THE COHESION POLICY IN ENLARGED EUROPEAN UNION – OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR COUNCILS OF COMMUNES

Abstract

The first years of Polish membership in European Union will be an important examination for Polish institutions and business units, which are managing and using Structural Funds. All shortcomings may result in not efficient usage of potentially available financial means. In the article a trial of evaluation of our country preparation state for usage of the European Union funds was taken. The evaluation was based on the result of empirical research that had been carried out within the communes of warminsko-mazurskie voivodship. That voivodship is one of these Polish regions, which are distinguished by high unemployment rate as well as other, intensified there, barriers of rural areas development.