From 1 January 2023, 15 new cities will appear on the map of Poland. After the changes, there will be 979 of them. The existing towns have raised the level of urbanisation in recent years and have shown an urban character. In addition, most of the inhabitants make a living from non-agricultural activities. They are also well connected to other towns. Because of these characteristics, they were granted municipal rights.
During a ceremony at the Prime Minister’s Office, the head of government Mateusz Morawiecki noted that in most cases, the granting of city status was the restoration of city rights taken away, among other things, as a result of tsarist repressions after the January Uprising.
„This was a very common practice of the tsarism. Revenge for the participation, for the help of the city, the town in the January Uprising”, said the Prime Minister.
1 January 2023 will therefore be a day of historical justice for such localities as Jeżów, Dąbrowice, Rozprza, Ujazd, Książ Wielki, Czarny Dunajec, Latowicz, Bodzanów, Jastrząb, Jadów, Włodowice, Miasteczko Krajeńskie. Three towns did not previously have municipal rights: Miękinia, Łopuszno, Piekoszów.
Changes to the status of municipalities were consulted with residents and were supported by them everywhere. The authorities of the concerned municipalities and the respective provincial governors were also in favour of granting city status.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki stressed that new cities should attract new investors, entrepreneurs and create new jobs. „I firmly believe in the sustainable development of Poland, sustainable development in all nooks and crannies of Poland, in development that is complementary”, the head of government pointed out.
It is becoming a reality thanks to, among others, government programmes. Local governments under the Government Strategic Investment Programme and the Government Fund for Local Investment received a total of PLN 76.6 billion, which made it possible, among other things, to increase the level of urbanisation of towns and cities that have been granted city status.
Adrian Andrzejewski