MINISTRY OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR DEVELOPMENT OF WESTERN POLAND 2020

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STRATEGY FOR DEVELOPMENT

OF WESTERN POLAND 2020

Document adopted by the Council of Ministers on 30 April 2014. Warsaw 2014

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ISBN: 978-83-7610-498-0

Published by:

Ministry of Infrastructure and Development ul. Wspólna 2/4, 00-926 Warszawa http://www.mir.gov.pl

Department of Supra-Regional Programmes Phone No. (+48 22) 273 82 00

Fax (+48 22) 273 89 14 e-mail: sekretariatdpp@mir.gov.pl

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A wise development policy should promote cooperation and the natural social and economic processes to help strengthen ties between regions. This is why it is a great pleasure for me to be able to present the Strategy for Development of Western Poland

– another strategy that responds to specific challenges for supra-regional areas. The

Strategy for Development of Western Poland makes it possible to determine both – the macro-regional development opportunities, as well as to effectively strengthen them. The document is the result of a partnership cooperation between the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development and self-governments of five voivodeships (Dolnośląskie, Lubuskie, Opolskie, Wielkopolskie, Zachodniopomorskie), supported by experts. Our shared intention was to prepare a development strategy for Western Poland, which will be the basis for planning specific actions in 2014-2020 perspective, to increase the competitiveness of the macro-region.

Western Poland has a high potential for dynamic growth. Favourable location in Europe, research potential and the willingness of regional self-governments to cooperate ensure high investment attractiveness of the area. Better use of these advantages can be achieved through solutions planned in the Strategy.

Western Poland has unique opportunities for development. Effective use of these opportunities can make it an attractive and open area by 2020, establishing the conditions for close cooperation and mobilising for creative activity, which is successfully competing at home and abroad.

I believe that the actions taken on the basis of this Strategy will contribute to a sustainable boost of development processes in the macro-region, creating conditions to increase its competitiveness and improve the quality of life of residents.

Elżbieta Bieńkowska

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1 INTRODUCTION

1.1

BACKGROUND OF THE STRATEGY, DEVELOPMENT

RULES FOR THE DOCUMENT

The work associated with the creation of the Strategy for Development of Western

Poland 2020 (SDWP, Strategy) was initiated by regional self-governments (of

Dolnośląskie Voivodeship, Lubuskie Voivodeship, Opolskie Voivodeship, Wielkopolskie Voivodeship and Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship) on the basis of the agreement concluded in August 2010 in Szczecin1)_{. The pillars of cooperation in creating a} common strategic vision of development are the elements connecting the regions of Western Poland2)_{, including willingness to cooperate in the macro-region, as well as} the Oder river basin and the cross-border location. It was stressed that there is a need to focus the SDWP on the development challenges whose nature and scale requires supra-regional cooperation, going beyond the boundaries of one voivodeship.

For the purposes of this Strategy, the macro-region of Western Poland was defined as five voivodeships: Dolnośląskie, Lubuskie, Opolskie, Wielkopolskie and Zachodniopomorskie. The macro-region covers 31% of the country (96,065 km2_{) and} connects Central Europe with Western Europe, Southern Europe and Scandinavia. The western and southern borders of the macro-region are also

Polish state borders. From the

west it borders three eastern

German lands (Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Saxony), and from the south it borders the Czech Republic. The element that binds Western Poland together is the Oder river basin, with significant demographic, economic and spatial potential. Oder, which forms part of the state border, is also an important axis of cooperation between Polish voivodeships and with regions of Germany and the Czech Republic. The macro-region is inhabited by over 10 million people, which is approximately 26% of the country’s population, and is an area with a population density less than the national average (105 people per square kilometre, compared to the national average of 123).

1) _{http://polskazachodnia2020.pl/aktualnosci.html.}

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At the same time, Western Poland has slightly higher level of urbanisation than the national average (in Poland, on average, 61% of the population lives in cities, while in the macro-region 62%). The high level of urbanisation of the analysed area is a reflection of a dense urban network and the size structure of cities. As much as 38% of the cities of the country are located within the macro-region. There are 280 km2 _{per one city in the macro-region, while in general in Poland} this ratio stands at 342 km2_.3)

Work on the document was carried out in stages: the first stage, initiated by the signing of the agreement, was used primarily for detailed identification of areas of

cooperation between voivodeships, and the result was the Strategic diagnosis of

Western Poland and the Guidelines for the Strategy for Development of Western Poland (Guidelines)4)_{. Work on the Guidelines was supervised by voivodeship} marshals and led by the Steering Group consisting of representatives of regional self-governments and external experts. Five regional reports and several expertises have been developed. A preliminary list was also developed with key supra-regional projects planned for implementation until 20205)_{. Representatives of the minister} in charge of regional development assured to provide cooperation and support in this effort..

The second phase of work on the document began in April 2012 with the submission to the minister responsible for regional development of the Guidelines and the request for drafting supra-regional government strategy within the meaning of the Act of 6 December 2006 on the principles of development policy6)_. The process of creating the document was supported by the scientific community, including experts who worked in earlier stages7)_{with regional self-governments} on the preparation of the Guidelines and the Institute for Territorial Development of Wrocław, which brought a significant material contribution to the preparation of the SDWP. In accordance with the principle of partnership, the regional self-governmentsregularly issued opinions on parts of the Strategy developed by the Ministry and discussed its provisions during the workshop summarizing subsequent stages of work. Suggestions made by the regions and expert support contributed to improving the quality of the document and providing important additions highlighting the potential and aspirations of the macro-region, and – very importantly – ensured the necessary continuity between the government and local government stages of work.

3) _{All data presented in the box are data for 2012.}

4) _{http://www.mir.gov.pl/rozwoj_regionalny/polityka_regionalna/polska_zach/dokumenty/strony/dokumenty.}

aspx.

5) _{http://www.mir.gov.pl/rozwoj_regionalny/polityka_regionalna/polska_zach/dokumenty/strony/dokumenty.}

aspx.

6) _{Polish Journal of Laws of 2009, No. 84, item 712, as amended}

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The process of development of the SDWP paid special attention to the supra-regional dimension. Formulation of the intervention directions took into account the specific characteristics of the macro-region, which is consistent with the principle of the territorial approach to development, which is based on the assumption that one should make more efficient use of endogenous resources of different types of territories and build development strategies on them8)_{. Works were also carried} out in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, consisting in selecting the management level of public intervention which is most adequate for the identified development objectives.

The efforts to maximize the developmental effects resulting from the activities provided for in the SDWP led to thematic concentration (selectivity) of areas of support, which is one of the basic principles of designing a strategy document. The SDWP focuses on carefully selected supra-regional issues occurring with particular intensity in the macro-region. Support for these issues will contribute to the greatest extent to achieve the development objectives of Western Poland.

