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Regional policy

in Poland

MINISTRY

OF REGIONAL

DEVELOPMENT

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Regional policy in Poland

Publisher:

Ministry of Regional Developmentof the Republic of Poland

Department of Structural Policy Coordination

Regional Dimension Unit2/4 Wsplna Street, 00-926 Warsaw

Phone: (+48 22) 461 39 07

Fax: (+48 22) 461 32 63

www.mrr.gov.pl

www.funduszeeuropejskie.gov.pl

e-mail: [email protected]

Ministry of Regional Development, Warsaw 2011

ISBN: 978-83-7610-286-3



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Table of contents

Foreword 4

Poland general information 5

Introduction 6

The need of changes new regional policy 7

Challenges of the regional policy until 2020 9

Regional policy objectives 11

Evolution of regional policy in Poland 14

Summary a look to the future 18

Annexes

1. Information about Polish voivodeships 19

2. Position of Polish regions according to 35

the Fifth Cohesion Report indicators

3. Chosen maps from Fifth Cohesion Report 36

illustrating socio-economic situation of the country



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Regional policy is an integral element of development policy, supporting the achievement of objectives

on national level, helping to exploit the development potential of regions and territories, in the best

possible way, by providing external resources. It supports the creation and construction of regional

identities in economic, social and cultural dimension through the construction of multi-level governance

system.

Over the past 15 years we have seen the transition from a model based on a centrally managed policy,

which was characterized by a very moderate effects of implementation, to the model of an integrated

policy, coordinated, multi-level, based on the experience of European Cohesion Policy, which is becoming

the main instrument of development of country and regions.

Hitherto Polish experiences show how big challenge it may be to compensate disparities between

Member States but also those which can be observed between regions. In 2008 we have commenced

work on a new model of regional policy, which were preceded by the amendments of the Act on the

rules of conducting the development policy, preparation of a new management system of development

for Poland, and works on the National Strategy of Regional Development 2010-2020.

The aim of this brochure is to acquaint the reader with basic information on regional policy, the history

of its implementation in Poland and the latest trends in the discussion on its future, in which our country

will play a key part.

Elbieta Biekowska

Minister of Regional Development of the Republic of Poland



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Poland general informationPopulation: 38.2 million residents (ranked sixth among EU Member States)Area: 312,7 thousand km2

EUMember State (2004), NATOMember State (1999), OECDMember State(1996)

Main economic indicators (2010)

The average annual growth ofthe GDP: 3.8%

Unemployment rate: 9.6%

Inflation rate: 2.6%

Debt ofthe public finance sector: 7.9% of the GDPPublic debt: 55%

GDP per capita: 62% of the average EU level

Structural expenditures: 6.5% of the GDP

Form of government and territorial structure:

Unitary state (parliamentary republic)

Three levels ofadministrative divisionGmina 2479 territorial units

Poviat 379 territorial units

Voivodeship 16 units NUTS 2 equivalent, regional policy entity

In 2007-2013 Poland is the largest, among all EU Member States, beneficiary of Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund (20%of the EU Cohesion Policy budget).



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When accessing the European Union, Poland, as a countryof relatively low development level, noted 40% of theaverage GDP per capita for the EU 15. Since 1990s realeconomic convergence is observed between Polandand the EU, characterised by faster than average in theEU growth of the GDP per capita and, at the same time,increasing interregional gaps. In 2005, the GDP per capitaamounted to the half of the EU 25 average level in 2010 62%1. Therefore, Poland is ranked among the last fiveEU Member States, coming only before Lithuania, Latvia,

Bulgaria and Romania.

Poland is a regionally diversified country although its GDPper capita scale does not differ much from that noted inother European countries.

1 According to the estimates and in relation to the EU27.

On the one hand, regional economic diversity in Polandis structural (it is a result of differences in regional socio-economic structures). On the other hand, it is conditionedby the decline of the industrial regions.

The unbalanced spatial distribution of regional developmentprocesses in Poland is also historically conditioned, mostof all by the phenomena originated in the Middle Ages andthe consequences of the partitions of Poland (period whichlasted from 1772 until 1918). Due to historical processes and

contemporary development conditions, today the Polishterritory is characterised by three types of disproportion:development gap between large cities and the restofthe country, between Eastern and Western Poland,and increasing intraregional disproportions2.

2 OECD Territorial Reviews: Poland, OECD, 2008.

Introduction



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The reform of the territorial structure consisting indecentralization of public authority was of key significanceto the development of regional policy in Poland. As a resultof the first stage of the reform (in 1990) territorial self-governments were introduced at the local level(gmina).In 1998 two following self-governing levels were established:poviat and voivodeship, bringing back the three levelsof territorial self-government structure. Particularly importantwas the establishment of the regional self-government the entity entitled to independently set development

strategies and plans, as well as programmes and projectsaimed at their implementation at the voivodeship level.

Development of regional policy bases in Poland waspredominated by the prospect of EU membershipand,at the same time, by the objectives and principles of the EUCohesion Policy3. Within ten years from the establishmentof self-governing voivodeships as regional developmentpolicy entities, the policy model has changed from the passive

3 General tasks of the Polish regional policy in the last ten years werespecified in documents on the methods of allocation and usingthe EU funds. (The National Development Plan 2004-2006, NationalStrategic Reference Framework 2007-2013, National DevelopmentStrategy 2007-2015). Separate government programmes referred toother measures and objectives connected to space as regionalpolicy, i.e. rural areas policy, transport policy, labour market policy,competitiveness policy.Coordination of such diverse tools was mostof all formal and considered main EU instruments.

implementation of rules and objectives of the EU CohesionPolicy, and concentration on the allocation of availablefinancial resources to the gradual identification of owndevelopment vision and elaboration of its implementationmechanisms considering modern development approach.

The result of this process is the National Strategyof Regional Development4 adopted in 2010, whichdefines the bases for the implementation of the newregional policy in Poland. It introduced the new way

of thinking about development and public interventionmechanisms supporting it. The most important change isthe enhancement of the regional policy role and importanceas the policy determining spatial development in Poland andthe line of measures implemented under other policies.

New regional policy in Poland is a different quality modelrelaying on the so-called new paradigm. It departs from thetraditional model of funds redistribution towards improvingand using territorial potentials of all regions. It becomesa common policy of government, territorial self-governments

4 National Strategy of Regional Development (NSRD) is one of 9strategies prepared under the process of organising the systemof development management in Poland, implementing medium-and long-term national development strategies. NSRD is superiorto other 8 strategies, since it specifies the regional policy spatialobjectives. It has been adopted by the resolution of the Councilof Ministers on July 13, 2010.

The need of changes new regional policy



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and other public entities in a given area. It is aimed at multi-sectoral (horizontal) territorial approach to developmentmeasures5. It also departs from dispersed interventiontowards more selective (concentrated) investments, andfrom highly centralised (top-down) governance to theimprovement of multi-level governance, including therole of regional level authorities in development processesimplementation.

The implementation system of regional policy is alsomodified most of all through the increase of efficiency(introduction of the principle of conditionality andmechanisms of competitiveness in terms of access topublic resources, remodelling the regional policy financing

5 Including introduction of the system of integration and

coordination of public policies of significant territorial impact withthe regional policy objectives specified for individual territories.

system, focusing regional policy intervention on the areasof strategic intervention).

