2025, Kozera, Agnieszka

Energy transition has become a priority in public policy; however, knowledge of its progress in peripheral, border regions of Eastern Poland—particularly in rural and urban—rural communes—remains sketchy. Research gaps concern both the scale and intensity of investments co-financed from European Union (EU) funds, as well as the effect of their locations in relation to the state border and their position in reference to Functional Urban Areas (FUAs) on the level and character of the discussed investment activity. The primary aim of this study was to assess how the location of a border region and its relation to FUAs diversifies the investment activity and level of investment co-financed from EU funds aimed at developing the low-carbon economy in rural and urban–rural communes of the Eastern Macroregion. The analysis was conducted in two complementary dimensions: (i) a comparative nationwide assessment, covering all macroregions of Poland, within the two most recent, completed EU financial frameworks; i.e., the years 2007–2013 and 2014–2020 and (ii) an in-depth analysis of the Eastern Macroregion, with particular attention to rural and urban–rural communes, their affiliation with Functional Urban Areas (FUAs), and the typology defined by the Delimitation of Rural Areas (DRA). The aim of the conducted analyses was to respond to the research hypothesis assuming that “in the Eastern Macroregion the spatial conditions, i.e., the border location and the location in relation to functional urban areas (within an FUA vs. outside an FUA) significantly diversify the investment activity of rural and urban–rural communes aimed at the low-carbon economy co-financed from EU funds”. Empirical studies were conducted based on data from the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy and Statistics Poland, which were processed applying methods of descriptive statistics and statistical inference and also using correspondence analysis. The analyses confirmed that in Eastern Poland the process of energy transition moved from the pilot phase to the common implementation of low-carbon measures, to a considerable extent thanks to the activity of rural and urban–rural communes. The results indicate that spatial factors, particularly location in relation to Functional Urban Areas and population density, significantly diversify intensity of investments in rural and urban–rural communes in the spatial context, whereas no such relationship was found for the investment level per capita.

2026, Kozera, Agnieszka

The aim of this article is to assess whether the functional location of rural municipalities in relation to urban centres is associated with differences in their activity in acquiring low-carbon projects co-financed by EU funds. In addition, the study identifies financial factors (revenue and investment potential) that co-occur with this activity in rural municipalities located within Functional Urban Areas (FUAs) and outside them. The study covered rural municipalities analysed according to their membership in Functional Urban Areas (FUAs) and macroregions. The analysis was based on data from Statistics Poland, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy. Descriptive statistics and classification tree methods were applied. The results indicate that FUA membership is associated with differences in the revenue potential of rural municipalities, whereas its relationship with investment potential is ambiguous and depends on macroregional conditions. This differentiation is reflected in municipalities’ activity in implementing low-carbon projects. Municipalities belonging to FUAs participate in such projects more frequently and achieve higher financial intensity of investments per capita and per km, although the scale of this effect varies across macroregions. The classification tree analysis also shows that the configuration of financial factors co-occurring with the analysed investment activity differs depending on functional location. In municipalities belonging to FUAs, structural and development-related indicators are of greater importance, whereas in municipalities outside FUAs the key role is played by current financial condition, particularly the ability to generate an operating surplus.

2024, Kozera, Agnieszka, Standar, Aldona, Stanisławska, Joanna Maria, Rosa, Anna

The main aim of the research was to assess Polish rural municipalities’ investment activity connected with the development of a low-carbon economy, supported with EU funds in the 2007–2013 and 2014–2020 financial frameworks. The empirical study was based on data from Poland’s Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy, Ministry of Finance, and Statistics Poland, analysed through basic descriptive statistics and a logistic model to identify key factors influencing investment activity. The study showed that the greatest number of agreements on funding were, in fact, signed by rural municipalities in the period under analysis. The predominant measures undertaken during this time were the promotion of renewable energy sources and the improvement in energy efficiency. In the earlier financial framework, low-carbon economy projects in rural areas were more often implemented by municipalities with developing demographic potential, including those characterised by a higher level of enterprise development. In the subsequent financial framework, human capital turned out to be of key importance for the investment activity of rural municipalities. Experience gained from 2007–2013 positively influenced fund absorption in 2014–2020, improving project value, number, and support. The study confirmed that rural municipalities play a vital role in advancing a low-carbon economy, as local actions are key to achieving sustainable development and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

2025, Standar, Aldona, Kozera, Agnieszka, Satoła, Łukasz

2022, Standar, Aldona, Kozera, Agnieszka, Jabkowski, Dawid

The main objective of the article is to evaluate the investment activity of large cities in Poland in the area of developing a low-carbon economy in 2014–2020, co-financed by European Union funds. This article poses several research questions, namely: Do large cities with environmental problems actively obtain EU funding to develop a low-carbon economy? What are the main socio-economic and environmental determinants of the level of the EU funding absorption among large cities in the research area? The empirical research was conducted on the basis of the data from the Ministry of Investment and Economic Development in Poland, which is responsible for the implementation of cohesion policy funds and from the Local Data Bank of Statistics Poland. Under the 2014–2020 perspective, 223 such projects have been implemented for a total of PLN 21 billion (EUR 4.74 billion). The projects focused on: transportation, electricity, gaseous fuels, steam, hot water and air for air conditioning systems, and environmental and climate change activities. In terms of both the number and the value of EU funds spent, great variation has been observed. Analysis of the correlation relationships showed a highly positive correlation between selected indicators of investment activity in the field of low-carbon economy co-financed by EU funds (especially taking into account the value of investments per area) and socio-economic indicators of Polish metropolises. Metropolises with high demographic, economic, and financial potential have proven to be more effective beneficiaries. Interestingly, no correlation was found between investment activity in the low-carbon economy and the level of environment pollution in large cities. This means that, unfortunately, pro-environmental activities depend on the state of finances of the cities, and not necessarily on the actual needs, even taking into account the fact that the EU covers a large proportion of the costs.