The SDWP is based on the principle of evidence-based policy. Formulation of

development objectives and intervention directions to implement them was preceded by a diagnosis of the socio-economic situation in the macro-region, based on the analysis of available studies and identification of key developmental potentials. The vision of development of the macro-region took into account the key challenges and trends that may have most influence on the development processes taking place in the area. Implementation of the SDWP was based on monitoring progress in achieving its objectives and on sound assessment of the effects of actions taken. The condition for effective implementation of the SDWP is the best use of the potential of interregional, cross-border and transnational cooperation to achieve the common objectives of development, hence the strong emphasis on this issue in the entire document.

Opinion of the General Director for Environmental Protection on the environmental impact assessment

The SDWP was consulted with the General Director for Environmental Protection

(GDEP) in order to determine whether it is necessary to carry out the strategic environmental assessment for the document under the Act of 3 October 2008 on the provision of information on the environment and its protection, public participation in environmental protection and environmental impact assessments9)_. On 31 October 2013, the minister in charge of regional development received

8) _{Potentials Identified in the SDWP arise from the analyses made, which allowed for distinguishing features}

common to the area of Western Poland. Situation of a single region is presented in the document only when a given feature in a particular voivodeship is significantly different from the situation in the macro-region (the so-called “outlier”).

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GDEP opinion about the possibility of withdrawal from carrying out the strategic environmental assessment. Based on the GDEP position and bearing in mind

that the Strategy is a document of a general nature (not indicating specific

investments), which does not define a framework for the implementation of new solutions or projects, it was decided to not carry out the strategic environmental assessment. The strategy is a point of reference for intervention at the supra-regional level within existing or planned support instruments – mostly national and regional operational programmes, subject to a full assessment provided for in this Act.

Ex-ante evaluation

The SDWP was subject to ex-ante evaluation, which was conducted on the order of the minister in charge of regional development during the period of November 2013-March 2014 by the consortium of Eu-Consult Sp. z o.o. and the Research Institute IPC Sp. z o.o. The aim of the study was to provide the highest quality of the document through the evaluation of internal consistency of the SDWP project, the evaluation of consistency of its provisions with the strategic documents in the field of development policy and the evaluation of complementarity with regional strategic documents. Also the performance system, monitoring and evaluation of the SDWP was subject to verification, including a set of indicators for monitoring.

The results confirmed that diagnosis and intervention directions accurately respond to the challenges and socio-economic needs of the macro-region of Western Poland, and the proposed system will provide the right tools for the implementation and monitoring of the Strategy. The study showed that the aims and objectives of the SDWP are consistent with the objectives of strategic documents at the EU and national level and complementary with regard to regional strategies.

Some recommendations from the study were accepted, and their inclusion resulted primarily in additions to the diagnosis and broader descriptions of intervention directions. Detailed recommendations of a technical nature relating to the performance system will be taken into account at the stage of operationalisation of the Strategy.

Public consultation

Public consultation, in accordance with the Act on the principles of development policy, was carried out from 11 February to 18 March 2014. Comments and recommendations submitted for the project came from both private individuals

and institutions. In the group of 30 subjects which presented comments, the

most active were local government units, entrepreneurs and their associations and trade unions and employers associations. The science community was also relatively active, including mainly the universities of Western Poland. Comments to

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the project were also sent by the Senate of Berlin, which demonstrates the interest in the document outside the macro-region and a good dissemination of information about the consultation.

The comments received in the consultation were among the three basic categories:

proposals to extend the draft Strategy with new areas of activity,

proposals to clarify or strengthen the provisions already contained in the draft Strategy

remarks regarding the level of instruments for implementing the Strategy. A significant number of proposals concerned the demands to implement specific projects and thus referred to the stage of implementation of the Strategy. Other proposed amendments indicated primarily the need to make additions to the

Diagnosis and trends and objectives. All comments along with the position of the Minister of Infrastructure and Development are available on the website10)_.

After analysing all the comments, a significant number of proposals detailing or supplementing the provisions of the Strategy were taken into account. There were also many modifications made to enhance the quality of the document (its consistency and clarity of communication). As a result of the comments, the Strategy has been extended, e.g. with issues concerning human and social capital, as well as additional analyses in the field of demography and migration. The provisions concerning the spatial and functional integration with sub-regional growth centre and rural areas have also been strengthened. The diagnosis of the Strategy was clarified and supplemented in terms of the macro-region’s leading industries, and extended with a description of territorial cooperation (including cross-border cooperation).

Comments relating to the support instruments, due to their very detailed, operational character could not be included directly in the text, but will be taken into account during the implementation of the Strategy.

In a separate mode, the project was also consulted with the Joint Commission of Government and Local Government which issued a positive opinion.

10) _{http://www.mir.gov.pl/rozwoj_regionalny/polityka_regionalna/polska_zach/konsultacje/strony/konsultacje.aspx.}

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1.2

PLACE OF THE STRATEGY IN THE ORDER OF STRATEGIC

DOCUMENTS

Since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty in December 2009, the question of the territorial dimension became particularly important in the EU cohesion policy. The consequence of this is adaptation of the intervention to a greater extent to the needs of different types of territories, which is also implemented through the SDWP.

The SDWP, as a document of supra-regional nature, is compatible with the development objective of EU and national strategic documents. Basic conditions of the EU, which are the reference point for the development of all policies of the European Union (EU), including the cohesion policy, are set in the document Europe 2020. A European strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth (Europe 2020 Strategy) of June 2010, which defines three priorities of EU development: smart growth, sustainable growth and inclusive growth11)_.

The directions of intervention provided in the SDWP are consistent with the approach promoted by the European Commission under the Europe 2020 Strategy, in particular in the framework of the first priority and the flagship initiative

Innovation Union, which involves increase in innovation and competitiveness. The national system of development programming, anchored in the law on principles of development policy, the SDWP was placed between the national level of intervention set out in the long-term and medium-term government strategic documents and the intervention level prescribed at the regional level – resulting from the voivodeship development strategies and other strategic documents drawn up at this level12)_{. This arrangement stems from the assumption that defining} supra-regional development potentials and their effective stimulation through interregional cooperation brings additional developmental effects.

Objectives and intervention directions defined in the SDWP are part of the strategic

model of national development proposed in the Long-term National Development

Strategy. Poland 2030. Third Wave of Modernity (LNDS) of 5 February 201313)_, adopted by the Council of Ministers, which is based on three pillars: building the foundation for the innovation of the country, the territorial balancing of development and intergenerational solidarity. Due to the macro-regional specifics, reflected in the socio-economic and spatial structure, the development processes

11) _{COM(2010)2020.}

12) _{Guidelines for Poland’s Development Management System.}_{Document adopted by the Council of Ministers on}

27 April 2009.

13) _{Resolution No. 16 of the Council of Ministers of 5 February 2013 on the adoption of the Long-term National}

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in Western Poland can be stimulated to a great extent by the significant growth potential, primarily in the first and second pillar of the LNDS.

