Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

The Europeanisation of regional policy in Poland: did political parties make a difference?

2013; Routledge; Volume: 29; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/21599165.2013.782540

2159-9165

Anna Gwiazda,

Social Policy and Reform Studies

Abstract This paper examines the role of the European Union (EU) and the policy preferences of parties in government for the Europeanisation of regional policy in Poland. While the importance of the EU is undeniable, the role of political parties is unexplored in the literature. This paper presents a more nuanced approach to the study of policy preferences than the partisan theory proposes. It focuses on strategic origins of policy preferences which dominate in the case of win-win policies such as EU regional policy which is about economic gains for beneficiaries of EU structural and cohesion funds. In this policy case, preferences of domestic political parties have converged towards securing EU funding. The partisan effects on policy outputs are thus less visible in the post-accession stage. Keywords: EuropeanisationPolandpolitical partieseconomic reform Notes The total amount of structural funds, cohesion fund, national funds, and private funds for 2004–2006 was €19.2 billion, while for 2007–2013 €85.6 billion. I wish to thank Paolo Graziano for his elaboration of the policy structure. The Phare programme (the French acronym for Poland and Hungary Assistance to Economic Restructuring) was adopted by the Council on 18 December 1989. Initially targeted at helping Poland and Hungary make the transition to a market economy, Phare was quickly extended to other transition countries. With an immediate allocation of ECU 300 million to Poland and Hungary in 1990, this was a significant response by the EU (see Mayhew Citation1998). Session of the Sejm, 6 February 1998, Sejm archives. Ibid. Ibid. Vote No. 102, 7 May 1998, Sejm RP. The reform consisted of several acts: the Law of 5 June on Self-governing regions, Journal of Laws 1998, No. 91, item 576; the Law of 5 June on State administration in the regions, Journal of Laws 1998, No. 91 item 577; and the Law of 5 June on Self-governing counties, Journal of Laws 1998, No. 91 item 578. In Poland, regions correspond to NUTS 2 level, counties – NUTS 4 level, and communes – NUTS 5 level. For simplicity, I use the term "region" rather than "voivodeship", although a Polish nomenclature treats regions as larger entities embracing several voivodeships. Bill No. 181, 27 January 1998, Justification of Law on Self-governing regions, Sejm RP. The Copenhagen European Council of June 1993 laid down political, economic, and acquis accession criteria. The Act of 12 May 2000 on rules to support regional development, Journal of laws 2000, No. 48, item 550. Session of the Sejm, 23 September 1999. Ibid. Roll call No. 96, 17 March 2000. It was outlined in the Law of 12 May 2000 on Regional Development, Journal of Laws, 2000, No. 48, item 550. Session of the Sejm, 31 March 2004, Sejm Archives. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Roll call No. 132, 2 April 2004, Sejm RP. Journal of Laws, No. 116, Item 1206. Session of the Sejm Committee on Self-government and Regional Policy, 4 October 2006, Sejm Archives. Ibid. The Civic Platform voted against the bill. Roll call No. 48, 18 October 2006, Sejm RP. Journal of Laws, 2006, No. 277, Item 1658, Sejm RP.