Samorząd terytorialny w Polsce przed i po przystąpieniu do Unii Europejskiej. Wykorzystanie funduszy unijnych przez jednostki samorządu terytorialnego na przykładzie województwa podkarpackiego

Local Government in Poland Before and After its Accession to the European Union. The Use of EU Funds by Local Government Units as Exemplified by Podkarpackie VoivodeshipThe local government has been part of the Polish political system since 1990. The key moments in the transformation of the organisation in the country were the adoption in 1999 of a three-tier territorial division in 1999 and the entrance into force of the 2002 Act on the direct election of mayors and governors. The local government is a form of participation of citizens in shaping – public collective life at local and regional levels.The purpose of this article is to present a the changes in the functioning of the local government after Poland’s accession to the European Union and to present the impact of EU funds on development of local government units. Thanks to EU funds a num- ber of projects have been implemented aimed at improving skills, social integration and employment as well as improving the competitiveness and innovation of Polish enterprises. Particular attention should be paid to the impact of EU funds on regional development and the construction of modern infrastructure in local government units. Development of individual local government units translates directly into improved living standards and the development of the Polish state.