PL
W artykule przedstawiono problemy rozwoju regionalnego Europy na przełomie XX i XXI wieku i na tym tle scharakteryzowano politykę regionalną Unii Europejskiej. W kolejnych częściach omówiono europejski wymiar strategicznych uwarunkowań rozwoju regionalnego Polski oraz integrację z tą organizacją jako podstawowe wyzwanie w sferze polityki rozwoju regionalnego. Artykuł kończy zestaw rekomendacji dla Polski.
EN
The introduction to the article provides a characteristic of major regional development doctrines. Within this framework, key issues of European regional development at the turn of the century are highlighted. Underlying to the theory and practice of regional development is the large extent of European Union intervention. The proposed new Structural Funds for 2000-2006 indicate an significantly increased financial commitment to supporting regional development in Europe. Poland, with its continued transformation effort, has identified strategic challenges in the area of regional development. They are: identify the functions of regional systems to reflect the standards of modern market-let economies, build the social framework for regional development, design central government policies with respect to regional diversity, supporting the growth in regional competitiveness, take advantage of the geopolitical position and create new institutional capacity for financing/supporting regional development. All these challenges must be viewed primarily in the contexts of Poland's integration into EU. The most challenging task, however, is to bring the national regional development policy with that of the EU. This is the prerequisite for absorbing the resources potentially available to Poland. The article discusses the hypothetical evolution of the regional development policy support provided to Poland by the EU. Finally, the article lists the most important recommendations for Poland.