PL
Ustawodawstwo RP i Niemiec nie zawiera regulacji prawnych przyznających samorządom terytorialnym uprawnień do współpracy transgranicznej. Dotychczasowe funkcjonowanie komunalnych jednostek terytorialnych po stronie polskiej opiera się na przepisach ustawy z 8 marca 1990 r. o samorządzie terytorialnym. W artykule zostały przedstawione warunki współpracy transgranicznej, które powinny być zawarte w aktach prawnych normujących organizację i funkcjonowanie komunalnych jednostek terytorialnych obu państw.
EN
Formally, all cooperation between bordering local governments of Poland and Germany can only take place basing on international agreements. The legislations of the two countries do not contain legal regulations which would grant to local governments the power to cooperate with their foreign counterparts. Since the discussed legislations contain no ban on such cooperation, it should be assumed that local government of Poland and Germany are free to develop cooperation provided their actions do not encroach on the competences reserved for the central agencies of Republic of Poland or the federal or constituent state agencies of Germany, nor do they infringe the rights of citizens. Moreover, the two parties can cooperate basing on gentlemen's agreements without the legally binding force. As follows from the suggested interpretation, decisive for the cooperation between bordering Polish and German communes will be legal acts regulating the organization and functioning of communal authorities of the two countries; in Poland, the provisions concerned are contained in the Act of 8 March, 1990 on local government. Yet it would be wrong to leave the question of cooperation to local communities only: also the Polish and German central authorities should take interest in it.