Partnership has become a central principle of EU policies and is nowadays treated as a vital part of EU structural funds. The adoption of the partnership approach has been a challenge in the Polish public policy system throughout the 2004-2006 and 2007-2013 financial perspective periods. The thesis considers the adoption of the partnership principle at the regional level in Poland, focusing on the example of the Mazovia Monitoring Committee. It is concerned with the questions: How the expectations of the EU partnership approach are met in the regional practice? What is the actual role of social and economic partners in the decision-making process? How possible disparities between goals of the partnership policy and its outcomes can be explained?
The evidence presented suggests that there is significant resistance in adopting the partnership principle in the Mazovia Monitoring Committee. The implementation reality does not live up to the expectations of the partnership assumptions expressed in the EU cohesion policy. Partnership has more mechanistic character of fulfilling donor’s obligation than organic need of participatory working. In many aspects the partnership is a facade – it has an institutionalized form with limited content.
This can be explained by political mechanisms contained in the partnership principle. Partnership is not a neutral good governance tool that requires primarily managerial response; it is an inherently political vehicle influencing relations between stakeholders, their interests and positions in the decision-making structures. The crucial element of partnership implementation is an approach of authorities, their interests to engage in partnership mechanisms. Therefore, stimulating of motivation, commitment and willingness to achieve interests of both sides through partnerships is essential for the policy success. In the partnership policy-making it should be rather looked for motivation than further formalization of the process.
Table of Contents
Introduction
I. EU approach on the partnership
I.1 Historical development of the partnership principle
I.2 Partnership as a governance mechanism
I.3 Purposes of partnership
I.4 Partnership implementation framework 2007-2013
I.5 Assessment of the EU partnership approach
II. Institutional framework of the partnerships in Poland 2007-2013
II.1 Implementation system of Regional Operational Programs
II.2 Institutionalising partnership at the national level
II.3 Regional Operational Program 2007-2013 of the Mazovia region
III. Analysis of the partnership in Mazovia region in Poland
III.1 Partnership participants structure
III.2 Partnership institutional structure
III.3 Impact of partnership
III.4 Conclusions: meeting EU objectives by Mazovia Monitoring Committee
IV. Explaining the regional partnership implementation model
IV.1 Partnership as a public policy problem-solving
IV.2 Partnership as a power relation
Research Objectives and Themes
This thesis examines the adoption of the EU partnership principle at the regional level in Poland, specifically through the case of the Mazovia Monitoring Committee. It investigates whether regional practices meet EU expectations regarding stakeholder involvement and decision-making, and analyzes why potential disparities between policy goals and outcomes persist.
- The role and functioning of Monitoring Committees in EU cohesion policy.
- Implementation of the partnership principle within the Polish regional public policy system.
- Power relations and institutional barriers between public authorities and stakeholders.
- Assessment of partnership quality based on participation, institutional structures, and impact.
- Theoretical application of public policy and power dynamics to understand institutional behavior.
Excerpt from the Book
IV.1 Partnership as a public policy problem-solving
Public policy is an attempt to match policy goals with policy means in a process of applied problem-solving among constrained actors (Howlett, Ramesh, Perl 2009:4). Policies are described as being an outcome of reconciliation process between set goals and available means, having both technical and political dimension; the technical dimension seeks to identify the optimal match between goals and tools, whereas political dimension involves agreement between different actors on what constitutes a policy problem and an appropriate solution (Howlett, Ramesh, Perl 2009:4).
Partnership is a public policy problem that can be analyzed as any other governmental activity addressing societal issue, having both technical and political dimension. The shape of the policy is dependent on the interaction of actors pursuing their interests with available tools. As such partnership policy is situated in a political setting shaped by divergent interests, power games and political battles as well as uncertainties about the final outcome. Partnership as a process of cooperation between the state and social actors takes place in the triangle of policy, i.e. activity aimed at problem solving, politics, i.e. contest between different actors pursuing their interests and polity - setting institutional rules of the game and the power of actors.
Summary of Chapters
I. EU approach on the partnership: Provides the historical background of the partnership principle as a governance mechanism within EU cohesion policy, defining its core purpose and institutional framework.
II. Institutional framework of the partnerships in Poland 2007-2013: Describes the organizational structure of Regional Operational Programs in Poland and how the partnership principle is institutionalized at national and regional levels.
III. Analysis of the partnership in Mazovia region in Poland: Evaluates the actual practice of partnership in the Mazovia Monitoring Committee, examining participant structures, institutional rules, and the overall impact on policy management.
IV. Explaining the regional partnership implementation model: Applies theoretical frameworks, including actor-centered institutionalism and power theories, to explain why the implementation of partnership in Mazovia results in a "facade" rather than structural change.
Keywords
Partnership principle, EU cohesion policy, Poland, Mazovia region, Monitoring Committee, public policy, governance, stakeholders, power relations, institutional framework, structural funds, decision-making, civil society, regional development, policy implementation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research analyzes the practical implementation of the EU partnership principle at the regional level in Poland, using the Mazovia Monitoring Committee as a case study to see if it meets EU standards.
What are the primary themes discussed in the study?
Key themes include the governance mechanisms of EU structural funds, the role of social and economic partners, power dynamics between regional authorities and stakeholders, and the institutionalization of partnership.
What is the central research question?
The study asks how expectations of the EU partnership approach are met in practice, what the role of stakeholders in decision-making is, and how disparities between policy goals and actual outcomes can be explained.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author uses a three-stage methodology: meta-analysis of literature and reports, analysis of official program documentation, and eleven semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders and observers.
What does the main body of the text address?
The main body focuses on the EU's theoretical requirements for partnership, the Polish institutional framework, a detailed performance analysis of the Mazovia Monitoring Committee, and an explanation of the implementation model using power theories.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Relevant keywords include partnership principle, EU cohesion policy, Monitoring Committee, governance, stakeholders, power relations, and regional development.
Why is the Mazovia Monitoring Committee described as a "facade" partnership?
The study argues that while the committee fulfills formal institutional requirements, it lacks genuine participatory substance, with public authorities retaining dominant control and marginalizing partner influence.
How do power theories help explain the findings?
The author utilizes Lukes' dimensions of power and the concept of organizational outflanking to explain why partners remain in a subordinate position and why they often accept this "facade" status instead of actively resisting.
- Quote paper
- Marta Krepska (Author), 2009, Adopting partnership: regional approach on the EU-partnership principle in Poland , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/198826
