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“ WESTERN »    I

S P0LAND2S

At the same time, Western Poland has slightly higher level of urbanisation than the national average (in Poland, on average, 61% of the population lives in cities, while in the macro-region 62%). The high level of urbanisation of the analysed area is a reflection of a dense urban network and the size structure of cities. As much as 38% of the cities of the country are located within the macro-region. There are 280 km² per one city in the macro-region, while in generał in Poland this ratio stands at 342 km².³¹

Work on the document was carried out in stages: the first stage, initiated by the signing of the agreement, was used primarily for detailed Identification of areas of cooperation between voivodeships, and the result was the Strategie diagnosis of Western Poland and the Guidelines for the Strategy for Development of Western Poland (Guidelines)⁴¹. Work on the Guidelines was supervised by voivodeship marshals and led by the Steering Group consisting of representatives of regional self-governments and external experts. Five regional reports and several expertises have been developed. A preliminary list was also developed with key supra-regional projects planned for implementation until 2020⁵¹. Representatives of the minister in charge of regional development assured to provide cooperation and support in this effort..

The second phase of work on the document began in April 2012 with the submission to the minister responsible for regional development of the Guidelines and the request for drafting supra-regional government strategy within the meaning of the Act of 6 December 2006 on the principles of development policy⁶¹. The process of creating the document was supported by the scientific community, including experts who worked in earlier stages⁷¹ with regional self-governments on the preparation of the Guidelines and the Institute forTerritorial Development of Wrocław, which brought a significant materiał contribution to the preparation of the SDWP. In accordance with the principle of partnership, the regional self-governmentsregularly issued opinions on parts of the Strategy developed by the Ministry and discussed its provisions during the workshop summarizing subsequent stages of work. Suggestions madę by the regions and expert support contributed to improving the quality of the document and providing important additions highlighting the potential and aspirations of the macro-region, and -very importantly-ensured the necessary continuity between the government and local government stages of work.

³¹ Ali data presented in the box are data for 2012.

⁴¹ http://www.mir.gov.pl/rozwoj_regionalny/polityka_regionalna/polska_zach/dokumenty/strony/dokumenty.

⁵¹ http://www.mir.gov.pl/rozwoj_regionalny/polityka_regionalna/polska_zach/dokumenty/strony/dokumenty. aspx.

⁶¹ Polish Journal of Laws of 2009, No. 84, item 712, as amended ⁷¹ Experts in the company GEOPROFIT.