The new regional policy is aimed at sound managementof all financial resources allocated to developmentthat, so far, have been managed by the ministries and otherpublic institutions.

Allocation of resources available under individual sectoralpolicies, according to territorial approach and theprinciple of subsidiarity, will enable the self-governmentsof voivodeships to increase the amount of financialresources for regional policy implementation, and improvethe effectiveness of interventions.



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Challenges of the regionalpolicy until 2020

In view of the new challenges that Poland hasto face, regional policy becomes one of themost important elements of developmentpolicy, next to the coordinated interventionof sectoral territorial policies.

The most important task for the next severalyears will cover increase in the competitivenessof the Polish economy through mobilisationof work resources, absorption and development

of innovation, stimulating social capitaldevelopment, ensuring proper technicaland institutional conditions for the increaseof investments, as well as supporting changesin the structure of the GDP production andemployment.

The response of regional policy to suchchallenges is using, to the optimal level,of development potentials of individualregions. The biggest and the most strategic

regional policy dilemmamay be defined asfollows:

In 2020 Polish regions will constitute a betterplace to live in, as a result of the enhanced

standard and quality of living and throughthe creation of such a socioeconomic andinstitutional framework that will increase theopportunities for the realisation of aspirationsand possibilities of entities and localcommunities.

Urban centres, as the hubs of the economic,social, scientific, cultural and institutionalcooperation network, and thereby as centres

influencing the development of the entireregion, will be of key significance.

How to get the best of the regional potential for growth andemployment, focusing on the improvement of regional chances forcompetition at the European level and, at the same time, providingthe opportunity for all citizens to participate in these processesregardless of their place of residence, and how not to allow forexcessive and socially and politically unaccepted diversities?



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Strategic challenges of the regional policy:

better use of the potential of the most important urban areas to generate growth andemployment and to stimulate the development of the remaining areas,

assurance of internal cohesion of Poland - preventing excessive spatial differences,

increasing the potential to create, diffuse and absorb innovations,

preventing negative demographic trends and more complete use of workforce resources,

improvement of the quality of workforce resources,

response to the climate change and ensuring energy security,

protection and rational use of environment resources,

use of the cultural and tourist potential for regional development,supporting development of the social capital,

ensuring relevant transport and ICT infrastructure to support competitiveness and guaranteeterritorial cohesion of the country,

enhancement of institutional capabilities to manage the development at the national andregional level.



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Regional policy objectives

The strategic objective of the new regionalpolicy is the efficient use of the specific regional

and territorial development potentials for thepurpose of achieving the national developmentobjectives, i.e. growth, employment andcohesion in a long termperspective.

The following objectives of regional policy for2020 are set out:

support for the growthof competitiveness of regions,

establishment of territorialcohesion and preventing themarginalization of problem areas,

establishment of conditionsfor efficient, effective andpartnership implementationof development measurestargeted at territories.

NSRD attempts to combine various interestsrelated to the national development resultingfrom the emergence of strong competition

between the regions at both national andinternational levels. Equity and efficiency

constitute the most important objectivesof the current regional policy.

The new regional policy in Poland refers tothe way of thinking proposed in the GreenPaper on Territorial Cohesion. This documentrecommends better use of various possibilitiesof regional development and refers to oneof the three dimensions of the EU CohesionPolicy territorial dimension that, sincethe entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon in

December 2009, has been one of the basic EUprinciples.

The objectives of the new regional policy arecoherent with the EU development visionspecified in the Europe 2020 Strategy6replacingthe previous Lisbon Strategy.

Until 2020 three detailed objectiveswill beimplemented as a triad of competitiveness cohesion efficiency.

6 Communication from the Commission: Europe 2020,A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth,COM(2010)2020, Brussels, 3.3.2010.



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These objectives allow to focus on the opportunitiesand possibilities, not on barriers of development. Theywill introduce positive changes, involving increasing thecompetitiveness of regions and the whole country, as wellas reduction of disparities in development possibilitiesof individual territories. Planning and implementationof measures remain in the hands of local government andregions, but with greater involvement of other entities.

Triad: Competitiveness cohesion efficiency

Source: NSRD

Objective 1: Support for thegrowth of competitiveness of theregions (Competitiveness)

The new regional policy intervention is aimed at areas

providing the biggest chance for the improvement of thecountrys competitiveness worldwide, i.e. most of all urbanareas. This strategy will enable the full use of the competitiveadvantages and the increase of public intervention efficiency.Regional policy supports not only the process of Polandsinternational competitiveness, but also the disseminationof development processes from the fastest developingcentres to other national areas. Moreover, it supports thedevelopment of the so-called absorption potential, i.e. theability to use aid measures and resources, in these areas.

Objective 2: Establishmentof territorial cohesion andpreventing the marginalizationof problem areas (Cohesion)

The new regional policy does not ignore the underdevelopedareas that cannot cope with development backlog. The newstrategy will make it possible to focus the additional supporton them in order to counteract their marginalisation. Thereare many development barriers in these areas. Regionalpolicy intervention enables the reduction of disparities inthe access to public goods and services. It also stimulatesrestructurisation processes thereby supporting developmenttendencies existing there and making a better use of ownresources.



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Objective 3: Establishment of conditions for efficient, effective and partnershipimplementation of development measures targeted at territories (Efficiency)

Measures implemented under the regional policy enable the modernisation of the development policy managementsystem in Poland in order to increase the efficiency of public investment. It requires the improvement of development

measures coordination and the cooperation between various levels of public authority, as well as increase of social activityin terms of regional policy.

Areas of strategic intervention

The new regional policy measures are focused on theareas of strategic intervention (ASI) determined underindividual objectives of the regional policy. These cover:

areas characterised by the highest level of socio-economic development in Poland (e.g. main urbancentres and their functional infrastructure),

areas beyond the impact of the strong centres.They require improvement of capacity building andestablishment of conditions for better adoptionof development processes coming to these areas fromthe main urban centres,

problem areas with the greatest number of negative

phenomena blocking regional or even nationaldevelopment.

Regional policy contract policy

The so-called territorial contracts constitute a novelty.The new territorial contract, as opposed to the previousvoivodeship contracts7, will enable the government andthe selfgovernment of the voivodeship to agree on the

most important objectives and projects implemented (andfinanced) under the regional development policy.

The contract applies only to those projects, whoseimplementation is significant in terms of governmentregional policy and self-governments development policy.

Most of the projects agreed in the form of a contract will beimplemented on the areas of strategic intervention. This willpreserve the principle of geographical and thematic focusof the measures. Thereby, sectoral interventions will be also

adjusted to regional needs.

7 Voivodeship contracts enabled self-governments of voivodeshipsto finance development tasks thanks to centrally provided financialresources.



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1

8 Regional Development Problems and Policies in Poland, OECD Centre for Co-operation with European Economics In Transition, Paris 1992.

Evolution of regional policy in Poland

Local territorial self-governments (gminas) were establishedin Poland at the beginning of the transformation towards

the market economy (1990). Entities of local publicadministration, having elective representative bodies andown budget income, have become important actors of thenational development policy. However, these changes werenot followed by necessary adjustments at the regional levelthat is the establishment of regional self-governments.

The regional policy of Poland in 1990s was characterisedas defective or incomplete since it contained only the

interregional segment, i.e. the segment of governmentspolicy towards voivodeships. Another necessary segment

was missing the intraregional policy, meaning the policyof self-government regional authorities conducted withina given region. These functions were substituted by a voivode a governments local representative only partially.

