The study visit in Poland, another stage successfully achieved in the decentralization project

During September 25 – October 1, 2011, the representatives of the central public administration and the local public administration of I and II level in Moldova, of NGOs and international donors have undertaken a study visit in Poland, made within the project “Decentralization and Local Autonomy Development: Successful European Models for the Republic of Moldova”. The project is implemented by Business Consulting Institute in partnership with the PAUCI Foundation (Poland) and Corporate & Public Management Consulting Group (Latvia), with the financial support of the SOROS Moldova Foundation and UNDP Moldova. 

The project proposes to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience among policy- and decision-makers, local authorities, NGOs, the experts from Moldova, Poland and Latvia and other EU countries in decentralization reform, contributing to the strengthening of the local autonomy. 

This visit is the third stage of the six ones in the project. 

During this visit meetings were held  in the central  and public administration, concerning the administrative-territorial structure, the degree of division of powers between the institutions responsible with the decentralization process and local autonomy, there were also addressed issues related to the financing system, the structure of budgets of diverse administrative-territorial structures, the methods used in efficiently implementing the reform of administrative decentralization, as other legal documents on the protection of local autonomies. These discussions addressed diverse topics, offering answers to visitors’ questions. The study visits were held at the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Interior and Administration (Public Administration Department), the Supreme Administrative Court, the Parliamentary Commission of Local Self- Government and Regional Policy, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, the County Office Gniezno, the Municipal Administration Gniezno (City Cultural Center) and in Witkowo Community.  

The visit was a successful one, leaving an excellent impression on the precise decentralization system, having responsibilities and competencies efficiently assigned.   

The Polish model of administrative decentralization has become through “shock therapy” a successful one, having achieved expected results.     

During the next visit, planned for 30 October – 4 November 2011 in Latvia, the participants will have the opportunity to study another gradualist model of fiscal decentralization.