The year 2025 marks 35 years since the rebirth of local self-government in Poland. This anniversary has become an opportunity for in-depth scientific reflection on the condition and future of the Polish model of local government. In response to this need, the ITECH Research Network – Institute of Innovation and Technology in Warsaw, together with the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies at the University of Warsaw, organized a Scientific Conference entitled. “Modernization of Polish local government administration – current state and challenges”.
The event was held on November 20, 2025 at the University of Warsaw. It brought together more than 30 participants: academics, politicians, civil servants, analysts and think tanks to discuss key challenges facing local and regional government – from systemic and organizational issues to civic participation and local security.
The meeting was opened by: Prof. Katarzyna Kolodziejczyk – dean of the CISM. As well as Dr. Michal Matlak – director of Lukasiewicz – ITECH.
The participants attempted to diagnose the most important challenges facing local and regional government in the Third Republic. It provided a space for a factual and critical analysis of the functioning of local government and for the formulation of modernization recommendations that can form the basis for further research and legislative work.
Three expert panels – diagnosis and recommendations
1. institutional modernization of local government
The first panel was devoted to institutional and organizational changes. The experts drew attention to the growing tilt in the relationship between the executive and the legislative bodies, which in many municipalities hinders cooperation and limits the ability of the councils to perform their statutory control functions. They also stressed the need for:
Strengthening the interaction of local government units in the implementation of public tasks,
Introduce a model of civil service in local administration – along the lines of the solutions in place in government administration,
systemic regulation of the issue of ring municipalities and metropolitan unions.
2 Citizen participation
The second panel focused on the quality and real dimension of residents’ participation. The need for authentic public consultation was emphasized, pointing out numerous negative examples of practice from Polish municipalities and cities. The discussion included:
The role of citizen budgets as a tool for real co-determination of public spending,
low turnout in local referendums and the search for more effective models of direct democracy.
3 Local security
The third panel was devoted to local security in the context of internal and external threats. Experts pointed to the need for the development of modern civil defense instruments and the interaction of government, local administration, uniformed services and the expert community.
The organization of the conference was coordinated by our expert – Prof. Dr. Jacek Wojnicki. WE SINCERELY THANK YOU!