Increasing social participation in spatial planning: Polish experience

Abstract

One of the main weaknesses of the Polish development system is a low level of integration (i.e. low level of social and human capital, low level of trust). It results in limited social participation and consequently weakens the effects of activities. Up to 2014 social participation in development projects and programmes was limited to formal consultations preceding the final decision on some intervention, only when it was required (like in European cohesion Policy). Today (2014-2020) the EU expects that partnership will become a permanent and lasting element of individual Policies and Programmes in each phase of work (starting from programming, through implementation to closing up and evaluating the intervention).