THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON LOCAL AND REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32689/2617-9660-2021-4(16)-193-202Keywords:
pandemic, Covid-19 pandemic, European Union, local government.Abstract
The publication is devoted to the current problem of the Covid-19 pandemic. The author of the article analyzes the impact of the pandemic on local and regional governments in the European Union. Based on the analysis of scientific research of such scientists as K. Baran, W. Burek, M. Gibek, F. Morawski, J. Żochowska and others. On the problems of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on local self-government and governance in the EU member states, the key directions of transformation of the relevant government and administrative activities with the use of digitalization potential are substantiated. He emphasizes that as a result, local governments have faced the most difficult and painful test of their ability to seek and achieve political, economic and social responses to this health crisis. The author of the article pays special attention to the dynamically introduced digitization, which made it possible to conduct remote meetings of individual authorities in the local government. However, it would not be possible if it were not for the proper preparation of this entire process, both in terms of the functioning of the commune and its institutions, as well as the preparation of residents to use on-line tools, or the implementation in a new way of compliance with the processes related to customer service and reprogramming thinking about new processes. The author notes that it is also a challenge for local governments in terms of using these experiences, introducing new management systems, and securing various spheres for which they are responsible against similar threats in the future. The Covid-19 pandemic has also showed that local authorities began to be more important to local communities than state authorities. Local leaders turned out to be much more responsible and more efficient in action aimed at taking care of local communities. Many of the initiatives undertaken indicated not only the immediate reactions of local authorities, but also the strategic economic protection of both individuals and business entities.
References
Lipowicz I., Local government and government administration – administration in conditions of uncertainty, „Ruch Prawniczy, Ekonomiczny i Socjologiczny” 2020, No. 4.
Levoyer L., Drawing Up the Budgets of French Local Authorities During the Covid-19 Epidemic, “Prawo Budżetowe Państwa i Samorządu” 2020, No. 3.
Michalkiewicz M., Kiersznowska Z., Lemiech-Mirowska E., Michalkiewicz M., The epidemic threat of the new coronavirus, „Technologia Wody” 2020, No. 1.
Wieczorek A., Seniors in the COVID-19 era, „MAZOWSZE Studia Regionalne” 2020, No. 34.
Duszyński J., Afekt A., Ochab-Marcinek A., Owczuk R., Pyrć K., Rosińska M., Rychard A., Smiatacz T., Understanding COVID-19. Development of the Covid-19 team at the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Polska Akademia Nauk, 14 September 2020, source: www.informacje.pan.pl/images/ 2020/opracowanie-covid19-14-9-2020/ ZrozumiecCovid19_opracowanie_PAN.pdf, date of access: 15.06.2021.
Singhal T,, A Review of Coronawirus Disease-2019 (COVID – 19), “Indian Journal of Pediatrics” 2020, No. 13.
Tyszkiewicz M., Council of Europe’s Activities Dealing with the COVID-19 Pandemic, [in:] Challenges for the European system of human rights protection at the threshold of the third decade of the 21st century, ed. J. Jaskiernia, K. Spryszak, Toruń 2021.
Barczewski M., S. Sykuna, The COVID-19 pandemic: the multifaceted problem of access to vaccines and other medicinal products, „Ruch Prawniczy, Ekonomiczny i Socjologiczny” 2020, No. 3.
Kaczyńska A., Kańduła S., Przybylska J., Digital transformation from the point of view of local government – selected issues, „Nierówności społeczne a wzrost gospodarczy” 2021, No. 65.
Dolny J., Implementation of the principle of active participation of the parties and speed in administrative proceedings conducted by local government units in the time of the epidemic: practical comments, „Samorząd Terytorialny” 2020, No. 6.
Kłucińska P., Osowski Sz., Opinion of the Watchdog Polska Civic Network regarding the prohibition of access to the sessions of the commune, poviat and voivodeship councils and the possibility of conducting online sessions, source: www.siecobywatelska.pl/opinia-sieci- obywatelskiej-watchdog-polska-dotyczaca- zakazow-wstepu-na-sesje-rady-gminy- powiatu-i-sejmiku-wojewodztwa, date of access: 31.07.2021
Kaczyńska A., Końduła S., Przybylska J., Digital transformation from the point of view of local government – selected issues, „Nierówności społeczne a wzrost gospodarczy” 2021, No. 65.
Constitution of the Republic of Poland of 2 April 1997 (Journal of Laws 1997 No. 78 item 483).
Act of 21 January 2021 amending the Act on special solutions related to the prevention and combating of COVID-19, other infectious diseases and crisis situations caused by them, and certain other acts, Journal of Laws No. 2021 item 159.
Regulation No. 1/pr/2021 of the Chairman of the City Council in Proszowice of 17 February 2021 on holding a Session of the City Council in Proszowice in a remote mode of deliberation, source: www.proszowice. pl/asp/pliki/2021/zarządzenie.pdf, date of access: 27.07.2021.
Halamska M., Kurczewski J., Ptak A., Local authority in a state of emergency, „Wieś i Rolnictwo” 2020, No. 3.
Jóźwiak P., About the legal possibilities of conducting a session of the commune council remotely, „Samorząd Terytorialny” 2020, n 6. 18. Glumińska-Pawlic J., Przywora B., Exercising the competence of the decision-making and control body of a local government unit in a state of epidemic, „Samorząd Terytorialny” 2020, No. 7-8.
Guast P., The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Central and Eastern Europe, “Democratic Theory” 2020, Vol. 7.
Půta M., Late state response to the coronavirus pandemic – local governments took the initiative, source: www.forum-ekonomiczne. pl/pozna-reakcja-panstwa-na-pandemie- koronawirusa-samorzady-lokalne-przejely- inicjatywe/, date of access: 27.07.2021.
The EU’s annual regional and local barometer warns that a fall in incomes of more than 10% in regions and cities jeopardizes the provision of public services, source: www.cor.europa.eu/pl/ news/Pages/eu-regional-and-local-barometr. aspx, date of access: 28.07.2021. 22. Study: The pandemic threatens the finances of municipalities and regions across Europe, source: www.teraz-srodowiskao.pl/ aktualnosci/oecd-finanse-samorzadow-pandemia- 9570.html, date of access: 28.07.2021.
Ibidem.
Kicka M., Committee of the Regions: we support local governments across Europe in the fight against COVID-19, source: www. samarzad.pap.pl/kategoria/aktualnosci/ komitet-regionow-wesprzemy-samorzadyw- calej-europie-w-walce-z-covid-19, date of access: 28.07.2021
The Committee of the Regions called on the European Commission to extend the flexible rules on EU funds, source: www.samorzad. pap.pl/kategoria/komitet-regionow/ komitet-regionow-zaapelowal-do-komisji- euroejskiej-o-przedluzenie, date of access: 28.07.2021.
Ibidem.
REACT-EU for the poorest, source: www.ec.europa.eu/poland/news/210121_react_ eu_pl, date of access: 31.07.2021.
Regulska J., How will the pandemic affect local democracy and self-governance?, „Almanach Concilium Civitas” 2020/2021, source: www.conciliumcivitas.pl/ almanach-concilium-civitas-2020-2021-prof e s o r - j o a n n a - r e g u l s k a - j a k - p a n - d e m i a - w p l y n i e - n a - d e m o k r a c j e - l o k alna- i-samorzadnosc, date of access: 31.07.2021.