An important national strategic document is the mid-termNational Development

Strategy 2020. Active Society, Competitive Economy, Efficient State (NDS), adopted by the Council of Ministers on 25 September 2012.14)_{The NDS, referring to the key} provisions of the LNDS, sets strategic areas and interventions in the perspective of 2020. Particular emphasis is placed on measures to strengthen regional potentials, the most promising in the context of ensuring the sustainability of development. For this reason, the NDS does not refer to the entire spectrum of activities of the State in all areas of its operation, but focuses on three strategic objectives – institutional

efficiency and effectiveness, competitiveness of the economy and social and

territorial cohesion. The NDS sees the need for programming socio-economic development in macro-regional systems. The section on implementation of the Strategy proposes to introduce legal and organisational framework for managing in functional areas and to introduce new instruments to increase the effectiveness of regional policy.

The SDWP objectives correspond with NDS objectives, in particular with regard to the increase in the innovativeness of the economy, improving the efficiency of transport and strengthening of territorial mechanisms for sustainable development, as well as spatial integration to develop and fully use regional potentials.

The key document for determining the strategic vision of development for the Western Poland is the National Strategy of Regional Development 2010-2020: Regions, Cities, Rural Areas (NSRD), adopted by the Council of Ministers on 13 July 2010.15)_{The SDWP, as the instrument of macro-regional integration and a catalyst} for the implementation of projects aimed at strengthening the competitive position of Western Poland, is part of the regional development paradigm resulting from the NSRD. The SDWP sets development activities that use endogenous (local) potentials, indicated with respect to the principles of: concentration, evidence-based policy, partnership and multilevel governance. Compliance with the NSRDmeans compliance with the principles on which the preparation and implementation of these documents are based, coherence of development objectives and the SDWP implementation system forming a part of a unified management system for regional development presented in the NSRD.

14) _{Resolution No. 157 of the Council of Ministers of 25 September 2012 concerning the adoption of the National}

Development Strategy 2020 (MP item 882).

15) _{Resolution of the Council of Ministers of 13 July 2010, the National Strategy for Regional Development}

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The NSRD clearly indicates the location of supra-regional strategies between the national and regional level of development management. This document specifies that on the one hand, the scope of supra-regional strategies goes beyond a single voivodeship, and on the other hand, that the strategies cover strategic intervention areas identified in the NDS, i.e. areas below the national level of intervention. The challenges for Western Poland resulting from the NSRD emphasise the need for making the most of the proximity to the German market to effectively strengthen the competitive position of the macro-region. The SDWP development objectives relating to the supra-regional potentials associated with an attractive economic offer and scientific research potential of the macro-region correspond mainly with the first objective of the NSRD directed to increase in competitiveness of regions. In turn, the objective of increasing spatial and functional integration of the macro-region is consistent with the provisions of the second objective of the NSRD to the extent in which the objective relates to the development of territorial cohesion. The supra-regional nature of the SDWP, which promotes multidimensional cooperation and partnership as a condition of its success, is part of the third objective of the NSRD for creating conditions for efficient, effective and partnership implementation of territorially-focused development activities.

An important national strategic document that determines the shape of the SDWP

is also the National Spatial Development Concept 2030 (NSDC) adopted by the

Council of Ministers on 13 December 2011, which clearly indicates the need for a coordinated support to development through the preparation at national level of a macro-regional strategy. This document creates a framework for the territorialisation of public intervention and indirectly determines its material scope. The NSDC diagnosis indicated part of Western Poland (including the western part of Pomorskie Voivodeship, Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship, Lubuskie Voivodeship and western part of Dolnośląskie Voivodeship) as an area characterised by insufficient territorial cohesion16)_.

Important conclusions for the SDWP also arise from the provisions of the third objective of the NSDC, which is to improve the territorial accessibility of the country in different spatial scales through the development of transport and telecommunications infrastructure. They assume a substantial improvement in the quality of railway and road communication between voivodeship centres of Western Poland and the capital of the country.

16) _{The document lists Szczecin, Zielona Góra, Gorzów Wielkopolski and Koszalin as cities that do not use the}

potential resulting from the functional proximity to Berlin, the cities of Scandinavia and the national centres- Gdańsk, Warsaw, Kraków. It pays much attention to overcoming the remoteness of the western border areas.

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The SDWP is a response to the challenges identified in the NSDC, providing for intervention measures conducive to spatial and functional integration of Western Poland, including the reconstruction of the Oder Waterway.

The SDWP is consistent and complementary with the objectives and priorities identified in the remaining eight integrated strategies, which include: the Strategy for Innovation and Efficiency of the Economy “Dynamic Poland 2020”17)_{, the Transport} Development Strategy by 202018)_{, the Human Capital Development Strategy 2020}19)_, the Social Capital Development Strategy 2020, the Strategy for Energy Security and the Environment 202020)_{, the Efficient State Strategy 2020}21)_{, the National Security} Strategy of the Republic of Poland22)_{, the Strategy of Sustainable Development of} Rural areas 2012 23)_{, insofar as it relates to the objectives and intervention directions} formulated in these strategies.

The SDWP, as a supra-regional strategy, does not duplicate or does not replace any of these national documents. At the same time, while maintaining complementarity with voivodeship development strategies, it covers issues of cooperation between voivodeship and takes action to expand opportunities for developing partnership

relations between them. Assuming that the SDWP is not the sum of the five

voivodeship development strategies, the document essentially ignores the problems and challenges of voivodeship nature and scale, focusing on supra-regional issues. Its supra-supra-regional nature is a prerequisite for the selection of the range of support most adequate for the macro-region. The level of supra-regional programming complements the support provided at national and regional level and directs the activities carried out at both levels of development management to issues relevant from the perspective of the macro-region. As a result, the essential tools for implementing the SDWP are the development programmes and operational programmes prepared at the national and regional level.

17) _{Resolution No. 7 of the Council of Ministers of 15 January 2013 on the Strategy for Innovation and Economic}

Efficiency “Dynamic Poland 2020” (MP item 73).

18) _{Uchwała Nr 6 Rady Ministrów z dnia 22 stycznia 2013 r. w sprawie Strategii Rozwoju Transportu do 2020 r. (z}

perspektywą do 2030 r.) (M.P. poz. 75).

19) _{Uchwała Nr 104 Rady Ministrów z dnia 18 czerwca 2013 r. w sprawie przyjęcia Strategii Rozwoju Kapitału}

Ludzkiego 2020 (M.P. poz. 640).

20) _{The Council of Ministers adopted the Strategy for Energy Security and the Environment on 15 April 2014.}

21) _{Resolution No. 17 of the Council of Ministers of 12 February 2013 concerning the adoption of the Efficient State}

Strategy 2020 (MP item 136).

22) _{Resolution No. 67 of the Council of Ministers of 9 April 2013 concerning the adoption of the Strategy for}

Development of the National Security of Poland 2022 (MP item 377).