At that time, strong reluctance prevailed to conductactive regional policy, allegedly distorting the conditionsof competition in a market economy. 8

8

The territorial review carried out by the OECDin 1992 has documented the complexityof problems concerning the regional developmentof Poland, and, simultaneously, the difficulties relatedto the implementation of an active state policy in thisrespect.8

The most important limitations indicated in the reportcovered the heritage of real socialism and necessaryreforms resulting from it, such as:

structural mega-adjustment (i.e. introductionof economic incentives, competition and market

price system, reconstruction of production structure,environmental restoration),

macroeconomic reforms (reduced inflation),

structural changes (privatisation, entrepreneurshipincentives, tax system),

decentralisation.

Old and new (emerging as a result of the transformation)spatial diversities and problems related to the creationof regional policy due to the necessary restructurisationmeasures were indicated.



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The first form of the regional policy in Poland withinthe first years after the transformation was the statesintervention within the areas at risk of high structuralunemployment.

Significant changes in the system of regional policy wereconnected to the forthcoming integration with the European

Union. The following pre-accession programmes orientedat supporting regional development and preparationof administrative potential in terms of Community CohesionPolicy were implemented under Phare: STRUDER, RAPID andCROSSBORDER. Since 2000 the European Union has set up,apart from Phare, two new pre-accession programmes ISPA and SAPARD. For their implementation in Poland,it was required to prepare the first strategic documentin accordance with the European Union programmingprinciples - Preliminary National Development Plan 2000-

20039

.Three pre-accession funds were aimed at buildinginstitutional bases for the implementation of the EUCohesion Policy in Poland.

* * *

The significant change in the regional policy model inPoland was introduced when the comprehensive territorialreform came into force on 1 January 1999. The three-levelterritorial structure was introduced by establishing, apartfrom gminas, poviats and large voivodeships.

Large voivodeships corresponded to the NUTS 2 level,which formed the basis for the preparation of a necessaryinstitutional system and instruments of the European

9 Preliminary National Development Plan 2000-2003, Ministryof Economy, Warsaw, 1999.

Cohesion Policy in Poland10. At that administrative level,apart from the governments local representative theVoivode, elective representative bodies also emerged self-governments of voivodeships, and the financial categoryof voivodeship budgets was also introduced, as well asnumerous competences were shifted from the central levelto the voivodeship level.

Territorial structure changes enabled to commenceprogramming of socio-economic development at thevoivodeship level. Principles, criteria and the mechanismof regional policy in Poland necessary for this processwere established under the National Strategy for RegionalDevelopment 2001-200611. The adjustment of the Polishmodel of regional policy to the European Union CohesionPolicy standards was specified as a mission of the NationalStrategy of Regional Development, as a prerequisite for the

use of Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund.

* * *

10 NUTS means Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics. It isa universal regionalisation system binding in the European Union.It includes three levels: NUTS 1 groups of voivodeships, NUTS 2 voivodeships, NUTS 3 sub-regions (groups of poviats). Local levelscalled LAU 1 (Local Administration Units) are poviats and LAU 2 areindividual cities and gminas. All statistics in the European Union arepresented in this territorial system. NUTS 2 regions play basic role inthe European Cohesion Policy, and NUTS 3 regions subsidiary. InPoland, there are 6 NUTS 1 macroregions, 16 NUTS 2 voivodeshipsand 66 sub-regions.

11 National Strategy for Regional Development, Council of Ministers,Warsaw, 2000.



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Key changes in the regional policy model resulted fromPolands accession to the European Union on 1 May2004, and, thereby, from the ability to use the CohesionPolicy funds. Poland adopted solutions of the EU CohesionPolicy in the scope of: programming, management,financing, monitoring, evaluation and selection of projects. Itwas important choice to decide on the adoption of relatively

decentralised model of Structural Funds management andthe transfer of responsibility and range of resources tovoivodeships.

The first envelope of Structural Funds and Cohesion Fundamounting to EUR 12.8 billion (in fixed prices for 2004)was transferred to Poland in 2004-2006. The key documentspecifying the Cohesion Policy implementation frameworkin Poland in the first programming period was the NationalDevelopment Plan 2004-2006 and, based on it, Community

Support Framework12

, which was a common documentof the European Commission and the Governmentof the Republic of Poland. Sectoral operational programmes,technical assistance programme, cross-border cooperationprogramme, and the Integrated Regional OperationalProgramme (IROP) were used during the implementationof the Cohesion Policy.

The IROP covered ca. EUR 3 billion out of EUR 12.8 billion,i.e. ca. 23% of the Cohesion Policy funds. The IROP included16 regional segments managed by the Ministry of Regional

Development in cooperation with self-governments of 16voivodeships. The IROP priorities included: (1) expansionand modernisation of infrastructure for the improvement

12 Community Support Framework for Poland 2004-2006. Promotionof efficient allocation of resources focused on growth and employment,Ministry of Economy, Labour and Social Policy, Warsaw-Brussels,December, 2003.

of regions competitiveness, (2) improvement of regionalhuman resources development, (3) local development, and(4) technical assistance.

The IROP enabled creation of institutional potential in termsof modern regional policy implementation in the Polishregions.

* * *

In 2007-2013 the next envelope of Structural Funds andthe Cohesion Fund is being transferred to Poland. It willamount to ca. EUR 59.5 billion (in fixed prices for 2004), i.e.EUR 67.3 billion in current prices, under two objectives of theEU Cohesion Policy: Convergence and Territorial Cooperation.At that time, the decentralisation of the Cohesion Policyfunds management system in Poland increased.

16 regional operational programmes managed byVoivodeships Boards were identified in the documententitled Poland. National Strategic Reference Framework2007-2013 in support of growth and jobs, next to sectoralprogrammes, macroregional programme and technicalassistance programme13.

About 34% of the Cohesion Policy funds were allocatedunder 16 voivodeship operational programmes anddecentralised part of the Operational Programme HumanCapital. In addition, the macroregional OperationalProgramme Development of Eastern Poland was preparedfor 2007-2013. It is aimed at five poorest voivodeships(Lubelskie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, witokrzyskie and

13 Poland. National Strategic Reference Framework 2007-2013 in supportof growth and jobs, Ministry of Regional Development, Warsaw, May2007.



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Warmisko-Mazurskie) and managed directly by the Ministerof Regional Development.

Given the Polish membership in the European Union,multiannual planning documents prepared under theEuropean Cohesion Policy in Poland have become theleading basis for medium-term development policy: the

National Development Plan 2004-2006 and the NationalStrategic Reference Framework 2007-2013.

During the first years of the EU Cohesion Policyimplementation in Poland, there was no special documentregarding the regional policy of the state. In 2006 works on thenext programme document National Development Strategy2007-201514 were completed. Regional developmentand increase of territorial cohesion was one of its six

14 National Development Strategy 2007-2015, Ministry of RegionalDevelopment, Warsaw, November, 2007.

priorities. The following lines of action were specified: (A)growth of competitiveness of Polish regions (infrastructure,human capital, services, entrepreneurship) and (B) levellingof development opportunities in problem areas, which areaddressed most of all to five voivodeships of Eastern Poland.Moreover, the areas of the regional policy of the state werespecified for every voivodeship.

