Proceedings of The International Conference on Applied Research in Business, Management and Economics
Year: 2019
DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.33422/bmeconf.2019.12.903
Integrated Territorial Investments as a Tool for Regional Development – Polish Experience
Magdalena Kogut-Jaworska
ABSTRACT:
According to the current cohesion policy of the European Union, territorial approach is a priority, the components of which are urban areas, and for which new objectives, principles and support mechanisms have been defined. The instruments proposed within the framework of the European Union’s regional policy are designed and intended to improve the use of EU funds and contribute to the visibility of their future outcomes. Territorial targeting of public intervention entails a number of potential benefits, but also, a whole range of restrictions. Due to the fact that territorial instruments, such as Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI), so far have not been frequently applied in Poland, the introduction of the aforementioned instruments requires some explanation of their essence and the factors affecting their implementation.The aim of this article is to identify progress in the implementation of the integrated approach to programming, financing and completion of investment activities in urban areas in Poland, and to analyse practical aspects of territorial delimitation of urban functional areas, being a vital link in public intervention in Poland. In order to achieve such a research objective, the following two fundaments questions required an answer. First of all: Does the establishment of a new, territorial approach to social and economic cohesion contribute to material benefits under the regional development policy in Poland? Secondly: Does the institutionalisation of Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI), forcing a number of partners at the local level to become involved, enhance or diminish the impact of regional self-government authorities on regional policy?The author of this article used, as the basis for her analyses, literature studies and experience of work performed for public sector agencies competent for regional development in Poland (including, among others, the Ministry of Regional Development, the Marshal’s Office of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship and the Szczecin Metropolitan Area). In order to obtain answers to the questions stated above, the article introduces some of the basic concepts and assumptions that enabled the author to identify the outcomes of implementing the new cohesion policy dimension in the form of Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI), and to delineate some of the experience in its implementation in Poland to date.
Keywords: Integrated Territorial Investments, regional development, regional policy, regional and local management.