Abstract

The article examines the process of reforms of the administrative-territorial division of the Poland Republic, which began in 1990 and has been developed in 1998 under the leadership of the government of Jerzy Buzek. In fact, the reform provided radical changes in the management and regional development in general, and also decentralization of power in the country. The main goal was full transfer of authority to the low levels. The reform was approved three-tier system in the country under the scheme “gmina” – “poviat” – “voivodstvo”. In turn, holding territorial reform was also due to the integration processes in the Polish Republic. Changes in the territorial division of the country’s accelerated transition of the country to the «European Rails» and actually meet the European system of NUTS. The reform of 1998 has allowed more closely and fruitfully participate in the structures and programs of the European Union. With the formation of a multi-level system, that meets the requirements of NUTS in the EU, integration processes have been strengthened in the country, as well as the program were implemented better in the EU pre-accession period and after accession to the European Union. It should be added that these changes were urgently needed and there was no alternative routes. In other post-communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe, who have been on the path of modernization, such profound reforms were not carried out. Thus, Poland has become one of the first «locomotive» in the territorial transformations among CEE countries. Polish experience was a visual aid for the other countries in the region.