The meeting was held as part of the implementation of the project ‘Continuation of Bilateral Cooperation between Polish, Norwegian and Icelandic Municipalities as an Example of Establishing Lasting Relations after Local Development Programme and Expanding Cooperation in the Preparation of the Next Financial Perspective’, which has been in progress since the spring of this year. The intention of the project is to facilitate the continuation of cooperation between all interested Norwegian/Icelandic cities/municipalities and the 53 Polish cities that participated in Phases II and III of Local Development Programme within the EEA and NMF 2014-2021, after the Local Development Programme has ended, as a bridge to the new financial perspective of the EEA and Norwegian Financial Mechanism.

One of the activities carried out during this one-year project is the meetings of the four EMPIRIE Experience Exchange Networks with experts from Norway and Iceland.

Building citizens' trust in local government

Citizens' City is a network that brings together local government employees working in practice to build a culture of dialogue in small and medium-sized cities in Poland. Participants are curious to see how the barrier between residents and local authorities is being overcome in other cities. The area of revitalisation is often a field of experimentation in the area of social inclusion.

Włocławek was, not without reason, particularly predestined to host the theme of the June network meeting. Thanks to the city's hospitality, participants were able to see the effects of projects carried out in Włoclawek based on undertakings included in the Municipal Revitalisation Programme.

Good participatory practices

The revitalisation process in Włocławek was presented by the Mayor, Krzysztof Kukucki. The Mayor, together with Paweł Markiewicz, the Deputy Chairman of the Revitalisation Committee, were guiding visitors through the area encompassed by the Programme. The sites visited were the subject of discussion. They showed how the renovation of the Vistula boulevards had changed the image of the city.

There was also a discussion about the residents' postulate submitted through the civic budget and the process of restoration of greenery in the Old Market area. A walk along 3-Maja Street (the axis of Włocławek's oldest district) was an opportunity to visit places important to the city, such as Miodnia, Słodki Fajans, Tymomania, Śródmieście Cafe and the Centre for Non-Governmental Organisations.

Miodnia - is a café known for selling coffee and bee products. Apart from products based on honey from its own apiary, customers are attracted to the unique character and family atmosphere of the place. The founders of Miodnia are Ms and Mr Alicja and Włodzimierz Pszczoliński. The activity of the Miodnia café is not limited to selling bee products. The owners take part in almost every venture to promote Włocławek, run educational classes for children and young people, and are authors of projects in the civic budget. Włodzimierz Pszczoliński is also the founder of the ‘Sweet Faience’ [pol. Słodki Fajans] chamber, where faience crockery and decorations brought by local residents are collected and displayed.

Participants met with Ewelina Beneturska, founder of the Tymomania Furniture Metamorphosis Workshop [pol. Pracownia Metamorfozy Mebli Tymomania]. The workshop was the winner of this year's Downtown Brand Shop [pol. Markowy Lokal Śródmieścia] competition. They toured the new premises at the civic Śródmieście Cafe, where Dominik Cieślikiewicz from the Charger [pol. Ładowarka] Foundation was interviewed.

Participants discussed the work of the Włocławek Centre for Non-Governmental Organisations and Volunteering with director Honorata Maj.

International exchange of experience

As part of the second edition of the Empirie project, experts from Norwegian cities also shared their experiences in the area of open governance. Lillian Jahr Oterholt and Tina Christophersen presented methods for involving residents in the spatial planning stages in the municipality of Lørenskog. The ongoing process of moving the city centre to a completely new area since 1971 was presented.

Town representatives were able to learn about themes and tipping points in the public consultation process and methods on how to prevent and respond to them. The experts also discussed the roles of representatives from the different levels of local politics in Norway in building the trust of citizens towards the authorities. The presentation was an opportunity to confront the Polish and Norwegian approaches.

The meeting was also an opportunity to exchange insights from participants working in a ‘post-election’ situation. Office employees work on the continuity of activities involving residents in co-deciding on the activities implemented by the cities.