Ladies and Gentlemen - investGDA - invest in Gdansk

EFFECTIVE METROPOLIS: THE GLOBAL AND LOCAL PERSPECTIVES
To achieve the tasks ensuring from the local and regional policies, it is necessary to undertake
many ventures whose range stretches beyond the borders of any particular city
or commune. This is particularly true of the infrastructural projects which frequently affect
from several to ten or more towns and communes. Cooperation of that scale is well
exemplified by the operations of the Metropolitan Transport Association of the Bay of
Gdańsk. The purpose of the organisation is to put in place an integrated system of public
transport. The current priority is the introduction of the metropolitan ticket to enable
the holders to use different types of transport in any of an odd dozen cities, towns, and
communes. The objectives adopted by the association further include coordination of
various means of transport (buses, trams, trolleys, swift commuter train), combined with
establishment of a network of modern transport hubs to facilitate interchanges, including
the change from the private car to public transport.
The communal unions provide another metropolitan forum for solving issues connected
with environment protection, water management, and waste utilisation. The ‘Reda
and Chylonka Valleys’ Municipal Commune Union formed by five urban agglomerations
(Gdynia, Sopot, Rumia, Reda, and Wejherowo) and two rural communes (Kosakowo, and
Wejherowo), has for years successfully performed the tasks taken over from the local governments,
relating to the provision of water supply, sewage collection and treatment,
heat supply, waste management, environment protection, and environmental education.
Communal sewage management and treatment is also tackled jointly by the rural communes
of Stegna and Sztutowo via their ‘MIERZEJA’ Municipal Union.
Many countryside communes in the Metropolitan Area are members of the regional Pomeranian
Association of Rural Communes. The aim of this organisation is to support the
local governments in search for the means, tools, and sources of finance for projects
related to environment conservation, education, and fire protection. The association is
involved in implementing projects financed from the EU funds, geared towards improving
the educational system and solving the environmental problems.
Sustained development of maritime economy is another area which the local governments
address hand in hand. The authorities of the coastal communities work towards
exerting a joint impact on various lines of development of that particular economy sector
via the forum of the Union of Sea Towns and Communes. The organisation groups
32 local governments, including about a dozen towns and communes of the metropolis.
So far, the union has presented a common standing of the local authorities in matter
such as the development of sea tourism, amendments to the act on seaports, the issues
of reviving inland roads, or improving accessibility of ports from the land.
The communes of the Metropolis are also engaged in the works of the ‘Pomorskie in the
European Union’ Association. The association aims at assisting local governments in the
process of applying for the EU funds available under various operational programmes.
Raising the level of know-how and transferring good practices and experience into the
local reality are the areas where the local governments of the Metropolitan Area have
been highly active at the international level. Krynica Morska can serve us as a good
example. The town, together with its peers, i.e. the towns of Łeba, Neringa (Lithuania),
- 54 -
Borgholm (Sweden), Morbylanga (Sweden), Hohnstorf (Germany), and Comines (Belgium)
participates in the EU Town Twinning partnership programme.
One of the prime organisations formed to act to the benefit of the coastal regions is the
Union of the Baltic Cities. The local governments of Gdańsk, Sopot, Gdynia, Reda, Pruszcz
Gdański, and Krynica Morska hold membership in the Union.
Another organisation of major importance in which Gdańsk is actively involved, is the
Union of Hanseatic Cities whose origins go back to the Middle Ages. The organisation
focuses on tightening cooperation between the Hanseatic cities in a dozen or so countries
of Europe, mainly in the spheres of cultural, economic, and youth exchange, and
tourism.
The cities, towns, and communes of the Metropolitan Area have built a dense network
of working relationships with their sister local governments abroad. In total figures, cooperation
is maintained with more than 100 local authorities on 3 continents. The relationships
involve mainly cultural, and economic contacts, youth exchange, sport, and
promotion. Members of the local authorities also share their experience and know-how
in management of units of territorial self-government.
The local governments of the Metropolitan Area actively participate in international cooperation between
partner towns and communes.
Photo: City Hall of Gdańsk / Jerzy Pinkas
Atlas of the Gdańsk Metropolitan Area