Abstract

The basic principles of the integration process of Poland into the European Union regional system were analyzed in this article. The author defines basic principles of the programs have been implemented and the main dimensions of financial assistance from the EU. The negative and positive impact of the regional policy to the development of the Polish Republic in the frameworks of European integration was described. The most serious problems of the Polish regional policy are connected with the formal character of provinces’ regional policy documents which are mostly used to obtain funds from the EU. This can have an impact on the development of the model “center – periphery”. In Poland it’s not unique for budgetary financing component of regional policy to depend on foreign resources. The infrastructure was created and other incentives for businesses are mostly focused on the foreign companies but their investments are directed into the budget of the most developed cities. To lift the backward areas it’s necessary to find out new methods to carry out regional policy aimed at the development of hiden potential of the problem areas.