Wrocław should strengthen cooperation with non-governmental organizations – summary of the report presentation
On 28 March 2024, the Oratorium Marianum at the University of Wrocław hosted the presentation of a report titled ‘Model współpracy Miasta Wrocław z organizacjami pozarządowymi w okresie 2004-2024. W kierunku europeizacji standardów współzarządzania’ (eng. The Model of Cooperation Between the City of Wrocław and Non-Governmental Organizations in 2004–2024: Towards the Europeanization of Co-Governance Standards). The event brought together representatives from Wrocław’s local government, NGOs, and the academic community.
The report was prepared by a team of experts from the Institute of European Studies at the University of Wrocław, under the leadership of prof. dr hab. Aldona Wiktorska-Święcka, as part of the “Diagnosis of Wrocław’s NGOs” project. The research aimed to assess the impact of Poland’s EU membership on the city’s cooperation with NGOs and evaluate the effectiveness of governance standards. The project was carried out in partnership with the “Umbrella” Foundation and funded by the University of Wrocław through the Competition for Supporting Cooperation with the Socio-Economic Environment.
The event featured a presentation of the report’s findings, workshops, and a discussion on future directions for collaboration. During the presidential panel, Stanisław Huskowski—politician, former Mayor of Wrocław, and current Plenipotentiary of the Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship for Relations with Higher Education Institutions—emphasized the importance of strong partnerships between local governments and universities. Additionally, a special address was presented by Bogdan Zdrojewski, former Mayor of Wrocław, former Minister of Culture, and currently a Member of the European Parliament. Although unable to attend in person due to commitments in Paris, he participated via a recorded message.
The event was enriched by a performance from KrzyKaśki, a group from the “Kierunek Przygoda” Foundation.
Key Findings and Recommendations
The research findings indicate that, despite progress in the city’s relations with the civic sector, there is still a need to strengthen systemic support for NGOs. The study also confirmed that while European co-governance standards are present in Wrocław’s cooperation model, they should be reinforced, expanded, and adapted to current and future Europeanization challenges.
The report’s key recommendations include:
- Transitioning from an asymmetrical relationship to a genuine partnership,
- Strengthening dialogue and professionalization within the civic sector.
The report’s authors expressed their willingness to continue working with the City of Wrocław and NGOs, highlighting the University of Wrocław’s crucial role both in research and in shaping public discourse. They also emphasized the importance of implementing the report’s conclusions and recommendations, which opens new possibilities for further research and, more importantly, the practical application of results.
Universities worldwide serve as independent evaluation centers, monitoring local government activities, providing reliable analyses, and supporting decision-making processes. This enables the identification of key challenges and the formulation of recommendations that promote more effective governance and civic participation.
The presented report serves as a valuable foundation for future initiatives in multi-sector cooperation for Wrocław’s development.
Authors: Prof. Aldona Wiktorska-Święcka, Dr. Marcin Adamczyk
Photo report: Paweł Piotrowski
Date of publication: 1.04.2025
Added by: M.J.
