International Cooperation of Local Self-Government Units – Selected Legal and Financial Issues
Abstract
The author raises the issue of current legal and financial aspects of international cooperation between local self-government units. Self-governmental cooperation that reaches across borders is sanctioned by the Polish Constitution, acts of international law – including the European Charter of Local Self-Government, ratified by Poland, as well as the European Framework Convention of Cross-Border Cooperation – and Polish legislation.
International cooperation between units of local self-government is an important element of the EU policy of regional development, especially in terms of strengthening social, economic as well as territorial cohesion of the EU.
Euroregions are a legal-administrative form of transborder cooperation between local self-governments and local communities. Their existence is based on agreements concluded directly between units of local self-government or associations of such units that belong to at least two states. In Poland there are currently 17 euroregions that join self-governments of Poland and those of other neighbouring states.
One of the basic legal and financial instruments that underlie international cooperation of local self-government units of the EU is Interreg Initiative. The author also discusses the perspectives of international cooperation of local self-government units, particularly in the light of redefining the social and economic cohesion policy of the EU as well as new financial perspectives for the 2007-2013 budget.
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