The Impact of Polish Accession to the European Union on „Priorities of External Cooperation of Voivodeships”

Abstract

“The priorities of external cooperation of voivodeship” is a special resolution of sejmik, that includes targets of cooperation, their geographical direction, and statements regarding the accession to international associations of regions. This document is the basis for foreign initiatives undertaken by the voivodeships to cooperate with regions in other countries. The article, based on a comparative analysis of the first resolutions adopted in 1999–2000 and those enacted after 2004, verifies the assumption that Polish accession to the European Union resulted in at least modifying, and in many cases reorienting, both the goals and the direction of cooperation as well as plans to join international associations.