23) _{Resolution No. 163 of the Council of Ministers of 25 April 2012 on the adoption of the Strategy for the sustainable}

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2 SUMMARY

The Strategy for Development of Western Poland 2020 is one of the development strategies prepared to respond to the supra-regional challenges specific to the area – located between the national and the regional level of intervention. The base of the process of preparing the Strategy for Western Poland is the belief that it is possible to determine the macro-regional development potentials and effectively stimulate them through interregional cooperation, which brings additional development effects, in addition to actions taken at a lower – regional level, and higher – national level.

The document is an expression of concern of the Polish government and local authorities for the development of one of the key macro-regions of Poland, covering 5 voivodeships: Dolnośląskie, Lubuskie, Opolskie, Wielkopolskie and Zachodniopomorskie, which spatially binds Oder river basin, serving as a symbolic axis of the socio-economic development of Western Poland.

The diagnosis and analysis of development trends for Western Poland show a picture of the macro-region with a high potential for dynamic development. This is due to its location on the route connecting Central and Western Europe, Southern Europe and Scandinavia, as well as the advantages associated with a high potential for the development of knowledge-based economy. Both the favourable location of the macro-region, as well as the science and research potential for cooperation, cause that Western Poland is characterized by high investment attractiveness, the full use of which, through SDWP activities, will increase its competitiveness in the European space.

In accordance with the principle of evidence-based policy, the analysis of the strengths of Western Poland, drawn up in accordance with the diagnosis, became the basis for the designation of development potentials and the main lines of intervention for Western Poland. The directional part identifies the main areas of cooperation between the five voivodeships of the macro-region. The multidimensional cooperation based on partnership and joint effort of government and local governments, in accordance with the motto: cooperation inside to compete on the outside, will increase the competitiveness of the macro-region in a European dimension. The main development objective of Western Poland will be achieved through stimulating and strengthening of key macro-regional development potentials.

Increasing the competitiveness of Western Poland in a European dimension will be achieved by implementing specific objectives: strengthening spatial and functional integration of Western Poland, building an economic offer and strengthening the scientific and research potential of the macro-region. The SDWP provides a

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set of actions together with indicators for monitoring and assessing the degree of achievement of these objectives. The planned development activities relate primarily to improving the internal and external accessibility of the macro-region, increasing energy efficiency, creating a common economic offer, increasing innovation, boosting economic cooperation and developing the science and research sector in Western Poland. Implementation of development activities in the three strategic objectives will contribute to the development vision, according to which in 2020 Western Poland will a collaborative, creative, attractive, mobilizing and open area.

The condition for successful achievement of development objectives of Western Poland is the optimal use of the potential of supra-regional cooperation. This will be done through the implementation system of the SDWP that sets the conditions for establishing and strengthening of multifaceted cooperation between the various partners in the country and abroad working towards achieving the objectives of the Strategy. The performancesystem of the SDWP is part of the national development management system and is closely associated with the system for management of EU cohesion policy in Poland, particularly in the field of monitoring and evaluation. Various available sources of financing will be mobilised, in accordance with the principle of financial engineering for the implementation of SDWP, with particular emphasis on the appropriate use of funds from the European Funds in the period 2014-2020, programmed in national and regional operational programmes.

Implementation of the SDWP will contribute to maximizing the benefits of an integrated and multi-sectoral approach to the development of Western Poland and will benefit the residents, businesses, universities and research and development institutions in the macro-region. Through dispersion and absorption of development impulses it will also have a positive effect on increasing the competitiveness of entire Poland.

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3

DIAGNOSIS AND DEVELOPMENT TRENDS

3.1

DEVELOPMENT AND COMPETITIVE POSITION OF

WESTERN POLAND IN RELATION TO ENTIRE POLAND

AND THE EUROPEAN UNION AND DEVELOPMENT

TRENDS

According to the Regional Competitiveness Index 2013 (RCI) for the EU-27 regions, all Polish regions were below the European average, and voivodeships of Western Poland were in classes with the smallest deviation from the mean values (map 1). On the one hand it indicates a favourable situation of the macro-region against the whole country, on the other it points to some deficits on European scale. Regional Competitiveness Report 2013, published by the European Commission places voivodeships of Western Poland in places between 190 and 209 among 262 regions of the European Union.

Western Poland is characterized by lower levels of socio-economic development,

as measured by the value of gross domestic product (per capita), than in the

neighbouring foreign regions, especially German (map 2). The analysis of the average growth rate of GDP per capita in the voivodeships of the macro-region in 2009-2011 and its relation to the national and the EU average indicate two speeds of development processes taking place in Western Poland. The leaders (with a growth rate of GDP per capita above the national average) are Dolnośląskie Voivodeship and Wielkopolskie Voivodeship24)_{. In 2011, they were in the group of regions catching} up the fastest with the average level of GDP per capita for the EU, with respectively

73% and 69% of the average. The average GDP per capita for the macro-region was

24) _{Dziemianowicz W., Szlachta J.,}_{Diagnoza strategiczna Polski Zachodniej}_{, 2011.}

Map 1. EU Regional Competitiveness Index (RCI) 2013

Source: EU Regional Competitiveness Index RCI 2013, P. Annoni, L. Dijkstra, Joint Research Centre EC, 2013

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similar to the average value in Poland (Figure 1), and these two regions significantly exceeded it (Dolnośląskie Voivodeship by 14.7% and Wielkopolskie Voivodeship by 5.3%). The situation in the rest of Western Poland is somewhat different. Lubuskie Voivodeship, Opolskie Voivodeship and Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship reached a significantly lower level of GDP per capita (over 80% of the national average and around 50% of EU average) and a lower rate of growth25)_.26)

Map 2. Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita expressed in purchasing power parity (PPP) by NUTS 2

regions, 201026)

Source: Eurostat

Chart 1. Gross domestic product per capita by

voivodeships – relative deviation from the average value in the country in 2009 and 2011

13,4 –17,8 –32,1 –17,3 –7,4 –14,0 –19,9 –32,4 63,3 –28,2 –4,6 8,0 –25,5 –27,8 –15,6 4,1 2011 2009 % –50 –30 –10 10 30 50 70 Dolnośląskie Kujawsko-Pomorskie Lubelskie Lubuskie Łódzkie Małopolskie Mazowieckie Opolskie Podkarpackie Podlaskie Pomorskie Śląskie Świętokrzyskie Warmińsko-Mazurskie Wielkopolskie Zachodniopomorskie

Source: Produkt Krajowy Brutto — Rachunki Regionalne w 2011, CSO, 2013

The projection of GDP per capita for Western Poland indicates that the two speeds

of development of Western Poland will continue, and the threshold of 75% of GDP

per capita of EU-27 in 2020 will be exceeded only by Dolnośląskie Voivodeship and Wielkopolskie Voivodeship27)_{. Also, only in the case of these two voivodeships} there are projections of an increase in the importance of their economies in

25) _{In 2011, the GDP generated in Western Poland accounted for 26% of total national GDP, Wielkopolskie}

Voivodeship and Dolnośląskie Voivodeship belonged to the leading voivodeships with the largest shares in GDP (respectively 9.3% and 8.6%).