In 2009 the government adopted the objectivesof the system of Polands development management,proposing arranging the order and reduction of the numberof development strategies binding in Poland. Under thisprocess the governments strategic document specifyingpriorities and measures of the regional policy of the state the National Strategy of Regional Development wasadopted in 2010. It completely changes the way of thinkingabout regional policy in terms of methods for defining

objectives, principles and implementing mechanisms.



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Summary a look to the future

Although the dominant source of financingdevelopment investments in Poland in the

perspective of 2020 are the EU CohesionPolicy resources supplemented by thenational input, the new regional policyis increasingly based on internalconditions and aimed at the constructionof policy model exceeding the frameworkof Structural Funds and the CohesionFund. It is also noteworthy that, as a resultof the implementation of norms for the EUCohesion Policy functioning, the nationalsystem of regional policy was based on the

principle of partnership, complementarity andcoordination, as well as on verified and efficient

rules of strategic and financial programmingand management.

The new regional development strategy (NSRD)will be binding until 2020. At this time, it will bepossible to implement the proposed institutionaland legal solutions that will be surely used whileplanning measures co-financed within the nextEU financial perspective 2014-2020.

Experiences from the implementation of the

National Strategy of Regional Development,as well as Structural Funds and the CohesionFund in 2007-2013, are significant not onlyin terms of the areas of internal investmentpolicy and their impact on the national andregional development. They will also determinethe position of the Cohesion Policy in the EUbudget structure after 2013 and its futurethematic and geographical scope.

New regional policy in Poland

Supporting development potentials of all regions

Supporting opportunities instead of reducingbarriers

Selectivity and concentration of interventions

Multi-level management

Implementation of partnership principle

Focus on efficiency



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Annexes

1. Information about Polish voivodeships15

DOLNOLSKIE VOIVODESHIP

15 Based on the study: Possible directions of the governments intervention in various regions, including the identification of development potentialsof voivodeships prepared by the Centre for European Regional and Local Studies EUROREG.

Dolnolskie Voivodeship is one of the most economically developedregions in the country, i.e. thanks to Wrocaw a key research andacademic centre of supra-regional significance characterised by relatively

well-developed metropolitan functions. Its tourist attractiveness wasalso increased as a result of the latest revitalisation conducted in the citycentre.

The important resources of the region are copper and ot her metalsdeposits in the Legnica-Gogw Copper District (LGOM).

The quality of the region is its tourist and health potential built by i.e. theimprovement of urban infrastructure, especially in the Kodzko Valley.

Relatively good communication between the region and Germany, theCzech Republic, as well as Polish Southern regions increases its investmentattractiveness, especially attractiveness of the areas near Wrocaw.

There are many development opportunities in the region of supra-regional, and often national importance. The most important cover:intensification of regional relations with other countries (investment,

tourist, trade, science and research, cultural), development of scienceand research potential and encouraging its linkage with regionalentrepreneurship, which will have positive effect on technological andinnovative improvement of the economy. The development of the watertransport of the Odra River and the promotion of the region as attractivein respect to tourism and economy, pose an opportunity (the regionmay be one of Polands showcase). Dolnolskie is also well known fornumerous sites inscribed on World Heritage List of UNESCO, nationalparks and landscape parks.

Voivodeship capital Wrocaw

Area (km) 19 947

Population (in thousands) 2 877,8

The GDP per capita in PPS (2008), EU-27=100 60,0

Unemployment rate (2008), EU-27=7,0% 9,1%

Employment rate for persons aged20-64 (2008), EU-27=70,5

61,9

Population aged 3034 witha tertiary education in 2008

% of population aged 30-34.

25,9

Expenditures for R&D activity in relationto the GDP (2007), EU-27=1,85% GDP

0,41%

Work productivity in industry andservices (2007), EU-27=100

67,1

Competitiveness rate (2010), EU-27=55 43,4



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KUJAWSKO-POMORSKIE VOIVODESHIPKujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship is located in the Central-NorthernPoland. There are two capital cities of the voivodeship that also are themain cities of the region: Toru and Bydgoszcz. Both cities play importantregional roles as administrative, university and touristic especiallyToru (Old Town is at the World Heritage List of UNESCO) centres.Revitalisation of the inner-city areas in Bydgoszcz by the Brda River andrevitalisation of the so-called water node (with the use of water systemconnecting the Vistula River Basin with the Note River and the WesternEurope) contribute to the development of the city tourist functions.

In Bydgoszcz there is one of the best Polish hospitals and NATO trainingcentre. There are also other cities of significant cultural quality (i.e.Chemno) and industrial traditions (Wocawek, Grudzidz) in the region.

Their restructurisation process is advanced but not finished yet. Natureattractions of the region are the more and more available lakeland areas,Vistula River Valley and Tuchola Forest.

The region is relatively well accessible due to its location on A1 (Gdask-Katowice) transport route and national roads no. 5 (Pozna-Gdask)and no. 10 (Warsaw-Szczecin). Relatively well-developed road networkcontributed to the greater investment attractiveness of the voivodeship especially its central parts.

Due to its favourable location, relatively well-developed economy andtourist attractions, the region has significant development opportunitiesof supra-regional significance. The most important cover: strong academicand research centres in Bydgoszcz and Toru that, in combination withthe developed entrepreneurship, provide conditions for economicactivation of the region, also with the use of foreign contacts.

Voivodeship capital

Bydgoszcz the seat

of the Voivode

Toru the seatof the Sejmik

Area (km) 17 972


The GDP per capita in PPS(2008), EU-27=100

49,0


Employment rate for personsaged 20-64 (2008), EU-27=70,5

61,2

Population aged 3034 witha tertiary education in 2008 % of population aged 30-34.

18,4


0,20%


63,7




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LUBELSKIE VOIVODESHIPLubelskie Voivodeship is one of the least developed regions of EasternPoland. The largest city of the region (and the largest city in EasternPoland) is Lublin. Among other cities, the city of Lublin is distinguished byits population potential, significant academic potential and althougha little less its science and research potential. At the background ofother Polish regions it is distinguished by high percentage of people withhigher education. Moreover, Lublin is an important centre of cultural life inEastern Poland and thanks to the consequently conducted revitalisationof the Old Town monuments and buildings - a rapidly developing touristcentre. Other significant tourist centres in the voivodeship are Zamo(at the World Heritage List of UNESCO), Puawy (national centre ofEuropean importance) and Chem. The voivodeship is generally a ruraland agricultural region. It has the resources of high-quality hard coal. Theregion is located on the Warsaw Ukraine route.

One of the main opportunities of the region is the development ofsupra-regional functions in Lublin based on the existing administrationand cultural institutions and universities. First of all, its implementationwill be supported by the stronger relation between the top regionaluniversities and the strongest science and research national centres,as well as foreign ones (in both the EU and Eastern Europe). The strongacademic centre in Lublin, after strengthening relations with enterprises,may play a significant role in the process of restructurisation of theregional out-of-date economy. There is also an opportunity of promotionof regional tourist qualities (provided there is a constant extension ofhigh-quality tourist infrastructure), as well as increasing relations with theneighbouring countries. The improvement of the transport infrastructurebetween main centres in the country and border crossings will alsocontribute to the increase of the attractiveness of the region.

