The Lower Silesian Local Government Congress continues to attract growing interest. It is the largest debate on the future and development of Lower Silesia. This year’s ninth edition brought together a very large group of people for whom the strong role of local government in contemporary Poland is important.
“We always invite all political forces to the Lower Silesian Local Government Congress so that we can talk openly and also debate and disagree. Dialogue builds understanding, and the future can be built only on understanding. Local government has great social value. It is not cheques brought by MPs and ministers. Local government is not a blanket that everyone can pull in their own direction. Local government is the residents. Local government guarantees the stable development of the state, democracy and the fulfilment of people’s dreams of an efficient and strong state,” says Marshal Cezary Przybylski of the Non-Party Local Government Officials.
The event was divided into three thematic panels moderated by Agnieszka Gozdyra of Polsat News, Bogusław Chrabota – editor-in-chief of the Rzeczpospolita daily, and Marcin Torz of Super Express. During the congress debates, participants focused on the most current topics, including discussions on the condition and importance of local government in the country’s development, the transport revolution and the need for Lower Silesia’s energy transformation. These were:
- “Between Local Government and the Government: A Self-Governing Poland or a Centralised Poland?” – with the participation of Marshal Cezary Przybylski, Michał Dworczyk – Minister in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, MP Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, MP Mirosława Stachowiak-Różecka, Robert Raczyński – Mayor of Lubin, and Łukasz Borowiak – Mayor of Leszno
- “The Transport Revolution in Lower Silesia: Rail or Buses?” – with the participation of Tymoteusz Myrda – Member of the Board of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Andrzej Bittel – Secretary of State and Government Plenipotentiary for Counteracting Transport Exclusion, Piotr Karwan – Councillor of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Assembly, Tomasz Kulczyński – Mayor of Chocianów, Irena Krzyszkiewicz – Mayor of Góra, and Wojciech Zdanowski – Vice-President of Koleje Dolnośląskie
- “Energy Transformation: Trends and Challenges for Lower Silesia” – with the participation of Grzegorz Macko – Deputy Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Michał Bobowiec – Councillor of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Assembly, Małgorzata Matusiak – Head of Trzebnica County, Dorota Pawnuk – Mayor of Strzelin, Piotr Podgórski – Director General for Transformation at KGHM Polska Miedź S.A., and Remigiusz Nowakowski – President of the Management Board of the Lower Silesian Institute of Energy Studies.
The first panel was dominated by a discussion on relations between local government and the central authorities. In the face of the challenges of the modern world that have confronted us in recent months and years, Polish local governments at all levels have demonstrated their value and commitment. Regardless of the nature of the challenge – the pandemic, the crisis caused by the war in Ukraine or negotiations on the new EU budget – understanding is the key. It makes it possible to meet the needs of the region’s residents and respond to their expectations.
Participants in the discussion stressed that not only political understanding is important, but also understanding in the broader social sense. Cooperation between local governments at all levels and the central administration, business communities and non-governmental organisations, and above all the involvement of residents, guarantees the stability and effectiveness of the state’s institutions.
“Lower Silesia is not only the fastest-developing region in Poland, but also the most democratic region in Poland. This is thanks to the coalition formed here and governing together. Cooperation between local and central government works very well here, and the legal solutions regulating this cooperation are good. Neither excessive centralisation nor excessive decentralisation is beneficial,” said Michał Dworczyk, Minister in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister.
“The key words are cooperation, balance and equilibrium. The role and importance of local government have increased in recent years,” noted Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, a member of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland.
“As a local government official, I experienced the government being ‘removed’ from local government, and I am now observing some powers returning to the government (…) We have gone through a difficult period in recent years. Local government was created in a time of euphoria and a lack of threats; it was meant only to help the market. Today we already know what the government failed to cope with, but also what local government failed to cope with,” observed Robert Raczyński – Mayor of Lubin and a member of the Non-Party Local Government Officials.
“Lower Silesia is one of the most dynamically developing regions in the entire European Union. I have been Marshal of Lower Silesia for nine years and can say with full conviction that the success of our region’s development is due to the diligence and creativity of Lower Silesia’s residents, but also to the synergy of local governments at all levels, academia, business, non-governmental organisations and dialogue with the government. Local government is the foundation for the proper functioning of the entire state. There is no strong Poland without strong local governments. Local government is the essence of democracy,” concluded Marshal Cezary Przybylski.
