extraordinary committees. The Sejm sends all its draft legislative acts to the Association of Polish Cities, which is invited to participate in the meetings of various parliamentary committees, in particular in the Committee for Local Self‑Government and Regional Policy. In the same vein, as a member of the Committee for Local Self‑Government and Regional Policy (Komisja Samorządu Terytorialnego i Polityki Regionalnej), the Association of Polish Counties expresses its views and comments on draft legislations. As regards the Senate, the Committee for Local Self‑Government and State Administration (Komisja Samorządu Terytorialnego i Administracji Państwowej) invites the associations of LRAs for consultations.[1]
Governmental consultation: The Joint Committee of the Government and Local Self‑Government (Komisja Wspólna Rządu i Samorządu Terytorialnego – KWRiST), established in 1992, is a forum where all the national associations of LRAs negotiate with the central government and present their opinions on draft legislation. It consists of 12 members from central government and 12 members from local government units, including representatives from the associations of LRAs. The KWRiST develops policies and regulations and conducts consultations through (currently) 13 teams and one working group. In addition, within the framework of the system of European Funds, the Association of Polish Counties has representatives in the Steering and Monitoring Committees of the Integrated Regional Operational Programmes and of every Sectoral Operational Programme in order to guarantee that the counties' views are taken into consideration.
Coordination
Vertical coordination: LRAs' activities are under the supervision of the state authorities (Prime Minister, voivodes (wojewodowie), and, in case of financial supervision, Regional Audit Chambers (Regionalne Izby Obrachunkowe)) with regard to their legality. The voivodes constitute an important link between the central and regional levels of governance. Moreover, they cooperate with the Districts in the field of public order and security.[2]
Horizontal coordination: Regions cooperate by way of bilateral and multilateral agreements on issues of common interest.[3] Furthermore, the different associations of LRAs act as platforms where LRAs are able to exchange information and discuss matters of common interest.
In addition, the National Strategy of Regional Development 2010-2020 (Krajowa Strategia Rozwoju Regionalnego 2010-20120) introduced the so called ‘territorial contracts’ (territorial contract) in order to create synergies between all the instruments of regional policy with a territorial dimension. According to the Strategy, their aim was departure from the strongly centralised model of governance (top‑down) for the advantage of enhanced multi level governance system. The regions and the central government conclude territorial contracts for a term of at minimum three years.
[1] Council of European Municipalities and Regions, Study on 'Consultation procedures within European States', 2007, p. 168.
[2] Act on the governmental administration of the regions (Dz. U. z 1998r. Nr 91, poz. 577).
[3] Assembly of the European Regions, Regionalism Report on Poland, 2010.