Voivodeship capital Lublin

Area (km) 25 123



39,0



65,0

Population aged 3034 with

a tertiary education in 2008 % of population aged 30-34. 27,7


0,54%


48,7




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LUBUSKIE VOIVODESHIPLubuskie Voivodeship is located in Western Poland and it borders onGermany. As a result, this region is significant in terms of Polands economicrelations with other EU Member States since there is a number of themost important road and railway border crossings in the Polish-Germanborder section in the Lubuskie Voivodeship. Gorzw Wielkopolski andZielona Gra are the voivodeship capital cities. As a result, the availabilityof particular public services, e.g. medical, is relatively low in this region.

The region has natural resources, such as the largest forest cover in thecountry and unexploited brown coal deposits in the area of Gubin.

Some of the Lubuskie Voivodeship strengths include: favourable agestructure of the population, and relatively well-developed polycentricsettlement network of small urban centres. Moreover, the borderlocation of the voivodeship contributes to the development of cross-border cooperation, including the cooperation between Euroregionsresponsible for i.e. social, educational and cultural contacts development.There is a high involvement of local communities and non-governmental

organisations in the operations of territorial self-governments observed.Furthermore, the proximity of the German labour market causes thereduction of poverty and social marginalisation.

The weaknesses of the region, however, cover: low level of innovativenessof the economy at the time of domination of labour-intensive industriesand poorly developed business environment institutions. What is more,in some poviats the unemployment rate is relatively high, resulting fromthe liquidation of State Agricultural Enterprises (PGR) at the beginningof 1990s.

One of the most important opportunities of the Lubuskie Voivodeship isthe development of international transport relations in the parallel (A2)

and meridian (S3) system. Other opportunities are: the developmentof the Odra River inland transportation, and the usage of natural andcultural qualities for the development of tourism, including pensionerssettlement. Certain opportunities are also connected to the inflow ofthe foreign capital to the region in innovative industries, development ofinternational relations in the R&D field, as well as better availability of riskcapital for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Voivodeship capital

Gorzw Wielkopolski the seat of the

Voivode

Zielona Gra the seat

of the Sejmik

Area (km) 13 988



48,0


Employment rate for persons aged20-64 (2008), EU-27=70,5

63,2


22,9


0,09 %

Work productivity in industry andservices (2007), EU-27=100 50,5




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23

DZKIE VOIVODESHIPdzkie Voivodeship is a central region of the country struggling with theconsequences of restructurisation of traditional industries in the maincities of the region and a low endogenous development potential in therural areas dominated by low-productive agriculture.

The voivodeship capital d has a considerab le resource ofuniversities and R&D centres, and well-developed human capital.

Favourable central location makes the region a more and moreattractive place for investments (also thanks to favourable locationof the voivodeship on the intersection of important communicationroutes - A1 and A2 highways). This region, similarly to the neighbouringMazowieckie Voivodeship, has a dual character: large city surrounded bypoorly-developed low-urban areas. d, the key resource of the region,still struggles with the results of the sudden restructurisation of textileindustry, experiencing outward migration, especially of young andeducated people who do not find jobs reflecting their qualifications.

At the European scale, d is a distinguished urban area full of industrialand residential historic infrastructure. However, it requires enormousinputs for their revitalisation and adjustment for the current requirementsof the city having necessary funds. Brown coal electric energy production

is of significant importance for the regional economy. However, in thecase of raising environmental standards under the project of fightagainst climate change, the region will be forced to conduct sectoralrestructurisation, in spite of sufficient natural resources.

At the present stage of development, the voivodeship has relativelylimited development opportunities of national importance. Amongthem there is the development of entrepreneurship and competitivenessin the region base on d universities resources. Another opportunityis the development of the niches of traditional industries: professionalresources, research and development centres, universities provides goodconditions for it (e.g. fashion industry, textile and clothing design), as wellas promotion of the region focused most of all on the qualities of d asa place for investments and cultural tourism.

The ongoing (relatively advanced) construction and modernisationof transport network is the main factor supporting developmentopportunities in the region in the nearest future. Therefore, theconstruction of logistic centres using the access to main transportroutes will be shortly considered as an opportunity. In the future, thedevelopment of investments in other sectors will also become anopportunity for the region.

Voivodeship capital d

Area (km) 18 219



52,0



66,6


30,4


0,51%


50,1




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MAOPOLSKIE VOIVODESHIPMaopolskie Voivodeship is located in the southern region of Poland andit borders on Slovakia. In spite of high population density, its degree ofurbanisation is relatively low. The voivodeship capital city, Krakw, is animportant national economic, science, cultural and tourist centre, also aformer capital of Poland. Other important cities are Tarnw and Nowy Scz.

Maopolskie Voivodeship is characterised by significant science andresearch and development potential. In terms of expenditures for researchand development activity per capita it is only behind the MazowieckieVoivodeship.

This region plays an important role in the national transport system.However, its transport infrastructure is not developed enough andpartially decapitalised (especially railway network). Another problem isthe congested road system in Krakw.

Diverse geographical environment determined the tourist attractivenessof the region. There are as many as six national parks in the area of

Maopolskie Voivodeship (Babia Gra National Park, Gorce NationalPark, Ojcw National Park, Pieniny National Park, Tatra National Park, andpartially Magura National Park). Legally protected areas cover 58,9% ofthe area of the voivodeship (2nd position in the country). The region hassignificant health potential (e.g. Krynica, Muszyna, and Rabka). Materialculture qualities also determine tourist attractiveness of the Maopolskaregion. Most of all, it is Krakw, and sacred wooden buildings from theWorld Heritage List of UNESCO, castles and castle ruins, urban areas ofStary Scz and Tarnw, pilgrimage places (e.g. Kalwaria Zebrzydowska),Wieliczka Salt Mine. Among the tourist attractions we should alsomention Zakopane, which for many years has been regarded as winter

capital of Poland.This region has significant development opportun ities of nationalimportance. The most crucial are: development of Krakw metropolitanfunctions, development of academic and science centre, development ofinnovative activities, tourism development.

Voivodeship capital Krakw

Area (km) 15 183



49,0



67,3




0,92%


59,0




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MAZOWIECKIE VOIVODESHIPWarsaw metropolis is the largest resource of the region, which is theresult of its specialisation on high-rate services, such as: financial agencyservices and services for companies and real properties, controllingand managing functions, as well as science and research activity andacademic activity. Other services, such as trade and repairs, transport,storage and communication, and hotels and restaurants, are alsoprovided at the national level and are of great significance for regionaleconomy. Specialised agriculture pomology and horticulture, as wellas milk complex plays significant role in the non-metropolitan part ofthe region. Differences in the level of development between Warsawmetropolis and the remaining part of the region are the largest in thecountry and belong to the largest in Europe.

Strengths of the region are: developed air transport (transit and logisticimportance), high migration attractiveness, especially for people withhigher education degree, and investment attractiveness, especially forhigh value added sectors. Moreover, the voivodeship, thanks to Warsaw,has the national best human capital resources and a well-developedsector of small and medium-sized enterprises.

The most serious problems of the region cover: underdevelopment oftransport infrastructure (especially road infrastructure), and extremely

inefficient transport system in Warsaw and its region. This problem isintensified by impulsive suburbanisation in the Warsaw region. Networkinfrastructure systems are not developed enough to cope with it. Theweakness of the region lies in its internal diversity resulting from theweaknesses of sub-regional urban centres requiring restructurisation ofa little diversified economic base and better communication with thevoivodeship capital.

