Poland Poland Size: 313.027 km 2 Population: 38,7 mil. Constitution: Parliamentary Democratic Republic >
BSSSC Members ggggggggg Pomorskie Voivodeship Area: 18.293 km 2 Population: 2,2 mill. Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship Area: 23.032km 2 Population: 1,7 mill. Warminsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship Area: 24.202 km 2 Population: 1,5 mill.
Administration gggggggg Levels and Competencies ggggggggggggg In Poland the basic local self-government level is gmina (commune). Poland is divided into 2478 of them. It is here that the most important collective needs of local communities are met. Gmina is responsible for all public matters of local significance, which have not been reserved by law for other entities and authorities. Gminas own tasks focus on meeting the collective needs of communities for public services. The second tier of local self-government is poviat (county) of which Poland has 315 and 65 urban gminas (larger towns) endowed with poviat rights (by assuming poviat functions, poviat infrastructure and poviat budget authority). The poviat self-government is responsible for local issues which cannot be ascribed to gminas. Poviat is large enough to maintain efficiently many of everyday institutions of public life (secondary schools, general hospitals, poviat police and fire stations, sanitary inspectorates and tax offices etc.). The third level is called voivodeship (region). There are 16 voivodeships in Poland with populations between one to five million inhabitants. On this level there is governmental representative (voivod) and self-governmental authority. Voivodeship self-government is on independent legal identities. It has its own budget and extensive powers in the area of economic policy. Regional parliament known as Sejmik is the decision making body elected in general elections. The Sejmik, in turn, elect executive body (regional board) to exercise the executive authority which is headed by the elected Marshal. Voivodeship is responsible for the regional development policy programmes, whose primary purpose is to ensure that the country s human and material capital is put to best use. The tasks of voivodeship self-government are concentrated in three major areas: economic development, some regional public services and international cooperation. All the three administrative levels are independent of each other. Finances ggggg The budget of the self-government consists of its own income and so called overall subvention (funds redistributed by the national government). Additionally the self-government may apply for aim-oriented grants (provided by the central level to a specific purpose) and other external funds mainly EU funds. With the latest modifications the voivodeship receives 1,6% of PIT revenues (personal income tax ) and 15,9% of CIT revenues ( company income tax ). Control gggg
Control functions are executed in the name of the central government by the voivod who is accountable to the central government and focuses on the legal supervision of the activities of gmina, poviat and voivodeship self-governments. The voivod can annul decisions made by self-government if they are inconsistent with the statutory law. The legality can be the only criterion used in the control process.
Levels and Tasks ggggggggg State Level Defence National roads National public transport Some cultural institutions Enforcement of EU policies Education (University level) Statistical office Money policy Internal safety Justice Governmental control, over: - Construction - Environmental protection - Energy policy, etc. Regional level (voivodeship) Economic development Education: running post-secondary schools, certain secondary and vocational schools, teacher training colleges, voivodeship libraries Initiating the establishment and financing of higher education Specialised health services, medical emergency and ambulance services Regional cultural institutions Designing strategies to counteract unemployment Modernisation of rural areas Spatial development Preservation of the environment Water management, land amelioration and maintenance of hydro-installations Regional road and transport management International co-operation Local Level (poviat) Secondary education (i.e. post-elementary schools, vocational and special schools) General responsibility for the operation of the Public health service institutions Social welfare services that extend beyond the gminas boundaries Running tutelary and educational facilities, including orphanages Counteracting unemployment Supporting the disabled Maintaining public order and collective security Supporting cultural institutions Constructing and maintaining poviat roads Environmental protection Protecting consumer rights Maintenance of poviat facilities and public utilities Promoting the poviat Local Level (gmina) Land management and planning Zoning and local environmental protection Local infrastructure Maintenance of cleanliness and order, and of landfills and disposal Electricity and heat supply Local public transport Primary health care services Municipal housing Education (kindergartens, elementary schools) Promotion of culture and sport Public markets and fairs Public order and fire protection Social welfare Maintenance of gmina buildings and public facilities.
Contact Persons & Addresses ggggggggggggggg Pomorskie Voivodeship Office of the Marshal of the Pomorskie Voivodeship Marshal Mr Jan Kozłowski Ul. Okopowa 21/27 80-810 Gdańsk www.woj-pomorskie.pl Contact person: Ms Krystyna Wróblewska Department of International Co-operation Phone: +48 58 32 61 701 Fax: +48 58 32 61 704 e-mail: dwz@woj-pomorskie.pl Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship Office of the Marshal of the Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship Marshal - Mr Norbert Obrycki Ul. Korsarzy 34 70-540 Szczecin www.um-zachodniopomorskie.pl Warmińsko Mazurskie Voivodeship Office of the Marshal of the Warminsko Mazurskie Voivodeship Marshal Mr Jacek Protas ul. Emilii Platter 1 10-562 Olsztyn Contact Person: Ms Lidia Wójtowicz Department of Regional Policy Phone: +48 89 523 27 89 Fax: +48 89 523 26 09 e-mail: dpr@warmia.mazury.pl Contact Person: Ms Dorota Matulewicz Bureau for International Co-operation, Phone: +48 91 44 67 182 Fax: +48 91 44 67 180 e-mail: bwm@wzp.pl