EU regions President at 25th anniversary of local governance in Poland: regional authorities can help restore citizens’ trust in EU
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the restoration of local government in Poland (4 June), the President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Markku Markkula, met the MEP Jerzy Buzek i and Marek Woźniak, the President of the Polish delegation at the CoR, to discuss the position of local government in the European Union. They all agreed that the EU can be strengthened by the regions and cities working together, which is in line with the CoR main goal.
According to a Eurobarometer survey conducted in the autumn of 2014, nearly nine out of ten Europeans are closely connected with their city or town. The Poles were recorded as having the 4th strongest bond with their region. However, the number of people who feel attached to the EU is significantly lower with an average in the EU of 45 % and 59% among Poles. Similarly, the average voter turnout for European Parliament elections has been declining steadily since 1979. More than half of Europeans do not participate in EU elections, but 'almost' the whole population feel a bond with their town or village.
Decentralisation can help restore citizens’ trust in the EU .
However, following the ongoing financial crisis and budgetary constraints, local and regional authorities in the EU have encountered two main challenges in the area of fiscal decentralisation. Firstly, fiscal competition with central government has increased. Secondly, the co-financing of EU funds has become increasingly difficult, especially for small municipalities. The level of fiscal decentralisation in Poland is 22%, a little higher than the EU average (18%). But there are local authorities that have a very low level of autonomy with regards to their tax revenues. Although the benefits of regional decentralisation are not in dispute, the process is not yet complete and there is room for improvement across the EU, especially in the case of fiscal decentralisation.
During the conference the participants agreed that there was a need to continue fiscal decentralisation and strengthen the regions and cities through the principle of multilevel governance. This could make them able to contribute to growth and jobs in the EU, and boost citizens’ confidence in European decisions. The CoR President Markku Markkula stressed: "In less than three decades, Poland's transformation was remarkable: the people and governments moved to a truly democratic state, reformed its economic system and moved swiftly away from hyper-centralism to administrative decentralisation. This experience of decentralisation can serve as a good example for other EU countries reforming their local governments". Jerzy Buzek, Member of the European Parliament summarized: “Today in self-government we should seek chances for a real community on the European Union level . In turn, Marshal of Wielkopolska Region, and also the President of Polish delegation to the Committee of the Regions, Marek Woźniak (PL/EPP) pointed out that: "Decentralisation and democratisation of public life are not a single act but a process that must be continually improved."
See more about conference here
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Julia Rokicka
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