The voivodeships opportunities are most of all connected to strengtheningWarsaw position in the global network of metropolis centres, includingthe improvement of the quality of Warsaw investment attractivenessthat should replace the previous competitiveness factor related to lowcosts of qualified workers. Moreover, further internationalisation of thecity economy should be expected, also in relation to the developmentof controlling and managing functions at the transnational level. Thenecessary condition for it is the growth of innovativeness of the economysupported by the development of relations between science and businessfields. It is also needed to improve the national transport availability in theregion (motorways and modern railway network). The voivodeship, dueto the best international availability (the most important airport in thecountry), should be taken into consideration in campaigns promotingPoland abroad.

Voivodeship capital Warszawa

Area (km) 35 558



89,0



70,1




1,07%


90,7




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OPOLSKIE VOIVODESHIPOpolskie Voivodeship is the smallest Polish region, both in terms of thearea and the population. It is located between two better developedvoivodeships of higher potential: Dolnolskie and lskie. It borders onthe Czech Republic in the South. The capital city and the only big city ofthe voivodeship is Opole with the population of ca. 125 thousand citizens.High-rate public services are focused in Opole which is also a regionalacademic centre. There is relatively large group of people declaring

German nationality in the region which is favourable to establishinginternational cooperation. Moreover, the development of cross-bordercooperation with the Czech Republic is observed.

Transport infrastructure in the region is relatively well-developed (thetight road and railway networks). The region is also relatively well-connected to the European transport system (A4 motorway).

The structure of regional economy is characterised by higher than averageimportance of industry, agriculture and non-market services. Relatively

high efficiency of agriculture in the Opolskie Voivodeship results fromhigh agricultural condition, favourable soil and weather conditions, andbetter than in other Polish regions equipment in agricultural households.

The tourist potential of the region is moderate. St Annas MountLandscape Park and Opawskie Mountains Landscape Park deserve credit.The most interesting material culture monuments are located in Opole,

Brzeg, Nysa, Gogwek and Paczkowo.At present, the voivodeship has rather limited development opportunitiesat the national level. The most crucial cover: the development ofthe voivodeship capital, cross-border cooperation development,improvement of transport route to Pozna, Warsaw and the CzechRepublic, attracting foreign capital in innovative industries, developmentof business environment institutions and cooperation betweenenterprises and R&D institutions (from the region and from outside theregion).

Voivodeship capital Opole

Area (km) 9 412



48,0



62,7%


a tertiary education in 2008 % of population aged 30-34.22,5


0,14%


62,9




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PODKARPACKIE VOIVODESHIPPodkarpackie Voivodeship is one of the poorest regions in Poland and EU.It borders on Slovakia and Ukraine. Its mountain landscape determinesthe population settlement pattern and the structure of the economy.The level of regional urbanisation is the lowest in the country. The capitalcity of the region is Rzeszw, the regional centre of high-rate services,including higher education, where the only international airport in theregion is also located.

The region has significant transit role on the East-West route. However,transport infrastructure is not developed enough both in terms ofnational and international communication.

Industry, including its technologically advanced sectors, especially theone related to Aviation Valley cluster is highly significant for the regionaleconomy. The weaknesses of the region include: high employment ratein agriculture and this sector characteristics. Agriculture in PodkarpackieVoivodeship is characterised by low input, low efficiency and particularly

poor agrarian structure. The total usable agricultural area per householdis half of the national average.

The greatest tourist attraction of the Voivodeship is Bieszczady the lesspopulated region in Podkarpackie. Protected areas, including NationalParks (Bieszczady National Park and Magura National Park), cover thesignificant part of the voivodeship. Tourist development is, however,limited by the poor level of development of tourist accommodation.

At the present stage of development, the voivodeship has relativelylimited development opportunities of national importance. The mostimportant opportunity is the development of Rzeszw consisting inthe establishment of metropolitan functions at the regional and supra-regional levels, especially in education, higher education, research anddevelopment, innovativeness, culture, and entrepreneurship. There isalso high potential in the development of the Aviation Valley and othertechnologically advanced activities. Other significant developmentopportunities are: improvement of national and international transportconnections (including the infrastructure of border crossings) and thecross-border cooperation development.

Voivodeship capital RzeszwArea (km) 17 846



39,0



64,8


26,1


0,36%


51,5




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PODLASKIE VOIVODESHIPPodlaskie Voivodeship is one of the least developed regions in Poland,and in EU. Its peripheral location determines low transport accessibility todevelopment centres both at national and European levels. At the sametime, the region has relatively high Eastern transit importance (Lithuania,Latvia, Estonia, Belarus, and Russia). However, the quality and quantity oftransport infrastructure (road and railway infrastructure) leaves a lot to bedesired. As far as transit is concerned, the lack of bypasses of some citiesand towns (e.g. Augustw) is particularly burdensome.

This region is typically agricultural with the highest share of agriculturalproduction in the gross value added in the country, and the high

percentage of people working in the agricultural sector. Podlaskie alsohas the milk processing sector of unique quality. Industry is thoughrelatively underdeveloped, similarly to market services.

The voivodeship capital city, Biaystok, is the regional academic centre.The city has also a potential in terms of science activity and R&D activity.The potential of the regional science sector is focused on medicine.

The region is characterised by a good environmental condition. There are4 national parks in the voivodeship protecting international ecosystems(30% of the total area of such ecosystems in Poland). However, theenvironmentally valuable areas, including those protected underNatura 2000 programme, have impact on the necessity to properlyconsider environmental conditions for infrastructure investments at thevery beginning of their planning. On the other hand, natural resourcesprovide a potential for the development of tourism, especially alternativegreen tourism.

At the present stage of development, the voivodeship has relativelylimited development opportunities of national importance. The mostimportant opportunity is the development of Biaystok consisting in

the establishment of metropolitan functions at the regional and supra-regional levels, especially in education, higher education, researchand development, innovativeness, culture, and entrepreneurship. Thesignificant development opportunity is the improvement of national andinternational transport connections. The less significant developmentopportunities cover: restructurisation and development of agriculturalsector, foreign cooperation development, and professional tourismdevelopment.

Voivodeship capital BiaystokArea (km) 20 187



41,0



68,2


32


0,20%


55,5




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POMORSKIE VOIVODESHIPPomorskie Voivodeship is one of the regions of high importance for thenational development. The key resource of the region is Tricity (urbanarea consisting of three Polish cities: Gdask, Gdynia and Sopot) thesignificant science, research and tourist centre of developed metropolitanfunctions. Tricity is now at the stage of the advanced restructurisationand the traditional shipbuilding industry is successfully replaced by newforms of economic activity. Both Tricity and the remaining seaside areasas well as the considerable part of lakeland areas (located near Tricity)constitute the area of rapid development of tourism, also high-qualitytourism.

This region has special raw materials resources. Tricity ports in connectionwith the developed motorway system between main cities in Centraland Southern Poland and the airport make Tricity and its surroundingsmore attractive in respect to investment. Transport routes in the meridiansystem are rapidly improving. However, internal connections and routesto Supsk, Koszalin and Szczecin are problematic.

