On July 19-25, 2015 a delegation of 8 Ukrainian local authority representatives, alumni of the last year’s Local self-government school, organized by DESPRO in 2014, went to the Republic of Poland with a training visit.

The visit was targeted at exchange of experience and best practices between Ukrainian and Polish local self-government representatives, as well as at familiarizing Ukrainian officials with the achievements of decentralization reforms in Poland. During a week Ukrainian delegation observed how Polish three-tiered local self-government system (gmina-powiat-wojewodztwo) actually functioned on the territories of Mazowian and Silesian wojewodztwos, met the reform theorist, professor Miroslaw Stets at the National school of state government of Jagellonian University, as well as leaders of Polish local authority associations ― Association of Polish cities, Association of village gminas and powiats. Particularly, on July 21, during a meeting with Ukrainian guests, Andrzej Porawski, director of the Association of Polish cities, said: “The events taking place in Ukraine are most thrilling. I support Ukrainian reform and I keep my fingers crossed for you! Ukraine will be the second country in Europe, where the basic self-government level is the strongest one”.

On July 20 the guests held a meeting with the representatives of Department of finance of territorial self-government of the Ministry of finance of Polish Republic, Marek Rewiura, who provided thorough information on all financial aspects of self-government reform in Poland (system of functioning, financial competencies, local revenues and budget reporting of local authorities), as well as on relations and cooperation of the Department with other public institutions, and functioning of associations of LSB.

It should be noted that participants had a chance to appreciate the practical implementation of the reform (thanks to organized visits to Zaluski gmina, powiat eldership in Gliwice, local administrations of Silesian cities of Zhory and Gliwice), as well as learn the practices of building relationships between local authorities and non-governmental organizations, and the examples of investment attraction activities. “You are facing tough challenges; you have many tasks to be solved, waiting ahead. I advise you to perceive even not very successful agreements as a still better alternative to conflicts”, said Waldemar Dombek, Gliwice elder, addressing Ukrainian local self-government representatives.

In general, we should note high activity of Ukrainian delegation participants, their professional interest and involvement in discussions of common issues, as well as in conversations with Polish self-government representatives. The general impression can be vividly illustrated by the following comments of visit participants:

· “Personal practical gainings of the trip: established contacts with Zaluski gmina (preliminary agreement on wojt’s visit to the city of Novoukrainka), as well as the opportunity to compare in practice decentralization in Ukraine and Poland” (Oleksander Korinny, Novoukrainka city council head, Kirovograd oblast);  

· “There are preliminary agreements on meetings with three principals of general education schools from different settlements of the raion by the end of August, in order to propose a variant of collaboration with the school of Zaluski gmina. I am fully aware of the fact that it is very difficult to change the mentality of adult people, however we must try. Yet, I think, that raion council of the new calling should pay special attention to fostering of future political elite. While still in Poland, I had an idea of developing and initiating a project “School of future deputies” for high school pupils and students – a training and educational course on history and principles of LS in Ukraine, on the importance of the reform, and on impact each and every one of can make to change the society …” (Roksolana Barchuk, chief administrator of executive apparatus of Kosiv raion council, Ivano-Frankivsk oblast);

· “There are almost no gaps remaining in my understanding of decentralization reform in Poland, public authority organization, and, particularly, local self-government; public participation in community life organization; issues regarding interaction between authority and the public. It’s great that lion’s share of our time during meetings was allocated for live communication: questions and answers.” (Oleksandr Gerasymenko, Drabiv village council head, Cherkasy Oblast);

· “For me personally it was interesting to learn again about: the competencies of soltyses, which funds were allocated for their activities; the role of associations in organization of gmina activities; how decisions made at gmina level were controlled by the wojewoda or accounting chamber; activity of small gminas, where under-funding of municipal tasks was witnessed (these could serve as comparison for those who wanted to create small unified communities in Ukraine); economic activity in gminas (a gmina compiles a project, builds a facility, lends it, or creates a joint stock limited liability company – “state-of-the-art”).” (Roman Gladiy, Novy Vytkiv village council head, Lviv oblast);

· “A lecture of professor Miroslaw Stets from the National school of state government impressed me pleasantly with a unity of philosophical and practical approaches to description of local self-governance in Poland. It was very helpful. We often get lecturers or theorists with no understanding of the practice, or practitioners with “their” understanding of the local self-governance theory. In general, the visit programme was interesting and useful. Meetings with extraordinary mayors also provide both emotional impressions and practical vision of local self-government development issues.” (Valentyna Poltavets, Executive director of the Association of small cities of Ukraine);

· “The Programme of the visit was well designed and provided us with a vision of a complete picture of Polish self-government at all levels. It was very useful to see for ourselves the achievements made by self-government of Zaluski gmina (Mazovia wojewodztwo), whose economy exemplifies development of rural territories, in comparison with activities of gminas and cities of the industrial region in Silesian wojewodztwo. In general, the members of our delegation were positively impressed by sincere willingness of all representatives of Polish side to share their experience and answer our questions.” (Vitaliy Kliuchnyk, expert of All-Ukrainian Association of village and settlement councils).