The next discussion panel was devoted to Lower Silesia’s transport revolution. The dynamic development of Lower Silesia is widely discussed in Poland. Many initiatives implemented here serve as models later used in other regions. These include a project unprecedented on a national scale to revitalise and restore rail connections on out-of-service lines, as well as the purchase of the most modern trains for Koleje Dolnośląskie. It is difficult to find another region investing in railways as heavily as Lower Silesia.
In total, the voivodeship government took over more than 20 railway lines from PKP PLK in order to revitalise them and restore passenger services. Advanced modernisation work is under way on many lines, all to connect further Lower Silesian cities to the regional transport system. But that is not all: in places not yet served by rail, Koleje Dolnośląskie is preparing to launch buses on which tickets will also be valid on the regional carrier’s trains. This will make convenient daily travel between cities and towns in Lower Silesia possible.
“Lower Silesia stands out on Poland’s map when it comes to transport activity. That is good, because it demonstrates that serving residents is a priority. It is not only the railway network, but also, among other things, the Cyklostrada, as well as transport in the broader sense,” said Andrzej Bittel – Secretary of State and Government Plenipotentiary for Counteracting Transport Exclusion.
“We are experiencing a true renaissance of railways. Residents want to use them, but for that to be possible they need an attractive offer. Koleje Dolnośląskie shows how this enormous potential can be used. Year after year, it breaks records for passenger numbers, expands its network of connections and invests in new trains as well as bus services, while residents of Lower Silesia expect high-quality public transport and we are meeting those expectations,” says Tymoteusz Myrda, a member of the voivodeship board from the Non-Party Local Government Officials..
“The Góra–Bojanowo railway line operated until 2010, after which it was suspended. This was caused by the construction of the S5 route. It was only many years later – in 2020, thanks to the favourable attitude of the voivodeship government – that line 372 was included in the region’s development strategy. Today, thanks to this, we believe that the investment will be completed,” added Irena Krzyszkiewicz, Mayor of Góra.
“There are several transport-excluded cities in Lower Silesia. There is strong demand in the region for rail connections to return after many years. We know what to do, we have reliable partners and we intend to implement our plans,” concluded Piotr Karwan, chairman of the Law and Justice Councillors’ Club in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Assembly.
The final panel focused on energy transformation. Polish regions, including Lower Silesia, stand on the threshold of a major green transformation of the energy and transport sectors. According to experts, this process has already begun, which is why it is extremely important to make skilful use of the tools designed to support it. In this area, the European Funds for Lower Silesia 2021–2027 will play an important role, particularly the Just Transition Fund dedicated to the Wałbrzych subregion.
Participants in the discussion stressed that energy transformation is a global trend taking place independently of politics. To a large extent, it is happening from the bottom up through citizens’ actions. It involves not only installing photovoltaic panels and producing green energy, but also making a conscious choice of environmentally friendly public transport, such as rail or bicycles, in the daily lives of the region’s residents. That is why it is so important for local governments to recognise these needs and invest so that they can be met.
“As Lower Silesia, we are one of the national leaders in energy transformation. However, it must be remembered that the foundation of our energy mix should be stable sources such as coal today and nuclear power in the future, which is the cleanest and safest form of obtaining energy. As the voivodeship government, we are trying to plan the region’s development so as to prepare for the challenges ahead,” said Deputy Marshal Grzegorz Macko.
“We must act. It is possible that the era of large grants is already in the past; the 2021–2027 programming period offers different opportunities. We must properly manage funding sources in order to work effectively on energy efficiency. We talk about energy transformation and the need for change, yet paradoxically today we provide grants for the purchase of coal,” added Małgorzata Matusiak – Head of Trzebnica County.
“Today, available funds must be divided even more wisely. The area most in need of support is energy efficiency. We need to change social awareness and gain public support,” concluded Remigiusz Nowakowski – President of the Management Board of the Lower Silesian Institute of Energy Studies.