Pomorskie Voivodeship has significant supra-regional opportunities. Oneof them is the intensification of connections between the central area

and the abroad (especially under Baltic Region cooperation) in termsof science and research, economic and tourist projects. Well-developedTricity academic and R&D centre with fundamental business environmentinstitutions, active in the field of planning strategic development, is anattractive partner for the cooperation not only international. Anotheropportunity is the development of the marine transport both freightand passenger (including tourist: Gdynia is the only Polish sea portcapable to receive big passenger ships [cruisers]). In total, tourism basedboth on cultural and environmental qualities of the region providessignificant development opportunities for the region at the internationallevel, especially for Tricity and the seaside.

The most serious threat is the uncontro lled suburbani sation andthe intensified anthropopression on environmentally valuable areas.A serious problem requiring intervention is a low efficiency of transportsystem in the region, especially in the tourist season. Moreover, thereare fewer development opportunities for smaller, peripheral and poorlycommunicated urban centres in the South-Eastern area, strugglingwith the results of local industry restructurisation and state-ownedagriculture.

Voivodeship capital GdaskArea (km) 18 310



53,0



65,0


30,5


0,51%


70,9




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LSKIE VOIVODESHIPlskie Voivodeship is located in Southern Poland, bordering on Slovakiaand the Czech Republic. It is one of the smallest regions in the country,focusing significant population potential. Population density is very high(even at the European level). Also the urbanisation level is the highestin the country. The region has a well-developed urban network. Silesiaconurbation, with the population of over 3 million people, is the largestpopulation cluster in Poland.

The region has an important position in the national transport system,both in terms of national and international links. Partial recapitalisationof infrastructure is a problem (it applies especially to railway), as well as

traffic unsuitability and lack of bypasses of certain cities.lskie Voivodeship is a particularly industrial region. It is the resultof significant resources of hard coal, zinc and lead. Silesia is most of allassociated with primary industry, metalworking industry and energyproduction.

Environmental degradation and large degraded post industrial areaare also serious regional threats. In spite of persistent domination ofcollapsing industries (in the case of coalmining supported by temporary

conditions), modern medium technique industries are developing inthe region (most of all automotive industry in the Katowice SpecialEconomic Zone).

Tourism and recreation develop in the Southern part of the voivodeship(Beskidy and Przedgrze). Certain development opportunities may alsobe connected to the industrial tourism.

This region has significant development opportun ities of nationalimportance. The most crucial are: development of national andinternational transport links, improvement of metropolitan functions ofSilesia conurbation, development of innovative industries and industries

of high value added, development of innovative niches of traditionalindustries, new (clean) technologies of classic power industry.

The most important threats for the regional development are: the ongoingdegradation of cities (districts), transport system inefficiency, negativeconsequences of traditional industries restructurisation, industrial disasters(dams, clarifiers, mines, etc.), flood risk, unfavourable areas settlement(flood plains and colluvium areas), anthropopression on environmentallyvaluable areas located in the Southern part of the region.

Voivodeship capital Katowice

Area (km) 12 333



61,0



61,3


a tertiary education in 2008 % of population aged 30-34.

30,2


0,38%


66,5




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WITOKRZYSKIE VOIVODESHIPwitokrzyskie Voivodeship is one of few central regions of Poland. Itis a relatively small region, both in terms of its area and population.Historically one of the most important cultural and economic centresin the country, since the time of Counter-Reformation, in spite ofserious industrialisation attempts, has had features of the internalperiphery. It is supported by the lack of a strong capital centre,and by the small number of important sub-regional centres. Theongoing significant employment in underdeveloped agriculture andproblematic restructurisation of local industrial centres pose seriousthreats to the use of endogenous development.

The most important centre of regional administrative, academic, andeconomic functions (including presentations) is Kielce, located nearwitokrzyskie Mountains, the only mountain range in central Poland,considered as one of the most important attractions in the region, inspite of the obvious underdevelopment of tourist infrastructure andimpediments concerning availability and management.

In the Southern part of the region, there are mineral waters resourcesand the health resort in Busko. Nevertheless, part of the voivodeshipsuffers from water deficiency. Moreover, floods are a local problem.

The voivodeship location is favourable due to transport links fromWarsaw to Krakw and from Western Poland to Lublin. Despite that,

Eastern parts of the voivodeship are relatively difficult to access (alsodue to the limited number of bridges over the Vistula River). The regionhas resources of construction aggregate. There are also numerouscement plants using the aggregate. Relatively poor endogenousresources and underdeveloped accommodation and restaurantinfrastructure, despite of the proximity of metropolises (Warsaw,Krakw, d), make the region less attractive in terms of tourism andinvestment than it could be expected, considering its location.

The region has relatively limited development opportunities. Theseare, i.e.: development of exhibitions and fairs centre in Kielce onthe basis of carefully considered specialisation. Other opportunity

is the development of tourism, under the condition of majorinvestments in high-quality tourist products and tourist infrastructure(e.g. in Sandomierz, Batw and the main range of witokrzyskieMountains), with the consideration of the diffusion of benefits on thesurrounding areas. Minimisation of the voivodeship threats may behelpful for the use of these opportunities. It most of all relates to thepersistent high employment in small agricultural households and theongoing population ageing. Modernisation of main roads connectingKielce with the capital cities of the neighbouring regions will improvedevelopment conditions but will not fight the weaknesses related tothe voivodeships endogenous resources, additionally weakened bythe industry restructurisation, in the short period of time.

Voivodeship capital Kielce

Area (km) 11 711



45,0



67,3


26,5


0,12%


53,7




32/44


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WIELKOPOLSKIE VOIVODESHIPWielkopolskie Voivodeship is located in the Western part of the country,at the crossing of important East-West and North-South communicationroutes. The voivodeship capital city, Pozna, is one of the key nationaldevelopment centres, which was particularly visible after 1989. Itspolycentric settlement network is favourable for the diffusion ofdevelopment processes from metropolises to the remaining parts of theregion. Moreover, there are rich exploited mineral resources, includingbrown coal and potassium salts.

Transport infrastructure in the region is relatively well-developed, andthe voivodeship is attractive in terms of investments and migration. Thisattractiveness is supported by various metropolitan functions of Pozna(including academic and science functions). Furthermore, there is a highlevel of companies technological advancement and entrepreneurship,resulting from a well-developed offer of business environment institutions(including international fairs). In addition, this region is rich in materialculture monuments that support tourism development.

One of the regional weaknesses is relatively poor development of publicservices in spite of their high spatial availability. At the same time, the levelof information society development (use of the Internet) is relatively lowin the voivodeship, which may result from high share of rural population.

Also intensive suburbanisation processes in Pozna metropolis are aproblem. This results in the lack of adjustment of transport infrastructurecapacity to traffic.

One of the most important development opportunities forWielkopolskie Voivodeship is the development of Poznametropolis, including especially its transformation into the centre oftechnologically advanced industries using the existing research anddevelopment potential. Development opportunities are also relatedto the improvement of the voivodeship transport availability as a resultof the construction of modern transport infrastructure facilitating the

development of nationwide logistic centres. The strength of the regionare also large, well-equipped farms.

One of the most serious threats is the decrease of transport cohesionof the region and Pozna metropolitan area, related to the lack ofadjustment of pace of the development of transport infrastructure tothe traffic increase. Moreover, the increase of suburbanisation processesin Pozna surrounding areas may be expected. One of the basic threatsin the remaining part of the region is the petrification of the existingeconomic structure, in particular the monofunctional character of someurban centres, and slow agricultural modernisation processes.

