30 November 2025 r.

National Scientific Conference “Local Government – A Strong Polish Brand. 35 Years of Local and Regional Community Development in the Third Republic of Poland”

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On 21 November 2025, the campus of the Wyższa Szkoła Biznesu – National Louis University in Nowy Sącz hosted the National Scientific Conference “Local Government – A Strong Polish Brand. 35 Years of Local and Regional Community Development in the Third Republic of Poland.” The event, organised in a hybrid format, brought together a large group of scholars and practitioners of public life who gathered in Auditorium C010 to discuss the key achievements and challenges facing local and regional self-government in Poland. The conference was held under the patronage of the Association of Polish Cities, emphasising its significance and the importance of the analyses presented.

Organisers of the event:

Wyższa Szkoła Biznesu – National Louis University in Nowy Sącz
FONTES Association for Research on the Sources and Functions of Law
Forum of Institutional Thought Association

The conference gathered numerous academics and practitioners who collectively attempted to summarise the 35-year achievements of Polish local governance. The presentations covered legal and systemic analyses as well as economic, social, and practical perspectives. The full-day programme was divided into four thematic sessions, each highlighting a different aspect of the functioning of contemporary local government units.

Inaugural Session – Term Length in Local Government

The session was opened by Prof. Paweł Chmielnicki, PhD (University of Warsaw), who presented a synthetic overview of the position of local government within the legal and political system of the Third Republic of Poland. Presentations by Maciej Kurp and Paweł Prokop, based on their practical experience in local administration, demonstrated the significance of term limits for the stability of local governance and the consequences of proposed legislative changes for the functioning of municipal and city executive bodies. The discussion highlighted that the length of the term remains one of the key factors influencing the effectiveness of local authorities and the continuity of development initiatives.

Plenary Session I – Foundations of Local Governance After 35 Years

Moderator: Dr Bolesław Maciej Ćwiertniak

The first session introduced participants to the historical and contemporary understanding of local government autonomy. Dr Marek Mączyński (Jagiellonian University) presented an analysis of various definitions of local government, emphasising their legal, political, and functional implications. Dr Aleksander Kwaśniak (Humanitas University) discussed in detail the importance of transparency as a foundation of local governance, pointing to the practical challenges of informing residents about the activities of local authorities.

In subsequent presentations, Dr Jarosław Czerw (Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce) and Anna Dębowska, MA, addressed remuneration for members of auxiliary bodies in provincial capital cities, presenting both current regulations and proposals for change. Dr Piotr Świerczyński highlighted the problem of attempts to politicise local government activities and the role of legal services in ensuring impartiality. Dr Filip Grzegorczyk (Cracow University of Economics) analysed the position of municipal legal entities, while Władysław Pasoń, MA (WSB-NLU), discussed the legal model of cooperation between municipalities and volunteer fire brigades.

Plenary Session II – The Multidimensional Nature of Local Government Activity

Moderator: Dr Aleksander Kwaśniak

This session demonstrated the broad and multifaceted scope of contemporary local government responsibilities. Dr Grzegorz Skowronek (Jan Kochanowski University) analysed local government involvement in the process of locating gambling establishments, comparing Polish solutions with those in Ukraine, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria. Dr Michał Mółka (WSB-NLU) discussed the outsourcing of public tasks as an increasingly common mechanism of cooperation between LGUs and NGOs.

In further presentations, Dr Adam Hernas (WSB-NLU) addressed the issue of energy efficiency and its role in mobilising local communities. Dr Sławomir Owczarczuk (University of Silesia) discussed the impact of the EU VAT directive on local government operations, while Dr Izabela Jankowska-Prochot and Dr Przemysław Buczkowski examined criminal-law qualifications of official misconduct under the Public Finance Act. The session concluded with a presentation by Krzysztof Dyrek, MA (WSB-NLU), exploring administrative reforms in light of Gunnar Myrdal’s cumulative causation theory.

Plenary Session III – Challenges in Local Government Management

Moderator: Prof. Jarosław Czerw, PhD (Jan Kochanowski University)

This session focused entirely on the challenges related to the management of local government units. Dr Jerzy Paśnik (Vistula University of Finance and Business) presented a detailed analysis of the concept of two-term limits in local government. Dr Tomasz Moll discussed the impact of term restrictions on local democracy and decision-making processes.

Subsequent presentations included:

Dr Anna Mazurek (Tarnów Academy) – legal boundaries of local government autonomy in heritage protection
Dr Emilia Gulińska (Radom University) – the importance of public consultation in service planning
Dr Małgorzata Żołna – forensic aspects of combating crime within LGUs, with emphasis on investigative auditing
Dr Paulina Łazutka-Gawęda (Piotrków Academy) – local safety as a new key responsibility of local authorities

Concluding Session – Quo vadis, loci imperium?

Moderator: Dr Michał Mółka

The final session provided a space for formulating recommendations regarding the future of local governance in Poland. Marek Wójcik opened the discussion by reflecting on the role of term limits in the context of national security and economic development. Adrian Pałacki, MA (Jan Kochanowski University), discussed the supervisory functions of local councils, while Dr Magdalena Strożek-Kucharska (University of Silesia) presented an analysis of public service development. Dr Adam Krzyżanowski (Vistula University) addressed issues related to financing civil protection and emergency management.

Dr Anna Feja-Paszkiewicz (University of Zielona Góra) shared insights on municipal boundary-change procedures, and Agata Sobieszek-Krzywicka, MA, discussed the principle of subsidiarity in local government structures. The final presentation, delivered by Ernest Górka, MScEng (WSB-NLU), focused on the importance of local government in shaping civic engagement within local communities.

Closing of the Conference

The day concluded with a ceremonial address by Prof. Paweł Chmielnicki, PhD (University of Warsaw), Founder of the FONTES Association. In his summary, he emphasised that local government is one of the most important institutions established in the Third Republic of Poland – an institution which, over the past 35 years, has become a symbol of local development, decentralisation, and civic participation. He also highlighted the need to further strengthen the role of local communities in state processes, as well as the importance of developing competencies and tools necessary for effective governance in changing social and economic conditions.