Europeanization and the Regions. The Case of the UK and Poland

The aim of this text is to answer the question to what extent European integration influenced the creation and functioning of the regions in two countries: United Kingdom and Poland. The hypothesis is, based on model of different sources of regional power by A. Bourne, that in both countries the EU impact strengthened regional powers. European integration is shown as one of the factors triggering decentralization reforms in both countries. A pro-regional shift in national politics is explained as a sign of Europeanization of administrative structures and political priorities. There is evidence that European integration empowered regions in the UK and Poland. Sub-national authorities received new competencies, especially regarding regional policy implementation, and can use new channels of participation in the formulation of EU policy. Even if central governments remain to be gate-keepers between regional authorities and the EU, the regional profile has been boosted.