A Rural Revival: The Benefits of European Union Development Schemes for Rural Areas in the Region of Warmia and Mazury

Abstract

"Since the time of economic transformation, rural areas in Poland have been facing numerous hardships and problems, both social and economic. Those related to the economy, human resources, infrastructure and spatial aspects are the most apparent in those areas which are also devoid of many assets which could stimulate bottom-up development. The problem is very important, if only due to the fact that rural areas account for over 90% of the country and they are inhabited by nearly 40% of its population. The socioeconomic transformation of Poland has brought about dramatic changes in the rural environment. The scope, pace and directions of the changes have varied depending on the location, local and regional factors which affect the changes and the natural and social and economic structures (Wójcik 2010). The Polish countryside is frequently perceived by society as a place with a level of technological, social and cultural development. Certain actions need to be taken to make the inhabitants of rural areas stop thinking in terms of what they should demand from the state and make some efforts to improve the integration and self-esteem of local communities."