Voivodeship capital Pozna

Area (km) 29 826



59,0



66,1


24,5


0,52%


68,7




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ZACHODNIOPOMORSKIE VOIVODESHIPZachodniopomorskie Voivodeship is located in the North-Western partof the country, covering the area of lower Odra River, Baltic seasideand lakeland. The capital city of the voivodeship is Szczecin. It is wellcommunicated with Berlin and Rostock, and relatively worse with thebiggest urban centres in Poland. Complex of ports in Szczecin andwinoujcie is one of the largest in the Baltic Sea, and the developedmarine and inland transport is favourable for the location of multimodallogistic centres. The airport in Goleniw is also important for developmentof the region.

Szczecin is an important regional centre classified as the metropolitan

centre in some elaborations. However, traditional industries (shipbuilding industry, wood and furniture industry, fertilizer production) aredominant in the economy of the city and its surroundings. Therefore, thedevelopment dynamics of the city and the entire voivodeship is slowerthan the national average. Population is generally concentrated in urbancentres, which facilitates the development of the efficient extensivesubsistence agriculture in rural areas. There are still social problemsrelated to the liquidation of State Agricultural Enterprises observed insome areas. Due to the low population intensity there are no congestionproblems in traffic, except from main transit routes and access roads toseaside towns in summer. One of the voivodeships strengths is the well-

developed accommodation system at the Baltic Sea. Some of the resortsand health resorts providing high-quality services are international(although their offer is directed specifically at the German market). Theproblem of the Eastern part of the voivodeship is its peripheral characterin relation to Szczecin and other national agglomerations, as well as thenational transport system.

Main development opportunities for the region are related to theimprovement of its position in the transit of goods (including thedevelopment of multimodal transport), further development of touristfunctions and, in the case of Szczecin, metropolitan functions. Theimprovement of transport availability, also at the national level, plays thekey role in using these opportunities. Moreover, in all of the above fields,

it is necessary to implement restructurisation activities consisting in:development and improved management of the Szczecin-winoujciecomplex of ports, modernisation of the health resorts system andimprovement of the quality of Szczecin metropolitan functions.

The voivodeships threats are related to the problems concerni ngrestructurisation of traditional sectors of the economy and difficultiesin the management of the unused fixed assets. Other problems are:anthropopression on environmentally valuable areas, and flood risk in theOdra Valley and in the area of Bay of Szczecin.

Voivodeship capital SzczecinArea (km) 22 892



51,0



59,4


31,3


0,24%


67,8




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2. Position of Polish regions according to the Fifth Cohesion Report indicators 1617

Classes as indicated in the Report17

Lp. Indicator 1 2 3 4 5 6

Amo

untofvoivodeshipsinparticularclasses

1 Labour productivity in industry and services 2007 0 0 0 1 2 13

2 Quality of government in 2009 0 0 0 10 6 -

3 Households with broadband connection 2009 0 0 12 4 0 0

4 Competitiveness Index 2010 0 0 2 5 8 1

5 Share of 3034 year olds with tertiary education2008 1 0 10 5 0 -

6 Employment rate of people aged 20-64 in 2008 0 0 1 5 9 1

7 Early school leavers aged 1824 2007-2009 14 2 0 0 0 0

8 Total expenditure on R&D in 2007 0 0 1 5 10 -

9 Unemployment rate in 2008 0 1 5 7 3 -

10 Share of population with an at-risk-of-povert income in 2008 0 2 3 7 4 -

11 Urban waste water treatment capacity in 2007 7 1 2 4 2 0

12 Public investment per head (PPS), average 2002-2006 0 0 0 0 2 14

13 Regional Innovation Performance Index in 2006 0 0 0 5 11 -

Source: Investing in Europes future. Fifth report on economic, social and territorial cohesion, European Commission, Brussels, November 2010 and Investingin Europes future. Fifth report on economic, social and territorial cohesion. Foreword. Summary. Conclusions. Maps and Comments, European Commission,Brussels, November 2010. Quality of government index has been removed from the final version of the Cohesion Report.

16 The table shows the number of Polish regions eligible for particular ranges, adopted for a given indicator. Detailed information and a graphicalpresentation of these indicators can be found in the Fifth Cohesion Report.

17 Class 1 indicates the best results for a given indicator while class 6 indicates the weakest results.



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3. Chosen maps from Fifth Cohesion Report illustratingsocio-economic situation of the country

Canarias

Guyane Guadeloupe

Martinique

Runion

Aores Madeira

< 50

50- 75

75- 90

90- 100

100 - 125

>=125

< 50

50- 75

75- 90

90- 100

100 - 125

>=125

Index, EU-27 = 100

Source: Eurostat

EuroGeographics Association for the administrative boundaries

0 500Km

REGIOgis

GDP per head (PPS), 2007



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Canarias

Guyane GuadeloupeMartinique

Runion

Aores Madeira


0 500Km

Index, EU-27 = 100

2007

1995

< 50 50 - 75 75 - 100 100 - 150 > 150

100 - 150

75 - 100

50 - 75

< 50

> 150

Source: Eurostat

REGIOgis

Change in regional GDP per head (PPS), 1995-2007



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Canarias


Runion

Aores Madeira

< 0.5

0 .5 - 1

1- 2

2 - 3

>= 3

< 0.5

0 .5 - 1

1- 2

2 - 3

>= 3

% of regional GDP

EU-27 = 1.85EL, IT: 2005; FR: 2004; NL: 2003The Europe 2020 R&D target is 3%

Source: Eurostat


0 500Km

REGIOgis

Total expenditure on R&D, 2007



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Canarias


Runion

Aores Madeira

Predominantly urbanregions

Intermediate regions

Predominantly rural regions

Typology based on a definition ofurban and rural 1 km raster cells.

Source: Eurostat, JRC, EFGS, REGIO-GIS


0 500Km

REGIOgis

Urban-rural typology of NUTS3 regions



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Canarias


Runion

Aores Madeira

< 15

1 5 - 3 0

3 0 - 4 5

4 5 - 6 0

6 0 - 7 5

7 5 - 9 0

90- 105

>105

< 15

1 5 - 3 0

3 0 - 4 5

4 5 - 6 0

6 0 - 7 5

7 5 - 9 0

90- 105

>105

% increase Source: DG REGIO; Spiekermann & Wegener


0 500Km

REGIOgis

Improved road accessibility due to a high speed scenario as compared to the currentsituation



41/44

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Canarias


Runion

Aores Madeira

< 30

30-45

45-60

60-70

7 0 - 8 0

8 0 - 9 0

90- 100

> 100

< 30

30-45

45-60

60-70

7 0 - 8 0

8 0 - 9 0

90- 100

> 100

% increase Source: DG REGIO; Spiekermann & Wegener


0 500Km

REGIOgis

Improved rail accessibility due to a high speed scenario as compared to the currentsituation


l l l d


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MINISTRY

OF REGIONAL

DEVELOPMENTland's development

Ministry of Regional Development of the Republic of PolandDepartment of Structural Policy Coordination

Regional Dimension Unit

2/4 Wsplna Street, 00-926 Warsaw

Phone: (+48 22) 461 39 07

Fax: (+48 22) 461 32 63

www.mrr.gov.plwww.funduszeeuropejskie.gov.pl

e-mail: [email protected]

ISBN: 978-83-7610-286-3


Pl Regional Policy1

Documents

Transcript of Pl Regional Policy1