Commonplace Proximity

Interview with Piotr Uszok,  Chairman of the Association  of Polish Towns

-The idea of cooperation between partner cities, formerly referred to as twin cities, emerged after the Second World War. The objective then was to eliminate barriers, prejudice and hostility between the nations of France and Germany. Has the idea been successful? What is the main objective of such partnerships today?
- I will begin with a quote, which happens to be the motto of twin city associations: "There is no compulsion; if we share a goal, we pursue it together instead of doing it alone." This statement shows that politicians and local administrations view the issue of such partnerships differently. International partnerships were strictly political after the war and during the decades of hostility between political systems that followed. At present, their objectives are completely different. Polish municipalities today and their European neighbours share the same interests and actively participate in the process of developing a continent with open borders, one that is friendly towards all its residents. In the period preceding Poland's membership in the European Union, a partnership between cities does have an important political context. Nevertheless, its aim is cooperation between various urban environments, sharing of experiences and most importantly, various types of youth exchange. The significance of such cooperation between local governments is obvious; it helps reduce economic differences, work out common standards and eliminate former prejudice. It must be stressed that we have reached the point when not only do we benefit from the experience of EU cities, but we also have a lot to offer ourselves. This is why towns from Ukraine or Russia seek contact with Polish municipalities. In this way, cooperation and partnership between cities can be a successful means of integrating Europe. We must also remember the material advantages, such as EU funds and the investment opportunities they result in. In a situation when the financial means of local governments are still insufficient such funding is of great importance.
- You are the chairman of the Association of Polish Towns. Who are your partners on the other side of the border? How have relations changed since the fall of the iron curtain?
- The Association of Polish Towns cooperates mainly with partners of similar structure and objectives. The cooperation with the American National Urban League has the longest history and our relationship with the German Section of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions, the German Association of Cities and the Finnish Association of Municipalities is only slightly shorter. Our Association is also involved in the LOGON programme, i.e. the European Network of Local Governments. Its objective is to forecast the effects of the EU expansion. Within the group, we share experience with associations of municipalities and regions from Austria, Finland and Sweden. In addition, we cooperate with the British Office for Local Government, The Dutch Association of Municipalities and we have recently begun work with the Estonian Association of Cities, the Lithuanian Association of Local Governments and the Ukrainian Association of Cities. Together with the Danish Association of Local Governments, we are working on a project called European Integration on the Local Level, and with the Swedish Association of Local Governments we are involved in a project to support local organisations in the process of preparing them for EU membership. As you can see, our contacts are very broad and directly related to the Association's mission. They differ greatly from those of the iron curtain days. First of all, they do not result from any kind of raison d'etat, or political manoeuvres. Secondly, the government, political parties or lobbies do not ration them in any way. The new quality of our contacts today is defined by the interests the inhabitants of European towns share and is absolutely voluntary. Therefore, it is practically impossible to compare present agreements with those from the past.

- How do you evaluate the benefits resulting from these contacts? My question refers to the advantages experienced by the inhabitants of towns and not just the local authorities on both sides of the borders. How do they influence the elimination of hostility and prejudice? How do they support direct contacts and enable people to get to know each other?
- The idea of local government is based on the premises that most our activities create our day-to-day reality, and this is obvious. Nobody expects the inhabitants to specifically realise that due to the workings of local government they have the opportunity to benefit from contacts with other European partners. On the contrary, we should be glad that the sense of "proximity of Europe" is becoming commonplace. Katowice is a very good example. Thanks to an agreement with Saint-Etienne, our residents have been able to see a remarkable exhibition of French painting. Our partners organised an excellent exhibition, one that we could not afford ourselves. At the same time, at the Kościuszki Park, you coluld learn to play boule, the national French game. In this manner, Europe is closer to our inhabitants than it would have been during any major conference. We, on the other hand, have sent our 15th Biennial Polish Poster Exhibition to Ostrava, Dublin, Groningen and Odense, where it successfully promoted Polish culture and the city of Katowice. To close the issue, I would like to rhetorically ask whether the inhabitants of the tenement house at 12 Janasa Street are aware of the fact that the ruin they lived in was renovated as a result of the Załęże 2000 project carried out in cooperation with the city of Groningen? Or can drivers tell which part of the road was repaired with EU funds? Personally, I am a supporter of this type of integration, integration that is commonplace and quiet, which does not need to be announced because it simply happens. This kind of integration has been developed by local authorities for over a decade.
- Are there any difficulties impeding the quick expansion of the contacts, e.g. language and financial barriers etc.?
- Unfortunately, there are. Yes, they do result from insufficient funds, which make it difficult to participate in many partnership projects, and our ability to speak foreign languages is still low. These difficulties, however, are encountered by all our partners. Nonetheless, we must remember that the European integration is not a revolution, but a long-term process in which we have been involved for quite a long time. Eliminating the present differences and barriers will be the final effect of the process. This is why we participate in the activities of local governments as much as possible, because through these contacts our partners get to know us and realise our potential. And maybe this is why our European partners are willing to include us in the realisation of the vision of the Europe without boundaries. This is our source of optimism, and it allows us to look at our present problems from a different perspective.