26) _{% of average for EU-27, EU-27=100 (the difference in percentage points between 2009 and 2000, compared to}

the average for EU-27).

27) _{with average growth rate in the European Union at the level of 1.5 – 2.5%. Lewandowska-Gwarda K.,}_Ekspertyza

dotycząca projekcji PKB per capita (wg PPS) na poziomie województw (NUTS-2) oraz wybranych podregionów (NUTS-3) do 2020 roku wraz z analizą konsekwencji ewentualnych zmian klasyfikacji NUTS dla polityki spójności po 2020 roku, 2011.

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the economy of the country. The share of Lubuskie Voivodeship and Opolskie Voivodeship in national GDP is projected to remain at the same level (2.2% and 2.1%), while the share of Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship will decrease from 3.9% to 3.6%.

Compared to the rest of the country, Western Poland is characterized by high attractiveness for investors, understood as the ability to induce investment by offering benefits that can be achieved in the course of doing business. Rating of investment attractiveness prepared annually by the Institute of Market Economy Research indicates continuing high attractiveness of voivodeships of Western Poland for locating a wide range of service, industrial and high-tech activities, which are an important base for building and strengthening competitiveness of the macro-region in the European space (map 3, 4 and 5).

Map 3. Investment attractiveness of Polish sub-regions for industrial activity in 2012

Map 4. Investment attractiveness of Polish sub-regions for service activity in 2012

Source of maps 3–4: Developed by ITD based on: Atrakcyjność inwestycyjna województw i podregionów Polski 2012, IbnGR, Gdańsk 2012

The most important factors affecting the level of attractiveness of the macro-region for investors are relatively strong voivodeship centres with high-quality labour resources, a convenient location of Western Poland in Europe, as well as the existing potential to build a knowledge-based economy, thus strengthening those areas can bring the greatest benefits to increase the competitive position

of the macro-region. Also, a very high level of entrepreneurship in Western

Poland, which is evidence of a high economic activity of inhabitants, is one of the key factors positively affecting the investment attractiveness of the area (map 6). Entrepreneurial attitudes prevalent among residents of Western

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Poland are an important foundation for building dynamic, competitive economies.

Western Poland is also characterized by favourable economic structure, as compared with the rest of the country, associated with a high degree of marketisation of agriculture and specialised branches of industry. The share of households living from work in agriculture, in particular work on own farm, is significantly lower in Western Poland than the national average (but still is higher than in Western Europe). Agricultural activity, characterized by efficient and market-oriented production, associated with the manufacturing sector, may be an important factor for the development of the macro-region.

Both the structure of exports, as well as analysis of the economy, indicate a significant role of industry in the macro-region, as compared to the rest of the country. Western Poland includes highly industrialized areas. They belong at the same time to the most developed and fastest growing regions in Poland, which is depicted by data on the level and dynamics of GDP. In terms of gross value added per capita (table 1), both in industry and in processing industry, Dolnośląskie Voivodeship ranks first in the country, even ahead of Śląskie Voivodeship. In addition to Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship, the other voivodeships of the macro-region there are also in the national forefront.

Map 5. Investment attractiveness of Polish sub-regions for high-tech activity in 2012

Source: Developed by ITD based on: Atrakcyjność

inwestycyjna województw i podregionów Polski 2012, IbnGR, Gdańsk 2012

Map 6. Number of newly registered enterprises per thousand inhabitants in 2010 (unweighted average for all poviats in Poland = 9.4)

Source: Gajewski P., Poziom i dynamika rozwoju małej i średniej przedsiębiorczości w Polsce Wschodniej, Ekspertyza sporządzona na potrzeby Strategii rozwoju społeczno – gospodarczego Polski Wschodniej, Warsaw 2011

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Table 1. Gross value added by activity and voivodeships in 2011 (current prices). Te rrit orial unit To ta l Agricultur e, f o re st ry , hun ting

and fishing Indus

try Cons truction T rade, r epair of mot or v e hicles, tr ansport a tion and st or ag e, accommoda tion and ca tering , in fo rma tion and communic a tion

Financial and insur

ance activities, r eal es ta te activities Other ser vices in % Poland 100.0 4.0 25.6 8.0 28.9 10.1 23.5 Dolnośląskie 100.0 2.1 36.8 7.2 23.2 8.9 21.9 Lubuskie 100.0 4.9 30.8 7.3 26.7 8.0 22.3 Opolskie 100.0 5.7 30.1 8.2 25.6 6.8 23.7 Wielkopolskie 100.0 5.6 27.5 8.6 29.7 7.5 21.0 Zachodniopomorskie 100.0 4.1 19.1 9.8 30.7 10.2 26.1 Source: CSO

Leading economic sectors in the macro-region

Western Poland has significant advantages that can be used until 2020 to enhance the investment attractiveness of the area and increase the competitiveness of the European space.

Voivodeships of Western Poland are characterized by a relatively high diversity of industry, which is a positive feature that limits the risk for development arising from a possible regression of individual industries. The most important role in the industry of the macro-region, as measured by the number of employed and the value of sold production, is played by the food industry and production of: metal products, motor vehicles and parts, furniture, rubber and plastics. The importance of three of these industries corresponds to the structure of the industry across the country. A specific feature of Western Poland is an above-average share of automotive and furniture industries.

The automotive industry is the industry in respect of which all the voivodeships of the macro-region, except for Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship, stand out in relation to the whole country. It is one of the fastest growing export industries in Poland since the 1990s, and Dolnośląskie Voivodeship, Wielkopolskie Voivodeship

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and Lubuskie Voivodeship are – along with Śląskie Voivodeship – the main areas of development in this respect.

The common feature of voivodeships of Western Poland is also the strongly developed furniture and timber industry, based on local resources and traditions. The electrical equipment industry and textile industry are also developed above the country’s average.

Western Poland also operates several processing industries, which are characterized by high activity in two or three voivodeships, but their relatively small role in other voivodeships makes that in the scale of the whole macro-region their intensity does not differ from the average for Poland. These are themineral industry, repair and maintenance of machinery and equipment, chemicals, paper, metal production, engineering, manufacture of computers, electronic and optical products.

Specific industries, in which single voivodeships of Western Poland specialise, include: in Dolnośląskie Voivodeship – mining of metal ores and quarrying of rock materials, in Wielkopolskie Voivodeship – manufacture of electrical equipment, in Lubuskie Voivodeship – mining of natural gas, in Opolskie Voivodeship – production of coke and chemical industry and in Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship – manufacture of other transport equipment.

The instrument that enhances economic specialisations (including primarily the automotive industry, electronics and printing and timber industries) are special economic zones (SEZ). Dolnośląskie Voivodeship is the largest beneficiary in the country (SEZ set up 46.5 thousand jobs in the region until the end of 2012, i.e. every fourth new job in Poland). In terms of newly created jobs, the total engagement of investors in special economic zones in four other voivodeships of Western Poland does not reach even half of what is taking place in Dolnośląskie Voivodeship28)_.

