EN
Communes in Poland are significantly differ in readiness for the use of European Union structural funds in the future and now preaccession funds. Development of each region depends on the local communities capacity in gathering. Financial resources. In the two researched voivodeship podlaskie and świętokrzyskie, preaccession funds were used mainly on restructuring the local rural infrastructure. Local communities introducing investment projects gained new experience, which can be used in the future after Poland accession to the European Union. Capacity of local communities in gathering outside financial resources depends on their entreprenership, activity, and risk tacking. Very important is to have local strategy document in which goals and priorities were set.