The Bolesławiec City Council approved the Municipality of Bolesławiec joining an Agreement with the local government units of the Western Integration Area concerning the joint preparation and implementation of the Development Strategy for the Western Integration Area and the Integrated Territorial Investments Programme for the Western Integration Area of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship for 2014–2020.
The councillors authorised the Mayor of Bolesławiec to conclude an Agreement on cooperation for the socio-economic development of the Western Integration Area between: Bolesławiec County, Lubań County, Lwówek County, Zgorzelec County, and the municipalities of the Town and Municipality of Bogatynia, Municipality of Bolesławiec, Municipality of Gromadka, Town and Municipality of Gryfów Śląski, Town and Municipality of Leśna, Municipality of Lubań, Urban Municipality of Lubań, Town and Municipality of Lubomierz, Town and Municipality of Lwówek Śląski, Town and Municipality of Mirsk, Town and Municipality of Nowogrodziec, Town and Municipality of Olszyna, Municipality of Osiecznica, Town and Municipality of Pieńsk, Municipality of Platerówka, Municipality of Siekierczyn, Municipality of Sulików, Town of Świeradów Zdrój, Municipality of Warta Bolesławiecka, Town and Municipality of Węgliniec, Town and Municipality of Wleń, Urban Municipality of Zawidów, Municipality of Zgorzelec, and Urban Municipality of Zgorzelec.
The justification is that the “Lower Silesian Voivodeship Development Strategy 2020” covers the 2014–2020 programming period. The Strategy’s programming period coincides with the programming period of the European Union budget. Work is already under way on a new Regional Operational Programme (RPO) for our voivodeship. The new rules for allocating RPO funding for 2014–2020 are based partly on transferring tasks previously carried out at the regional level to a lower level (subregional or local). The new rules favour large cities in the region or partnerships of municipalities that define their own priority tasks and projects to be co-financed with European funds.
According to the delimitation of areas adopted in the Strategy, our four counties constitute the so-called Western Integration Area (Area D), which “covers areas located along the western border of the region, facing threats connected with the transformation of the natural environment and landscape. Another major threat to this area is progressing depopulation and rising unemployment associated with the depletion of lignite deposits. The cross-border character of the area, expressed through strong local cooperation—Zgorzelec–Görlitz—represents an opportunity for the development of local entrepreneurship. An opportunity for the sustainable development of the Western Area is the reclamation of post-mining areas and the optimal use of the area’s natural assets in cooperation with the German and Czech sides, as well as providing support for SMEs and investors, counteracting social exclusion and improving quality of life.” (“Lower Silesian Voivodeship Development Strategy 2020”, p. 27).
The local governments in our area were already effective during the pre-accession period in obtaining funding for implemented tasks and projects from EU funds (Phare). Participation in subsequent cross-border cooperation programmes (Interreg, ETC) demonstrates experience in cooperating on both bilateral and multilateral projects. To obtain funding for the implementation of the new instrument, it will be necessary to meet certain conditions, including: preparing an Action Programme; establishing an institutionalised form of partnership; having appropriate institutional capacity; and signing an agreement to implement Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) in the voivodeship with the Managing Authority of the Regional Operational Programme.
(commissioned information – Bolesławiec City Hall)