28) _{Domański, B., Gwosdz,}_K.,_{Specyfika branżowa i przestrzenne zróżnicowanie przemysłu w województwach Polski}

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Labour resources

Voivodeships of Western Poland are characterized by high proportion of people of working age, as compared to the rest of the country, which is

quite favourable in view of the development prospects for 2020. It should be

emphasized that the available labour resources are used to varying degrees in the different voivodeships of the macro-region (in 2012, the registered unemployment rate in Wielkopolskie Voivodeship was among the lowest in the country – 9.8%, while in other regions it exceeded the national average of 13.4%) (map 7).

In order to make better use of labour resources associated with agriculture, we should seek to make further changes in the socio-economic structure of rural areas. The problem of structural unemployment also applies to Western Poland and requires systemic intervention, among others, by supporting outplacement of farmers for whom work on their own farm is not a sufficient source of income.

In the macro-region, as well as in other parts of the country, despite the current favourable situation,

one can observe adverse changes

in the population structure by age, caused by decreasing birth rate and the progressive aging of the population.

Chart 2. Age structure of population in 2002 and 2012.

2002 2012 2002 2012 2002 2012

pre-working age working age post-working age

80,0 60,0 40,0 20,0 0,0 % 22.7 22.5 18.3 18.1 62.2 63.2 63.9 64.6 15.1 14.2 17.8 17.3 Poland Western Poland

Source: Calculations based on CSO LDB

In the period 2002-2012, the number of people in pre-working age in Western Poland decreased by 19% (in Opolskie Voivodeship by 29%), thus their share in the population decreased (in the macro-region by 4.4 pp, in total in Poland by 4.3 pp).

Map 7. Registered unemployment rate by voivodeship in 2012

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At the same time, faster than in other parts of the country, the share of population in post-working age increased (in the macro-region by 3.0 pp, in Poland in total by 2.7 pp) (chart 2).

Demographic projections indicate that less numerous generations will enter the labour market in subsequent years. The labour supply, decreasing due to changes in the age structure, can be further reduced by emigration. A large scale of migration of population of working age, both for permanent residence as well as labour related, is a characteristic of Western Poland against the rest of the country; this undermines the development potential of the area (chart 3).

Chart 3. Coefficient of net international migration for permanent residence of the working age population

per 10 thousand people in 2006-201229)_.

–2,0 –7,0 –12,0 –17,0 –22,0 –27,0 –26.5 –7.6 2006 2007 2008 –4.8 –17.6 –15.2 –3.7 2009 2010 –1.0 –1.3 –4.9 –5.2 2011 2012 –2.1 _–2.7 –7.9 _–9.0

POLAND North-west region South-west region Source: Own development based on CSO LDB.

Increased circular migrations in Western Poland are largely due to the immediate vicinity of more developed areas30)_{. In 2013, the people who indicated a direction of} possible departure usually pointed to Germany, where the unemployment rate was relatively low. The econometric analyses suggest that the major factor affecting migration from Poland to the EU in the next several years will be the differences in unemployment rates between countries, and increased migration associated with the effects of the “new” opening labour markets of the countries of Western Europe was generally small after 2005. It can therefore be assumed that the upward trend in the number of people returning from emigration in recent years is related to the deteriorating economic situation and the difficulty of finding a job in the country of emigration.

Emigrants undermine the development potential of voivodeships from which they come. It is predicted that the greatest loss in GDP for this reason until 2020 will be, among others, in Dolnośląskie Voivodeship. Smaller losses will be in Opolskie

Voivodeship, Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship and Wielkopolskie Voivodeship31)_.

The risks of long-term migration also include so-called brain drain, i.e. the potential

29) _{The north-west region includes Lubuskie Voivodeship, Wielkopolskie Voivodeship and Zachodniopomorskie}

Voivodeship, while the south-west region includes Dolnośląskie Voivodeship and Opolskie Voivodeship.

30) _CSO,_{Prognoza ludności na lata 2008-2035}_{, Warsaw 2009, Czapiński, J., Panek, T. (sc. ed.),}_{Diagnoza Społeczna}

2013. Warunki i jakość życia Polaków, 2013,

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loss of valuable labour resources, which in the case of the demand for certain professions can contribute to the weakening of the economic structure in Poland. The negative impact of labour migration can also be significant in the field of demography (increase in aging population, especially if migrations are permanent) and in the functioning of families separated by migration or circular labour migration. The social consequences in the form of decreasing potential for support in families are not without significance, which in turn results in lesser supply of labour resources necessary for economic growth.

The positive effects of migration, especially labour migration, include an increase in disposable personal income of households, which in turn causes an increase in consumer demand for local goods and services, including innovative ones, and fosters creation of jobs.

Conclusions from the forecasts of the Central Statistical Office show that the projected demographic trends for the regions of Western Poland do not deviate from the nationwide trend (map 8). It is expected that by 2020 the population in the entire macro-region will decrease by 1.9% compared to 2011, and the population will not decline in Wielkopolskie Voivodeship, where it is projected to increase by 0.6%. The largest percentage decrease in population until 2020 is estimated in Dolnośląskie Voivodeship (about 4%) and Opolskie Voivodeship (3.5%)32)_. In view of the numerous labour migrations, the loss may be even greater.

The growth of experienceof employees is not without significance; it can be used in the country in order to implement more modern, more technologically advanced solutions. In addition, migration experiences contribute to higher activity in the labour market.

32) _{In 2014, the CSO will release a new forecast of the population based on the results of the National Census in}

2011, the current estimate is based on the results of the National Census of 2002.

Map 8. Forecast of growth of population in 2011-2020.

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The development prospects of Western Poland are dependent, in addition to existing labour resources, on the quality of human capital. International studies indicate that in the case of a country with such a level of prosperity as Poland, the human capital is strongly positively correlated with the dynamics of economic

development33)_{. Human capital understood as a body of knowledge, skills and}

qualifications, and health status, determines the ability to work, adapt to changes and the creativity of individuals, making a significant impact on the development of the whole society and economy.

The value of a synthetic indicator of human capital in 2007-2013 for all voivodeships in the macro-region increased systematically, which is consistent with the trend for the entire Poland. However, the results of measurements in the voivodeship system point to internal differentiation. In 2013, the highest level of human capital was in Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship and Dolnośląskie Voivodeship (respectively 5th and 6th position in the country). Opolskie Voivodeship was ranked in the middle, and Wielkopolskie Voivodeship and Lubuskie Voivodeship reported much poorer results (12th and 14th position).

Overall, the poor assessment of the level of human capital in Western Poland in comparison with the rest of the country is mainly related to lower levels of education (deeper analysis in this respect is in the chapter devoted to the potential of knowledge-based economy). Unfavourable characteristic of education is somewhat offset by the impact of the current demographic situation: younger people are generally better equipped with human capital than older people, and people aged 15-44 years are clearly distinguishable in this respect from other groups. Given the demographic trends, the impact of migration and expected general decline in population, the growth prospects for Western Poland in terms of the level of human capital are not favourable.

