The Local Trends project was initiated by Jacek Jaśkowiak — Mayor of Poznań and Jacek Karnowski — Mayor of Sopot, with the overarching objective to initiate, in an effective and meaningful manner, a constructive debate across boundaries on the socioeconomic environment in which Poland’s local governments and the country itself are developing. The project includes two events:

• Local Government Finance Congress in Sopot, 11-12 April
• European Local Government Forum in Poznań, 17-18 October

We believe that providing a forum for discussion between representatives of local governments, business, academic communities, and government administration on how to jointly address the challenges of Polish villages, towns, municipalities, cities, and regions will be of great value to the participants of the event.

The substantial quality of the events is the responsibility of the Programme Council led by the organisers: Centrum Myśli Strategicznych and the MTP Group. The agenda is designed based on a survey in which local government representatives have pinpointed the issues which are going to be particularly important, looking three years ahead.

The engagement of Strategic Partners: the Union of Polish Metropolises, the Association of Polish Cities, the Association of Rural Municipalities of the Republic of Poland, as well as institutional partners: the Association of Polish Districts, the Association of Voivodeships of the Republic of Poland, or the Association of Polish Mayors is a highly valued asset.

We are happy that Local Trends has proven to be an initiative with a vision for a long-term, sustainable, and consistently implemented project from the very start. We are convinced that the collaboration between the organisers, local and central government partners, and the business community will spark a lively debate and result in recommendations addressing key challenges and proposing measures to be taken by institutions and organisations from the political, legal, technical, economic, and social environment.