Forecasts contained in the Social Diagnosis 2013 that go a little beyond 2020,

indicate the growing importance of social capital for the possibility of sustaining development opportunities of Poland. In this aspect, the trends and prospects for Western Poland are more optimistic than in the case of the level of human capital, compared to the rest of the country. All voivodeships of Western Poland were characterised in the period 2008-2012 by a high growth in the number of associations and foundations34)_{, which should be considered a positive trend and} the prerequisite for sustaining the growth potential of Western Poland in the future.

33) _{Czapiński, J., Panek, T. (sc. ed.),}_{Diagnoza Społeczna 2013. Warunki i jakość życia Polaków,}_2013.

34) _{As per 10 thousand residents. (}_{Podstawowe fakty o organizacjach pozarządowych – raport z badania 2012}_,

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The current, relatively favourable situation regarding social capital, at least in part of the macro-region is related to the historically conditioned tradition of organising the residents in cultural and social associations. The educated social capital with

bridging characteristics is also important. It can be described by openness to

strangers and pragmatic cooperation, possible thanks to the widespread knowledge and acceptance of the principles of social coexistence and traditions of cooperation within a wider community35)_.

3.2 DIAGNOSIS IN THE FIELD OF IDENTIFIED POTENTIALS

3.2.1 POTENTIAL RELATED TO THE LOCATION

Location in the European space

The area of Western Poland is characterised by favourable location in the European space, which is largely determined by the proximity of markets of developed EU regions (with higher GDP per capita). Western Poland is adjacent to the largest economic partner of Poland – Germany, and its immediate international surroundings include significant European poles of growth, which creates favourable conditions for the flow of capital, knowledge and people. The macro-region is part of the zone of influence defined by the five major European cities: Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna and Copenhagen. Part of cities of Western Poland are at a shorter distance to European cities than to Warsaw (Wrocław, close to Prague and Berlin, Szczecin – to Berlin and Copenhagen, Opole – to Prague, Zielona Góra, Gorzów Wielkopolski and Poznań – to Berlin). In addition, the western border of the macro-region, which is also the state border, creates favourable conditions for intensification of cross-border cooperation for the development of Western Poland.

The well-developed network of cities in voivodeships of Western Poland is conducive to dissemination of development impulses. The macro-region includes

well developed metropolitan areas of Wrocław, Poznań and Szczecin (the only

cross-border metropolitan area in the country), which are important for building the broadly understood competitiveness of the whole country and are the most significant factors in the development of domestic and international cooperation. Opole, Zielona Góra and Gorzów Wielkopolski perform the functions of the centres of national importance, playing an important role in building the competitiveness of their regions and contributing to the new dynamics of development processes in the scale of the macro-region.

35) _{Cf. Herbst J., Lackowska M., Mielczarek A., Swianiewicz P.,}_{Szafarze darów europejskich. Kapitał społeczny}

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The positive impact of favourable location of Western Poland on socio-economic development is evidenced by the high level of internationalisation of the economies of voivodeships of Western Poland (in 2010, the share of macro-region in national exports was 30%), as compared to the rest of the country. Relatively strong use of the proximity to the absorptive German market is characteristic of the three voivodeships of the macro-region: Dolnośląskie Voivodeship, Wielkopolskie Voivodeship and Lubuskie Voivodeship, which, among other things, is due to lower prices of Polish goods (mainly in Lubuskie) and a relatively high endogenous potential, providing a high investment attractiveness of the macro-region36)_. In 2004 -2011, the voivodeships: Dolnośląskie (13%), Opolskie (12%) and Lubuskie (10%) were characterized by the highest average growth rate of exports in the country (calculated year on year), which demonstrates the effective establishment of contacts with foreign partners. In recent years, the ratio of foreign sales of individual voivodeships to production sold also increased, indicating considerable openness of the economy of the macro-region to cooperation with foreign countries (in 2010, the share of exports in the western macro-region in production sold was significantly above 41% – the national average) (map 9, chart 4).

Chart 4. Value of exports of voivodeships in relation to the GDP of regions in 2004-2010 (%).

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

dolnośląskie

kujawsko-pomorski

e

lubelskie lubuskie łódzki

e małopolskie _mazowiecki e opolsk ie podkarpacki e podl aski e pomorski e śląski e świętokr zyskie war m ińsko-mazurski e wiel kopolski e zachodniopomors ki e POLAND 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

36) _{Mogiła Z., Zaleski J., Zathey M.,}_{Wykorzystanie przygranicznego położenia zachodnich województw Polski dla}

rozwoju społeczno-gospodarczego, 2011.

Map 9. Share of exports of Polish voivodeships in the production sold in 2010

Source: Developed by ITD based on: Handel zagraniczny w Polsce i Małopolsce, 2010

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Source: Polska – Raport o konkurencyjności 2013, Wymiar krajowy i regionalny, Warsaw School of Economics, 2013

Voivodeships of Western Poland are among the most EU export-oriented voivodeships in Poland (over 80% of sales). Analyses indicate a strong export links mainly with Germany, and in the case of Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship also with EFTA37)_{, which is mainly due to the specific nature of goods produced and offered by} the shipbuilding industry.

The benefits of the location of Western Poland are also demonstrated by the potential of experience of local authorities associated with the building of interregional, cross-border and transnational links. Because of their border location, the actors of the macro-region are involved in seven Euro-regions (Pomerania, Pro Europa Viadrina, Spree-Neisse-Bober, Neisse, Glacensis, Praděd, Silesia), in which the partners are the territorial units of the Czech Republic, Germany and Sweden. Examples of effective supra-regional cooperation include the common research centre Collegium Polonicum in Słubice (Viadrina Euroregion), established by the partner universities: the Adam Mickiewicz University and the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder).

With regard to the Polish-German border, one should note the involvement in

the Oder Partnership38)_{. Voivodeships of Western Poland are involved in}

cross-border39)_{and transnational}40)_{programmes of the European Territorial Cooperation.} Local governments of Western Poland are also involved in the implementation of interregional cooperation programmes INTERREG C (maps 10 and 11), and their participation is limited to a role of a partner, not a leader. This may signal the institutional barriers for Polish participants to engage in projects more demanding in organisational and financial terms.

37) _{EFTA (European Free Trade Association) countries: Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein.}

38) _{This is an informal network of cooperation, involving Dolnośląskie Voivodeship, Lubuskie Voivodeship,}

Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship and Wielkopolskie Voivodeship. The German regions involved in cooperation are Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Berlin, Brandenburg and Saxony. This initiative aims to integrate the Oder region in terms of politics, economy and infrastructure.

39) _{Programmes Czech Republic – Republic of Poland 2007-2013; Poland – Saxony 2007-2013; Poland – Brandenburg}

2007-2013, Mecklenburg – Vorpommern/Brandenburg – Poland 2007-2013. Local governments are also involved in preparations for the territorial cooperation programmes for the period 2014-2020.

40) _{The Baltic Sea Region Programme covers the entire territory of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania,}

Poland and Sweden, and northern parts of Germany, Norway and part of Russia (St. Petersburg and the surrounding Leningrad Oblast, Karelia, District of Kaliningrad, Murmansk, Novgorod and Pskov). The strategic objective of the programme is to support development of a sustainable, competitive and territorially integrated Baltic Sea Region by connecting potentials over borders. The Central Europe Programme with the aim of transnational cooperation between eight Member States: Czech Republic, Germany (regions in the east and south of the country), Italy (regions in the north east), Hungary, Austria, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia. The programme aims to strengthen territorial cohesion, promote internal integration and enhance competitiveness of Central Europe.

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The existing potential in building cooperation beyond borders is also confirmed by the fact that Western Poland stands out favourably against the whole country in terms of the number of partnership agreements signed by local governments with local government units in other countries.

Map 10. Lead partners in INTERREG C III and IV (January 2011).

Map 11. Number of project partners in INTERREG IIIC and IVC programmes (January 2011).

Source: ESPON, 2012 Source: ESPON, 2012

Western Poland is on the trail of international transport corridors (from Western Europe to Eastern Europe, including to Belarus, Russia and the Baltic

States), creating favourable conditions for effective boosting of development

processes. The transport routes passing through the macro-region and included

in the so-called Trans-European corridors are of particular importance, namely

the Baltic – Adriatic route: branch Szczecin/Świnoujście – Poznań – Wrocław – Ostrava and the North Sea – Baltic Sea route: Helsinki – Warsaw – Poznań – Berlin – Amsterdam/Antwerp.

The favourable location of Western Poland is also demonstrated by theEuropean

Grouping for Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) initiative of the Central European Transport Corridor, which is to connect major economic centres of Western Poland with regions of the Scandinavian Peninsula and through the Czech Republic and Slovakia with the Balkans. The Initiative became the basis for undertaking specific investment projects in 2007-2013 in Poland in the field of road and rail infrastructure and strengthening entrepreneurship development zones along the

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main routes included in the Corridor (route E65, railway lines E 59 and C-E 59, and

the Oder Waterway)41)_{. The CETC has been entered by the EU to the TEN-T core}

infrastructure42)_{as a branch of the Baltic – Adriatic corridor, which provides an} opportunity for faster implementation of infrastructure elements included in this corridor.

Western Poland also lies on the route of the main maritime transport corridors in the Baltic Sea Region

(map 12).Through the developed port

services of Szczecin and Świnoujście, the macro-region has connections with other ports of the World. In addition

to Gdańsk and Gdynia, the nodes of

Western Poland maritime transport are vital to the national economy. In 2012, they handled 54.7% of national maritime passenger transport and were characterized by high shares in cargo turnover in Poland (Szczecin – 12.9%, Świnoujście – 19.2%).

Port of Świnoujście is the largest Polish ferry base with the state-of-the-art terminal, the only one in the country that supports ferry rail connections, which creates favourable conditions for linking water transport with rail transport43)_.

However, data from 2005-2012 indicate that the asset of Western Poland associated with location by the sea is becoming weaker.In the analysed period, the freight turnover in including seaports of the macro-region (in thousands of tons)

41) _{An earlier initiative of the Central European Transport Corridor CETC – ROUTE65, proposed in 2004 by six}

European regions from Poland, Sweden, Czech Republic and Slovakia. Currently CETC includes 17 regions from 6 countries, including 4 from Western Poland.

42) _{Regulation (EU) No 1315/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on Union}

guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network and repealing Decision No 661/2010/EU (OJ L 348, 20.12.2013. p. 1).

43) _{Świnoujscie also builds a gas terminal (external terminal), which will allow for receiving liquefied natural}

gas by sea from any direction in the world. It is now one of the largest and most important long-term infrastructure investments in Poland, and with the launch of the terminal Poland will become part of the global gas market.

Map 12. Western Poland against the background of international links.

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decreased, and its share in national turnover declined (from 38.5% to 35.5%). The scale of international passenger traffic also decreased.

Lowering the competitiveness of ports in the macro-region is associated with the changes to the world's merchant fleet standards and inadequate measures for the modernisation of the Oder Waterway, which connects to the Polish system of waterways (through Warta – Noteć – Bydgoszcz Canal – Vistula) and Western Europe waterways (through channels Oder-Spree and Oder-Havel). Due to the

long lack of comprehensive investment in the Oder Waterway, the advantageous

location of Western Poland in the system of inland waterways is not sufficiently used.

Despite the considerable funds allocated under the cohesion policy for improving the navigability in the EU programming period 2007-2013 (six investments of the total value of PLN 406 million), the transport role of the Oder is decreasing and its hydro-technical facilities do not meet the parameters corresponding to certain categories of sailing classification44)_{. In addition, the variability of water flows and} limits on the operating parameters of the corridor also create unstable conditions for the development of inland navigation. The transport function of the Oder is performed only at sections Szczecin – Berlin and Wrocław – Kędzierzyn-Koźle (Gliwice Canal).

External transport accessibility

Expansion of the main European and national transport routes and linking them to the transport system in Germany means that Western Poland, as compared to the rest of the country, is assessed as an area with good transport accessibility to the main European centres of economic growth. Voivodeships located in the

western part of the country have the best road and rail accessibility among

all Polish regions. The analysis of the level of potential accessibility at the European level indicates the already developed transition strip with higher rates of accessibility of road and rail transport than in the rest of the country (among others, areas located along the A4 and A2 motorways, Poznań Metropolitan Area) (map 13)45)_.

44) _{Ordinance of the Council of Ministers of 7 May 2002 on the classification of inland waterways (Dz.U. No.}

77, item 695).

45) _{Cf. Komornicki, T.,}_{Dostępność transportowa Polski Zachodniej}_{, Using a synthetic indicator, potential}

accessibility represents the sum of the relationships between all the centres, regions, taking into account the time of travel and the importance (attractiveness) of a unit in the system (demographic, economic potential or other) in 2006.

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The relatively good transport accessibility of the macro-region is also affected by the existing airport infrastructure with a network of international air connections

(Western Poland has airports which play a significant role in air traffic: Wrocław-Strachowice, Poznań-Ławica and Szczecin-Goleniów and a smaller airport – Zielona Góra-Babimost). In 2012, the airports in the macro-region handled 15.8% of the passengers in the country (3.86 million), and their importance is growing, as evidenced by an increase in total passenger traffic in 2009-2012 (in Wrocław-Strachowice airport by 46%, Poznań – Ławica about 25%). Improvement in transport accessibility of Western Poland will also be influenced by the opening of the Berlin Brandenburg airport, which may also contribute to the development of transport connections in Western Poland and to further improve its accessibility in the European system.

Despite the good accessibility to the Western European centres, Western Poland is an area with a lower level of transport accessibility than in the Western Europe.

Conclusions of the V Cohesion Report of the European Union show a very high

efficiency of potential investments to improve transport access